Chrome will start showing full-page warnings for "risky" downloads soon

[Alfonso Maruccia]

Facepalm: Google is introducing another change to how Chrome handles potentially risky or unknown downloads. The free, proprietary browser will soon display a new warning message, prompting users to provide a reason for downloading a potentially "malicious" file.

In recent years, web browsers have adopted an increasingly cautious approach to downloads from remote servers. Files are scanned beforehand to look for known security threats, and users are discouraged from proceeding with the download if a file is unknown or simply too recent. Chrome will soon elevate this approach by displaying a full-page warning for potentially risky downloads.

Google's proprietary browser employs the company's Safe Browsing technology to shield users from internet threats. Files are scanned in real-time, and downloads are blocked immediately if the browser deems them a potential danger to the user's device. Current versions of Chrome also offer a pop-up menu to "download the dangerous file" anyway.

Google is now working on a different way to alert users about risky downloads. If an unknown or malicious file is blocked, users can delete the entry from the browser's history or learn why Chrome blocked the download. A third option is provided through the "chrome://downloads/" internal page, where a file flagged as malicious or risky can be downloaded anyway.

The new full-page "download warning" introduced in recent Chrome builds gives users a chance to restore the aborted download process, although Google is asking for a reason. The Mountain View corporation wants users to specify if the risky file is being downloaded because they created it, trust the source, or are willing to accept the risk.

From a user's standpoint, any reason is sufficient to restore the download process. Google is likely planning to use the information provided through the new warning page, though there are currently no details or explanations about the change.

As things stand now, the recently introduced security warning adds even more complexity to file downloads after the many changes brought in recent years. Some users will likely be confused by the need to provide a reason to complete the download, especially when any reason will lead to the same result.

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Chrome will start showing full-page warnings for "risky" downloads soon

 

[quadibloc]

Helping people to avoid having their computers compromised is a good thing. But Firefox warns me when I try to download files from sites that happen to use http: instead of https:, for example. Mixing in needless warnings with important ones will dilute the effectiveness of the important warnings.

 

[FaTaL]

All its gonna do is just piss people off more.

 

[Day Wreaker]

I'm curious about chrome's new, more aggressive shortcut to quicken its development of that digital crystal ball (your private & public collected data for the sole purpose to create an accurate predictive analytical behavior profile through inferring detailed and verified data. So, now by adding this additional logical conclusion with reason of intent or motivations for downloading of the particular malicious file. This data will be added to users profile data. Article QUOTE: (prompting users to provide a reason for downloading a potentially "malicious" file.)

Google's been monopolizing the worlds data by collecting public, private, commercial, Governments & Militaries. In just about every privacy policy you'll find the word ( inferred or inference ) of your private data. Which means an educated guess. Now, they want our personal reason for wanting a file. Only to add this digital crystal ball. Huh, talk about the ability generate one hell of an educated guess on tje predictable behaviors of random google user.
Its like going to the casino with hopes to play a fair game of poker. Except your casino dealer is DATA from Star Trek Voyager.

Yeah, I know this comment is a hiccup-sneeze-fart of paranoia & I do apologize for that.
IDK, maybe one of geniuses here on TECHSPOT can connect the dots?
Think happy thoughts...

 

[LakoJake]

Chrome will keep us safe from any malicious software or any other software companies are paying Google to label as harmful. It's time to stop using Chromium based browsers. It's been tainted by Google.

 

[wizardB]

The riskiest download is downloading Chrome itself an absolutely porous POS if there ever was one it almost makes Edge look like a real browser.