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Google Chrome Blocks Malicious Downloads

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If you offer any downloads on your website, you should be aware of some new changes that Google is making with their Chrome Browser.

For quite some time, Google has shown a notation in the search results stating “This site may harm your computer” with an extra warning if you still try to click through to the site.

Google is checking for what it considers deceptive downloads: “programs disguised as a helpful download that actually make unexpected changes to your computer—for instance, switching your homepage or other browser settings to ones you don’t want.”

We’ll show a warning in Chrome whenever an attempt is made to trick you into downloading and installing such software. (If you still wish to proceed despite the warning, you can access it from your Downloads list.)

If Chrome believes it is malicious, it will display this:

chrome download safe

It is unclear how Chrome will handle downloads that’s purpose is to change things on your computer. If the changes are clear, will it not trigger a warning?  For example, many downloads are sponsored by Ask or Bing, and will change the default search engine and homepage while it installs.

If you have any downloads you offer on your site, you should regularly attempt to download in Chrome and make sure Chrome isn’t blocking your download.  It is also worth remembering that just because your download is clean today, doesn’t mean it might be clean tomorrow, if your site falls victim to hacking.  And Chrome is also known to sometimes have false positives, so to ensure you are giving your visitors a great user experience, ensure you check those downloads.

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Jennifer Slegg

Founder & Editor at The SEM Post
Jennifer Slegg is a longtime speaker and expert in search engine marketing, working in the industry for almost 20 years. When she isn't sitting at her desk writing and working, she can be found grabbing a latte at her local Starbucks or planning her next trip to Disneyland. She regularly speaks at Pubcon, SMX, State of Search, Brighton SEO and more, and has been presenting at conferences for over a decade.

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