Google Chrome will make it easier to detect dangerous extensions and downloads as part of an expansion of the browser's Enhanced Safe Browsing mode.

Enhanced Safe Browsing was launched last year and uses real-time URL checking and machine learning models to warn users about possible attacks. As a result, Google states that users using this mode are 35% less likely to be successful in phishing attempts than those who have not enabled it.

The update, which is being rolled out in Chrome 91, is specifically concerned with extensions and downloads, a common route by which hackers attempt to compromise your machine.

Once the update is applied, you will need to follow some additional steps to install untrusted extensions (extensions created by developers that do not follow Google's developer program policies) if you are using Extended Safe Browsing mode

Google will not install extensions that are not trusted by the developer.

Google is not going to stop you from installing the extension in question, but it will warn you about what it might do. Fortunately, this doesn't seem to happen very often, since according to Google, almost three-quarters of the extensions in the Chrome Store are considered trustworthy.

As for downloads, it's a bit simpler: if Chrome determines that a downloaded file is "dangerous but not obviously safe," it gives you the option to upload it to Google's servers for a more thorough check. If Google still deems the file unsafe, it will indicate this.

This process is not mandatory, and you have the option to ignore Chrome's warning at any stage, but it does increase the level of security when downloading files from the web.

The Enhanced Safe Browsing mode change is available in Chrome 91 and is currently being rolled out for users. To enable Enhanced Safe Browsing, click the Security option in Chrome's Settings menu and select "Enhanced Protection" mode.