Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

SecurityWeekSecurityWeek

Endpoint Security

Google Expands Safe Browsing Protection on macOS

Google announced this week that it will expand Safe Browsing on macOS in an effort to protect Chrome users against unwanted ad injections and unauthorized settings changes.

Google announced this week that it will expand Safe Browsing on macOS in an effort to protect Chrome users against unwanted ad injections and unauthorized settings changes.

“Safe Browsing is broadening its protection of macOS devices, enabling safer browsing experiences by improving defenses against unwanted software and malware targeting macOS,” Google’s Kylie McRoberts and Ryan Rasti said on the company’s Security Blog. “As a result, macOS users may start seeing more warnings when they navigate to dangerous sites or download dangerous files.”

Applications that inject ads violate Google’s unwanted software policy and Mac users will be warned when Chrome detects such activity.

Safe Browsing warning on MacOS

As for Chrome settings, the tech giant wants to ensure that applications cannot make unauthorized changes to the start page, the home page and the default search engine.

Google recently launched a new Mac API called Settings Overrides, which allows Chrome extensions to override the start page, home page and search settings in the web browser. The company wants this API to be the only approved method for making changes to Chrome settings on macOS and OS X.

However, only extensions approved for the Chrome Web Store are allowed to use the Settings Overrides API. Starting with March 31, Chrome will display a warning when a piece of software attempts to modify settings via other methods.

Related: Google Improves Safe Browsing for Network Admins

Related: Google Optimizes Safe Browsing API for Mobile

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

Related: Google Brings Safe Browsing to Chrome for Android

Related: Google Enhances Safe Browsing in Chrome, Search

Written By

Eduard Kovacs (@EduardKovacs) is a managing editor at SecurityWeek. He worked as a high school IT teacher for two years before starting a career in journalism as Softpedia’s security news reporter. Eduard holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial informatics and a master’s degree in computer techniques applied in electrical engineering.

Click to comment

Trending

Daily Briefing Newsletter

Subscribe to the SecurityWeek Email Briefing to stay informed on the latest threats, trends, and technology, along with insightful columns from industry experts.

Join the session as we discuss the challenges and best practices for cybersecurity leaders managing cloud identities.

Register

SecurityWeek’s Ransomware Resilience and Recovery Summit helps businesses to plan, prepare, and recover from a ransomware incident.

Register

Expert Insights

Related Content

Endpoint Security

Today, on January 10, 2023, Windows 7 Extended Security Updates (ESU) and Windows 8.1 have reached their end of support dates.

Application Security

Virtualization technology giant VMware on Tuesday shipped urgent updates to fix a trio of security problems in multiple software products, including a virtual machine...

Endpoint Security

Gigabyte has announced BIOS updates that remove a recently identified backdoor feature in hundreds of its motherboards.

Endpoint Security

Several major companies have published advisories in response to the Downfall vulnerability affecting Intel CPUs.

Application Security

Microsoft on Tuesday pushed a major Windows update to address a security feature bypass already exploited in global ransomware attacks.The operating system update, released...

Endpoint Security

The Zero Day Dilemma

CISO Strategy

Varied viewpoints as related security concepts take on similar traits create substantial confusion among security teams trying to evaluate and purchase security technologies.

Endpoint Security

When establishing visibility and security controls across endpoints, security professionals need to understand that each endpoint bears some or all responsibility for its own...