New Google Chrome Browser Feature Will Help Warn You of Bad Downloads

Now, if only people will pay attention! You will be able to override the warning and do something stupid anyway, but it will hopefully help!

Google Chrome Security Feature Targets Drive-by Downloads

“Google’s Chrome is getting a feature to help prevent people from accepting malware via downloads offered on Websites. The tool borrows from Google’s Safe Browsing API.

Google’s security team has launched a new feature for the Chrome Web browser that protects users from Websites that exist to shuttle malware to users’ computers.

If users try to download what Chrome suspects is a malicious Microsoft Windows executable file, they will see a warning notifying them that the file appears to be malicious and asking them if they want to complete the download.

Google, which shows the warning graphic here, calls these malware payloads ‘drive-by downloads.’

The move comes just days after email marketing power Epsilon said that attackers had stolen customer data belonging to several of its clients, including Target. Epsilon said thieves might use the information to launch a phishing campaign to trick users out of more sensitive personal data.

For now, Google is test-driving its anti-drive-by download feature for a subset of users who subscribe to the Chrome development release channel.

The goal is to make this feature available to all users in the next stable release of Google Chrome, which would be Version 11. This browser version is still in the developer channel.”

We all need to be aware of download hazards, and pay closer attention to warnings that we already get. Don’t just click “OK” and approve of downloads! Don’t hit the stupid animated monkey! Don’t open email attachments! Don’t forward the email that says, “Forward this or it will be bad luck!” OK, short and to the point, don’t be stupid! (OK, nothing personal, I am just frustrated by all the PCs I have had to rebuild for friends that were “tech-aware-impaired!”)