A third-party server, operating independently, helps in this process, and the update is an important step forward in protecting users from unsafe websites without compromising their privacy.
Real-time protection upgrade
The upgrade improves the standard Safe Browsing mode by incorporating a real-time protection protocol. Previously, Chrome would compare website URLs against a list of known malicious sites downloaded to the user's device.
With the new upgrade, Chrome will immediately scan for dangerous URLs through a third-party server, enhancing its effectiveness in detecting threats.
How it works
When you visit a website, Chrome first checks the URL against a locally stored list. If the URL is unknown, Chrome will hash and truncate the URL and encrypt the data before sending it to a “privacy” server run by Fastly.
This server anonymizes the data, ensuring user privacy, and then sends the information to Google's Safe Browsing server for real-time verification. If a match is found, Chrome alerts the user to the potential danger.
Upgrade benefits
Chrome's real-time privacy mechanism allows it to block unsafe sites more quickly. Additionally, it enables Google to maintain a more comprehensive list of malicious URLs, providing better protection than the previous system that relied on locally stored lists.
This upgrade is available now for Chrome on iOS and on PCs running Windows, macOS, and Linux, and will be rolled out to Android users in the coming weeks.
Improved version for more security
For users looking for more comprehensive protection, Google offers an enhanced version of its Safe Browsing feature. This version includes AI-based protections against malicious URLs and provides scanning for Chrome extensions and files. This additional layer of security is an option for those who prioritize online safety. Internet