Tech

Google Announced that Chrome Will Start Blocking File Downloads

By Bill Toulas / February 7, 2020

Up until now, Google Chrome has been warning users when they tried to download executables like “.exe” files, or archives like “.zips” from websites that didn’t have trustworthy certificates and which don’t follow the HTTPS protocol. Google has decided to take the next step in the upcoming versions of Chrome, going from displaying warnings to actually blocking the downloads. The following is the timeline that has been published in Google’s Security Blog, determining what is going to happen and when.

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Source: Google Security Blog

The rollout of Chrome for the Android and iOS mobile platforms will be delayed by one release, so the warnings will appear with version 83 there. This is to allow the developers of mobile websites the time to update their online platforms, and because iOS and Android have better intrinsic protection against the downloading of malicious files. All that said, by the end of 2020, the only downloads that will be allowed in Chrome must come through HTTPS websites, otherwise, they will be blocked.

If you want to know more about why it is important to pay attention to whether a website uses HTTP or HTTPS, read our detailed analysis that will help you tell the difference. Simply put, HTTPS adds a layer of encryption between you and the server. Moreover, it uses a digital certificate that’s signed by a trusted authority, so it is there to signify that you’re browsing a safe and verified place. Some browsers like the “Brave” for example, automatically check if a website you’re trying to visit has an HTTPS version, and redirect you there instead.



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