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Google Chrome Gains Real-Time URL Protection on Mac and iOS

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Google today announced that it is upgrading Google Safe Browsing with real-time URL protection to keep Chrome users safe from malicious websites. Safe Browsing is designed to protect against phishing attacks, malware, and unwanted software by checking URLs against a master list.

Chrome-Feature-22.jpg

The Standard protection for Chrome previously used a list that is stored on device and updated every 30 to 60 minutes, but now websites will be checked against Google's server-side list of known bad sites in real time. Google says it expects to block 25 percent more phishing attempts with the change.

Google is partnering with Fastly to operate an Oblivious HTTP privacy server between Chrome and Safe Browsing in order to preserve user privacy. Safe Browsing does not see the user's IP address, and Safe Browsing checks are mixed with those sent from other Chrome users.

Chrome users can alternatively opt in to Enhanced Protection, a Safe Browsing mode that uses AI to block attacks and offers protection against malicious Chrome extensions.

Google also recently updated Password Checkup on iOS devices. In addition to making users aware of compromised passwords, it will flag weak and reused passwords as well.

Chrome is a free browser that is available as an alternative to Safari on the Mac, iPhone, and iPad.

Article Link: Google Chrome Gains Real-Time URL Protection on Mac and iOS
 
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https://www.macrumors.com/2024/03/14/chrome-real-time-url-protection/
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HackMacDaddy

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„Fastly today announced it has entered into an agreement with Google to operate an Oblivious HTTP Relay (OHTTP Relay) as part of FLEDGE, the Privacy Sandbox initiative to improve privacy while continuing to support tailored advertising.
FLEDGE is a Privacy Sandbox proposal for remarketing and custom audience advertising use cases that is designed to choose relevant ads without allowing cross-site tracking.“
 
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Realityck

Realityck

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www.theverge.com

Google says Chrome can now protect you better while preserving your privacy

The feature is available now on desktop and iOS.
www.theverge.com www.theverge.com
For years, Chrome’s Safe Browsing feature has automatically added potentially unsafe URLs to a list Google stores on your device. Every time a user visits a site, Google checks the URL against that list and issues a warning. The problem is that Google only updates this locally stored database every 30 to 60 minutes. Given most dangerous sites exist for less than 10 minutes nowadays, a lot of unsafe sites slip through the cracks.

Safe Browsing’s opt-in Enhanced protection mode deals with this by using Google’s Safe Browsing server-side database, which catches unsafe URLs much faster in real time. Yet users must provide Google with more security-related data for full protection, which is why it’s an opt-in mode.

Google says the privacy server will then strip the URL of any potential user identifiers like IP addresses and will not be able to decrypt the URL. Afterward, it’ll send it to Safe Browsing’s server-side database via a TLS connection that mixes your request with those sent by other Chrome users.

Safe Browsing should then be able to decrypt the URL to its full hash form — which still hides the URL — and check it against its list. If Safe Browsing finds a match, Google says it’ll only send the encrypted hash form over to Google, and Google will then warn the user.

As a result, throughout the process, Google claims your browsing activity remains private; no single party will be able to see both your IP address and the URL’s hash prefixes. At the same time, Google says it should be able to block 25 percent more phishing attempts.
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It's tough to block malicious temporary sites, and now you have an option to send Google even more security related data also? How convenient! :oops:
 
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Realityck

Realityck

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Sarcastro said:
Nope, nope, nope, nope - this is why I avoid Chrome at all costs.
Click to expand...
Other then Safari 17.4 I now use Brave over Firefox to deal with the problematic web sites on MacOS to eliminate all the aggressive ads that try to redirect your browser to other sites. I hope they can bring that tech to iOS initially for EU crowd as it's an absolute gem to utilize.
 
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