The Google Safe Browsing initiative serves as a safeguard while users navigate the internet, identifying malware, scams, phishing, and other online threats in real-time. Introduced in 2005, it is utilized by prominent browsers such as Chrome, Google search, and Android, as well as Google Ads and Gmail, to ensure the security of five billion devices. This ensures users remain one step ahead of cybercriminals.

Following its initial launch in 2020, Enhanced Protection mode of Safe Browsing was introduced in Chrome. This feature is specifically designed to counter the increasing sophisticatedness of threats people encounter online. Today, over 1 billionChrome users utilize this mode, making them twice as safe from phishing and scams when compared to Safe Browsing’s Standard Protection mode. On the occasion of Safer Internet Day, we’re here to examine how Enhanced Protection mode functions to safeguard users from nefarious activities online.

The enhancement of Safe Browsing under Enhanced Protection mode depends heavily on advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning models designed to detect suspicious URLs employing familiar phishing, social engineering, and scam tactics. These algorithms are trained to distinguish between genuine and malicious websites based on millions of real-world instances.