Google Plans To Add New Security Feature To Alert Users From Malicious Downloads

By Author: eccuni
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Internet security has become a major challenge for users and developers alike. Cybercriminals constantly identify and exploit weaknesses in websites, computers and networks. Internet users are enticed to visit vulnerable sites through spam e-mails, phishing, cross-site scripting and SQL injection. When unwary Internet users visit an infected site, malware is installed into the computers. Software developers, browser vendors and security vendors are faced with the challenge of improving Internet security. Search engines maintain a database of risky sites and warn users against visiting those sites. For instance, Google uses Safe Browsing API to warn users attempting to visit forged sites. Internet browsers such as Chrome, Firefox and Safari also use Safe Browsing API. Recently, Google announced a new security feature for Chrome. The security feature is intended to protect browsers from downloading malicious Windows executables. The protection feature would be integrated with Chrome Browser. Once integrated, the feature will issue alert, if user attempts to download from a malicious website, if it is listed in the latest list ...
... of dangerous sites, published by Safe Browsing API.

Google intends to test the feature with the Chrome development Release Channel. The subscribers to the development channel would be able to benefit from the new feature. The company is likely to make the feature available for all users during the next stable release of Chrome. Constantly evolving threats in the online space make it inevitable for developers to improve security features of products. IT professionals could be encouraged to undertake online technology degree programs to keep them abreast of latest threats and security mechanisms.

Site administrators and website masters could benefit from Google webmaster tools to identify malware issues on their sites. Cyber threats are growing in frequency and sophistication. Security concerns has resulted in increased demand for professionals qualified in IT masters degree, penetration testing, secured programming and other IT security certifications.

While vendors must strive to improve security features of products, emphasis must also be placed on improving cyber security awareness among Internet users. Most of the threats require human intervention to succeed. As such, e-tutorials, e-learning programs, computer science degree courses, blogs and advertisements could be used to enable users to gain insights on different types of threats, preventive measures, security solutions and safe online computing practices.