Google has updated its threat detection system for downloaded files and improved its virus scanning algorithms. Now, the browser can better assess potential risks and scan even password-protected archives.
The updated Chrome doesn’t just warn users about potentially dangerous downloads; it provides one of two warnings, indicating that the download might be “suspicious” or “dangerous.” In both cases, the download is halted. If the user has enabled the enhanced protection feature, the browser will automatically upload the dangerous file to the cloud for inspection, rather than just offering to do so as it did previously.
According to Google, the likelihood of detecting threats increases by 50 times after sending a file for deep scanning. Encrypted archives can also be checked in the cloud: Chrome will prompt the user to enter the password during the scan, allowing the AI to inspect the contents. However, this function only works in enhanced protection mode. By default, the browser only scans the file’s metadata without sending it to the cloud.
Suspicious files are marked with a gray triangle, while a red icon indicates a high risk to the user and a high confidence level in the detection of malware.
Google claims that these updates have already led to “significant changes in user behavior,” with users responding more quickly to warnings and ignoring them less frequently.