Google’s Safe Browsing helps you avoid fake download buttons online, thanks to a new update. When it comes to useful information, the World Wide Web is full of it, but there are traps and tricky websites at every corner, as well, baiting unsuspecting users.
The various ways in which some websites con users into unwanted downloads and clicking on bad links is called social engineering, and Google’s Safe Browsing protection tool intends to fend off such schemes.
After pledging to protect its users from different scams, the search giant is not updating its feature in order to fight off fake download buttons as well. In a recent blog post, Google explained that Safe Browsing’s protection has been expanded so users will be protected from fake embedded content.
During your online adventures, you might have encountered deceptive download buttons that could download a virus onto your device, or an ad that falsely claimed your system is out of date.
Google’s feature, which is available for Android and Google’s Chrome browser, will now warn its users when they’re heading on a harmful site through a screen notification. The tech company aims to protect as many Web users as possible and eliminate harmful browser software.
This security information was also share with Apple’s Safari and Mozilla’s Firefox through a “safe browsing” application. Prior to this update, Safe Browsing was protecting its users from malicious websites that tricked them into giving up their credentials or install disguised malware.
With the new update, Google will also protect you from embedded content. This is a bit more difficult to identify, because they come in the shape of target ads generally integrated right into the Web page.
Even though they look like the real deal, these ads replace the legitimate content. In other words, embedded content is able to take the form of common ads and try to trick users into installing applications, updates and software that could harm their device.
One of the most common types of embedded content looks like a download button, oftentimes placed right next to the real download button. For the untrained eye, they appear to be genuine and also more enticing, given that they are often larger and more convincing looking.
In order to reduce these schemes, Google’s Safe Browsing will start flagging malicious content by displaying visible warnings. Meanwhile, Web page owners will also be notified of the embedded content found on their pages.
Image Source: Toronto Sun
