Google Adds Automatic Blocking Of Malware Downloads to Latest Chrome Build

[Matsuda]

Google today announced Chrome is getting an automatic download blocking feature for malware. Google has already added the new functionality to the latest build of Chrome Canary.

All versions of Chrome will soon automatically block downloads and let you know in a message at the bottom of your screen. You will be able to “Dismiss” the message, although it’s not clear if you will be able to stop or revert the block:

In its announcement, Google explains criminals regularly try to trick users into installing and running malicious software by bundling it with free and sometimes fake screensavers, video plugins, or even supposed security updates. In all these cases, Chrome is increasingly being targeted because its usage is growing.

As we know, these downloads are rarely what they claim to be. As Google notes:

These malicious programs disguise themselves so you won’t know they’re there and they may change your homepage or inject ads into the sites you browse. Worse, they block your ability to change your settings back and make themselves hard to uninstall, keeping you trapped in an undesired state.

The company also underlined other security features it already offers, such as its Safe Browsing service that protects over 1 billion Chrome, Firefox, and Safari users from malware and phishing sites (10,000 new websites flagged daily). In Chrome 29, Google also added a “reset browser settings” button (in Advanced Settings) to let users easily return Chrome to a factory-fresh state and revert whatever damage malware has done.

Google says Canary is “the most bleeding-edge official version of Chrome and somewhat of a mix between Chrome dev and the Chromium snapshot builds.” While the addition of any specific feature in Canary doesn’t guarantee it will ship in Chrome one day, the fact Google is announcing the feature means automatic malware download blocking is a question of “when” rather than “if.”

View: Original Article

Edited October 31, 2013 by Matsuda

[Ambrocious]

Wouldn't this also prevent the downloading of cracks and patches?

[avmad]

I thought it did this already?

[nIGHT]

They should let the user have total control on the blocking issue as they already included a "reset browser settings". :rolleyes:

[geeteam]

Google recently announced on the Google Chrome blog that the new Canary build of Chrome has been updated with a native malware detection feature to keep users safe.

Canary builds -which are the "Alpha" testing versions of Chrome- get the latest and greatest features before rolling out into the beta and stable channels of the browser. A few months back, Google introduced the ability to locate browser tabs which were making sounds as well as the introduction of desktop notifications. Now, Google has implemented malware detection in the browser to save unsuspecting users from potential fraud.

Google notes that users are often greeted with free screensavers, video plugins or fake security software which often trap casual surfers. Chrome would now warn users of such malicious downloads before it gets stored to the PC and does any real harm. The browser also comes with a "reset browser settings" button since the last update to remove any toolbars or addons that might have been installed accidentally. Google is actively taking feedback from users and trying to introduce as many requested features as possible.

The company flags upto 10,000 websites using "Safe Browsing" per day, which has also been introduced into Canary, and the introduction of malware detection is another step towards a more secure surfing experience for users, which is a top priority for Google.

source: neowin