Google's Safe Browsing to extend to embedded content

Google is expanding its Safe Browsing technology to not only protect its Chrome users from deceptive websites but also to protect against deceptive ads on legitimate sites. Safe Browsing plans to target deceptive 'embedded content', these are ads that pose as trusted bodies and present messages such as a system warning, or fake security alerts. Safe Browsing was updated in November to also protect users from social engineering attacks. 

Pretend to act, or look and feel, like a trusted entity — like your own device or browser, or the website itself.

Try to trick you into doing something you’d only do for a trusted entity — like sharing a password or calling tech support.





Below are some examples of deceptive content, shown via ads:

This image claims that your software is out-of-date to trick you into clicking “update”.

This image mimics a dialogue from the FLV software developer -- but it does not actually originate from this developer.





These buttons seem like they will produce content that relate to the site (like a TV show or sports video stream) by mimicking the site’s look and feel. They are often not distinguishable from the rest of the page.





Our fight against unwanted software and social engineering is still just beginning. We'll continue to improve Google's Safe Browsing protection to help more people stay safe online.





Will my site be affected?



