iTnews
  • Home
  • News
  • Technology
  • Security

Chrome offers malicious download warnings

By Tom Brewster on Apr 7, 2011 6:33AM
Chrome offers malicious download warnings

Google is trying out a new malicious download warnings feature in Chrome.

Google has added malicious download warnings to its Chrome browser, starting with dangerous Windows executables.

The feature targets drive-by download attacks, showing up warnings if a user tries to get a malicious file onto their system, Google said on a blog.

The warning will show up when a user visits any URL on the blacklist within Google’s Safe Browsing API - a service a range of other browsers take advantage of to warn people about potentially dangerous sites.

“We’re starting with a small-scale experimental phase for a subset of our users who subscribe to the Chrome development release channel, and we hope to make this feature available to all users in the next stable release of Google Chrome,” said Moheeb Abu Rajab from the Google security team.

“We hope that the feature will improve our users’ online experience and help make the internet a safer place.”

He said the web was still “rife with deceptive and harmful content,” despite efforts in the safe browsing space.

“It’s easy to find sites hosting free downloads that promise one thing but actually behave quite differently,” he added.

“These downloads may even perform actions without the user’s consent, such as displaying spam ads, performing click fraud or stealing other users’ passwords.”

A number of vendors have jumped on browser security, seeing it as a potentially highly lucrative market.

Overtis recently launched an add-on to enable IT administrators to watch over employee browser activity.

This article originally appeared at itpro.co.uk

Got a news tip for our journalists? Share it with us anonymously here.
Copyright © ITPro, Dennis Publishing
Tags:
chromedownloadmaliciousofferssecuritywarnings

Partner Content

Avoiding CAPEX by making on-premise IT more cloud-like
Promoted Content Avoiding CAPEX by making on-premise IT more cloud-like
How to turn digital complexity into competitive advantage
Promoted Content How to turn digital complexity into competitive advantage
The Great Resignation has intensified insider security threats
Promoted Content The Great Resignation has intensified insider security threats
Why Genworth Australia embraced low-code software development
Promoted Content Why Genworth Australia embraced low-code software development

Sponsored Whitepapers

Extracting the value of data using Unified Observability
Extracting the value of data using Unified Observability
Planning before the breach: You can’t protect what you can’t see
Planning before the breach: You can’t protect what you can’t see
Beyond FTP: Securing and Managing File Transfers
Beyond FTP: Securing and Managing File Transfers
NextGen Security Operations: A Roadmap for the Future
NextGen Security Operations: A Roadmap for the Future
Video: Watch Juniper talk about its Aston Martin partnership
Video: Watch Juniper talk about its Aston Martin partnership

Events

  • CRN Channel Meets: CyberSecurity Live Event
  • IoT Insights: Secure By Design for manufacturing
  • Cyber Security for Government Summit
By Tom Brewster
Apr 7 2011
6:33AM
0 Comments

Related Articles

  • Don't miss Australia’s premiere IoT Conference on 9th June
  • 5 essential digital transformation ideas
  • Top 5 Benefits of Managed IT Services
  • Chrome's first zero-day bug for 2022 is reportedly being exploited
Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn Share on Whatsapp Email A Friend

Most Read Articles

Qantas calls time on IBM, Fujitsu in tech modernisation

Qantas calls time on IBM, Fujitsu in tech modernisation

Service NSW hits digital services goal two years early

Service NSW hits digital services goal two years early

SA Police ignores Adelaide council plea for facial recognition ban on CCTV

SA Police ignores Adelaide council plea for facial recognition ban on CCTV

NBN Co says TPG tie-up could help Telstra sidestep spectrum limits

NBN Co says TPG tie-up could help Telstra sidestep spectrum limits

Digital Nation

The security threat of quantum computing
The security threat of quantum computing
Integrity, ethics and board decisions in the digital age
Integrity, ethics and board decisions in the digital age
IBM global chief data officer on the rise of the number crunchers
IBM global chief data officer on the rise of the number crunchers
Crypto experts optimistic about future of Bitcoin: Block
Crypto experts optimistic about future of Bitcoin: Block
COVER STORY: Operationalising net zero through the power of IoT
COVER STORY: Operationalising net zero through the power of IoT
All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in any form without prior authorisation.
Your use of this website constitutes acceptance of nextmedia's Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.