Google Chrome Rolls Out New AI-Powered Security Feature for All Users

Google Chrome has recently upgraded its “Enhanced protection” feature by integrating artificial intelligence (AI) to increase “real-time” security against harmful websites, downloads, and extensions. 

The new update, which provides a safer browsing experience for users, is now available on Google Chrome’s stable channel for all supported devices after being tested in the Canary for three months.

What is Chrome’s AI-Enhanced protection?

For years, Chrome has relied on Safe Browsing to shield users from online threats. The latest upgrade transitions from “proactive protection” to an AI-driven approach, meaning the AI can analyze real-time patterns and behaviors and warn about dangerous sites not previously identified by Google’s databases.

Google Chrome’s Enhanced protection feature

Enhanced protection goes beyond website warnings, though—it conducts thorough scans of downloads for suspicious activity, enhances overall security across Google services, and warns you if your passwords have been compromised in a data breach to help prevent unauthorized access.

However, Enhanced protection sends your browsing data to Google’s servers when activated, which might concern users who are particularly cautious about their online privacy.

How to Turn on Enhanced protection in Chrome

To activate the Enhanced protection feature, follow these steps (this works for both desktop and mobile versions of Chrome):

1. Open Google Chrome and go to Settings.
2. Find Privacy and Security and click Security.
3. Under Safe Browsing, select Enhanced protection to turn on the feature.

The rollout of Enhanced protection in Chrome reflects Google’s commitment to combating increasingly sophisticated online threats. However, using this feature involves sharing browsing data with Google—a move that might not sit well with everyone.