Chrome flags hijacking attempts

Google Chrome now sports a feature to alert users when their browser settings have been altered by malicious software.

The trigger augments a feature introduced in October by Google engineers to combat a spate of attempts by malware to alter the security settings of Chrome, a feat that was the chief complaint among the browser's users and which was "growing at an alarming rate".

Google engineering vice president Linus Upson said some malware will leave functions behind after removal that mess with browser settings.

"Some hijackers are especially pernicious and have left behind processes that are meant to undermine user control of settings, so you may find that you’re hijacked again after a short period of time," Upson said.

Users can click a 'reset security settings' button to remove any malicious changes alterations detected by Chrome. The function disables Chrome extensions and apps.

The feature comes as the latest in a series of security functions introduced into Google's browser. Last October, Google began blocking known malware downloads and flagging executables, noting at the time it already blocked some 10,000 new malicious websites a day.

In November Google also introduced user verification to protect passwords stored within the Chrome browser.

The browser hijacking feature comes as Google prepares to hand out A$3.1 million to hackers who can break its Chrome operating system at the annual Pwnium hacker contest in Canada.