The latest beta version of the Google Chrome Web browser includes potential URL protection that could make it harder for phishing schemes to take advantage of users. The Google Chrome team is experimenting with improved URLs that could provide better protection for users against phishing attacks that trick them into visiting malicious Websites.
The early-stage tests involve an "origin-chip" feature that replaces long and often-hard-to-decipher URLs with short URLs made up only of a Website's actual domain name, according to a May 5 story by The Register.
"Phishers might have a tougher time hooking victims if a new feature introduced into the experimental strain of Google's Chrome browser makes it into a future full release," reported The Register.
Instead of long URLs that are confusing and hard to identify as genuine, the shorter origin-chip URLs would mean that phishers couldn't create offshoot URLs that could deceive users into visiting their sites.
Google previously tested the feature in beta versions of Chrome, but it was dropped when users didn't like it, the story reported. The feature was "subsequently relegated to a default 'off' state in later updates to the experimental Chrome fork, 'Canary,'" which is where the latest experiments with the feature are taking place.
The experiments involving the origin chip today don't mean that the feature will eventually be included in Chrome browsers of the future. Instead, the testing is allowing developers to see if it is something that they would want to incorporate if the testing shows promise.
Download: Chrome Beta
Source: eWeek
The early-stage tests involve an "origin-chip" feature that replaces long and often-hard-to-decipher URLs with short URLs made up only of a Website's actual domain name, according to a May 5 story by The Register.
"Phishers might have a tougher time hooking victims if a new feature introduced into the experimental strain of Google's Chrome browser makes it into a future full release," reported The Register.
Instead of long URLs that are confusing and hard to identify as genuine, the shorter origin-chip URLs would mean that phishers couldn't create offshoot URLs that could deceive users into visiting their sites.
Google previously tested the feature in beta versions of Chrome, but it was dropped when users didn't like it, the story reported. The feature was "subsequently relegated to a default 'off' state in later updates to the experimental Chrome fork, 'Canary,'" which is where the latest experiments with the feature are taking place.
The experiments involving the origin chip today don't mean that the feature will eventually be included in Chrome browsers of the future. Instead, the testing is allowing developers to see if it is something that they would want to incorporate if the testing shows promise.
Download: Chrome Beta
Source: eWeek
