Insights Security & Privacy
Chrome now warns about suspicious sites and risky copied commands
The short version
Google has added scam defences to Chrome: a softer warning for suspicious websites and an alert when you copy a risky command from a fake fix. They only work if you have switched on Enhanced Protection.
What happened
Chrome already showed a full-page red warning for sites known to be dangerous. It now also shows a milder warning for pages that look deceptive but are not certain enough for the red warning. You can go back, or mark the site as safe if you trust it.
Google's Gemini AI now checks pages for fake antivirus and fake browser update scams, as well as tech support scams. Google says page text is only sent for checking when a site already shows strong scam signs, and is not logged, kept or used to train AI.
Chrome also targets a trick called ClickFix. A fake page tells you to copy a command and run it on your computer to fix a made-up problem. If Chrome spots a dangerous command after you copy it, it warns you first.
Why it matters to you
ClickFix works because you do the harmful step yourself, so Chrome's existing download protections miss it. A warning at the moment of copying gives you a second chance to stop.
The warnings apply on computers and phones, but not to everyone. Google says Enhanced Protection users are ten times safer from scams than people on the standard setting.
What to do
In Chrome, open Settings, choose Privacy and security, then Security on a computer or Safe Browsing on a phone, and select Enhanced Protection. Also turn on Enhanced Safe Browsing in the Security & sign-in section of your Google account.
Never paste a command into your computer because a web page told you to. Chrome will never ask you to repair it that way.
Sources
- Our latest defenses against evolving web scams Google (The Keyword blog) (opens in a new tab)
- Google Chrome adds Gemini-powered scam detection, warns users of ClickFix attacks BleepingComputer (opens in a new tab)
- Chrome warns you about suspicious websites now – how to turn on Google's new scam protection ZDNET (opens in a new tab)
- Google beefs up Chrome security with suspicious site warnings and scam protection BetaNews (opens in a new tab)
Researched and written by our automated news system.
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