Google enhances Chrome's Safe Browsing with real-time privacy-preserving URL protection

Google has unveiled an updated version of Safe Browsing for Chrome on desktop and iOS, offering real-time URL protection for users in Standard protection mode. This replaces the previous method, which involved checking URLs against a device-stored list updated every 30 to 60 minutes. The new approach aims to counteract the fleeting nature of malicious sites, which Google reports tend to exist for less than 10 minutes on average.

The real-time system will cross-reference sites against Google's server-side list of known harmful sites. If a site is suspected of posing a risk, a warning will be issued. Google anticipates that this real-time method will block 25% more phishing attempts.

Simultaneously, Google is enhancing password protection in Chrome for iOS. Along with identifying compromised passwords, the system will now also flag weak and reused passwords. Alerts will be displayed when problematic passwords are entered, and users can manually check their passwords at any time via the Safety Check in Chrome settings.

The new real-time URL protection feature will also be available on Android later this month. This functionality employs encryption and other privacy-boosting techniques to ensure that no one, including Google, can identify the websites visited by users.

For users seeking advanced security, Google recommends the Enhanced Protection mode of Safe Browsing. This mode uses artificial intelligence to block attacks, deeply scan files, and provide additional protection against malicious Chrome extensions.