Google Strikes Back At Rivals With Chrome Security And Privacy Overhaul

The browser wars are heating up and despite its number one position, Google Chrome is feeling pressure from rivals including Microsoft Edge. Much of that rivalry is centered around security and privacy, which is why Chrome is today striking back at rivals including Microsoft with a set of new features.

The set of features come as part of a “redesign” that will start rolling out today (May 19) to Chrome’s desktop users. The idea is to make your security and privacy more “intuitive.” That’s marketing speak for easier to use. 

Google says the redesign makes Chrome controls “even easier to find and understand, with simplified language and visuals.”

So, what has changed?

For example, the new safety check in Chrome will tell users if the passwords they had asked Chrome to remember have been compromised, and if so, how to fix them.


It will flag if Safe Browsing which is Google''s technology to warn before you visit a dangerous site or download a harmful app or extension, is turned off.


The safety check tool also has a new additional way to quickly see if your version of Chrome is up to date.


If malicious extensions are installed, it will tell you how and where to remove them.


In Site Settings, Google has reorganised the controls into two distinct sections to make it easier to find the most sensitive website permissions: access to your location, camera or microphone, and notifications. A new section also highlights the most recent permissions activity.


The redesign also makes it easier to manage cookies. Users can block all cookies on some or all websites.


"At the top of Chrome settings, you''ll see ''You and Google'' (previously "People"), where you can find sync controls. These controls put you in charge of what data is shared with Google to store in your Google Account and made available across all your devices," AbdelKarim Mardini, Senior Product Manager at Google, wrote in a blog post on Tuesday.


Because many people regularly delete their browsing history, Google has moved that control, "Clear browsing data", to the top of the Privacy & Security section.


"We''re also launching Secure DNS, a feature designed to improve your security and privacy while browsing the web," Mardini said.


When you access a website, your browser first needs to determine which server is hosting it, using a step known as a "DNS (Domain Name System) lookup."


Chrome''s Secure DNS feature uses DNS-over-HTTPS to encrypt this step, thereby helping prevent attackers from observing what sites you visit or sending you to phishing websites.


By default, Chrome will automatically upgrade you to DNS-over-HTTPS if your current service provider supports it.


Users will also be able to configure a different secure DNS provider in the Advanced security section, or disable the feature altogether.


Google said the new updates and features, including the redesigned Privacy and Security settings, will be coming to Chrome on desktop platforms in upcoming weeks.

Managing cookies and permissions for better security and privacy 

The revamped Chrome controls will now make it easier to manage cookies, the pesky trackers that follow you around the web. It’s now more simple to manage these cookies in Chrome and you can block third party cookies in regular or Incognito mode.

At the same time it is easier to find sensitive website permissions such as access to your location, camera or microphone, and notifications. A new section in Chrome highlights your most recent permissions activity.

At the top of Chrome settings, Google’s added a “You and Google” section where you can find sync controls. “These controls put you in charge of what data is shared with Google to store in your Google Account and made available across all your devices,” says Google.

It’s also easier to delete your browsing history—Google has moved “Clear browsing data” to the top of the Privacy & Security section. 

Safety check to boost browsing security 

Safety check is another useful feature. If you’ve asked Chrome to remember your passwords, Google is offering a new tool will tell you if these have been compromised, and how to fix them. 

Safety check also alerts you if Google’s Safe Browsing—which warns you before you visit a dangerous site or download a bad app—is turned off. And it can see if your Chrome version is up to date, as well as warn you if you have a malicious extension installed.

Talking of extensions, Chrome can also give you more control on what these can access on the sites you visit via a new puzzle icon on your toolbar. 

Safer browsing and secure DNS in Chrome

Google is offering you the opportunity to “opt in to” (rather than being enabled by default) two security upgrades. In Chrome, Enhanced Safe Browsing gives you “more proactive and tailored protections from phishing, malware and other web-based threats.”

When it’s turned on, Google says, Chrome proactively checks whether pages and downloads are dangerous by sending information about them to Google Safe Browsing.  

“If you’re signed in to Chrome, then Chrome and other Google apps you use will further protect you based on a holistic view of threats you encounter on the web and attacks against your Google Account,” Google says.

Meanwhile, Secure DNS is a feature designed to improve your security and privacy while you browse.

Google Chrome may be the most popular browser by a long mile, but its closest competitors, Microsoft Edge and Firefox, and a number of other browsers are differentiating themselves on security and privacy. With this latest overhaul, Google is hoping to strike back, and maintain its position as the browser market leader.

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