Did you know that there is a free tool available from Google that is designed to help protect you and your data? This tool is known as Enhanced Safe Browsing and it can be used to provide additional protection whether you are browsing the Internet via Google Chrome or checking emails via Google’s Gmail service. All you have to do is enable the Enhanced Safe Browsing tool and configure it to work in the way that you want to provide the safeguards you need.
Google Safe Browsing
Ther internet can be a dangerous place – especially for small to medium-sized business owners and their staff. There are many different types of cyber threats that you need to be on the lookout for and know how to shield your essential data and network from on a daily basis. Certain downloads might contain malware and there are loads of emails that contain potential social engineering or phishing attacks that are designed to infiltrate your system.
When you work with a company like Synivate to provide you with a wide range of safety, security, and business continuity services, as well as strategic antivirus and firewall support, you can rest assured that you are covering all of the angles when it comes to network security. However, there are always more things that you can do and, thanks to Google, some of those layers of protection are totally free. Enhanced Safe Browsing is the latest, most comprehensive feature provided by Google to protect users of their Chrome browser and Gmail email service. Initially launched back in 2007 as “Google Safe Browsing,” this feature has undergone many changes, upgrades, and improvements over the years.
Some of the new features available in Enhanced Safe Browsing include:
- Protection from dangerous websites
- Protection from suspicious or dangerous downloads
- Warnings about potentially dangerous extensions
- Alerts when your passwords are exposed in a data breach
How It Works
You might not believe this, but Google’s Enhanced Safe Browsing features can be enabled and customized in just a few minutes. They can be used on desktops, laptops, and other mobile devices to ensure across the board protection for your in-house devices or personal employee devices that might connect to your in-house network during operational hours. Communication and education for staff is key, so it pays to take time to offer training and ongoing support to ensure that your team is up to date on the latest threats and protection options.
- Open Chrome and login to your Google Account
- Launch the Security submenu and locate the box for Enhanced Safe Browsing
- Click on that box and then toggle the feature on to enable it
- A pop-up window will confirm that this feature is now on
These features can also be enabled on Android and iPhones using a similar set of instructions. Simply open the settings menu for Chrome on your mobile device and select Privacy and Security from the available menu. Then you have the opportunity to choose the level of protection that you want when you enable the Enhanced Safe Browsing feature. Most users will be just fine with the Standard protection option, but there are additional selections available for you to consider.
Is This Feature Right for You?
To determine whether the Google Safe Browsing features are right for you and your company’s devices and workstations, you can contact our team at Synivate to discuss your options. We can assist you in choosing the best multi-level approach to increasing and improving network security at your place of business. Whether you have a large staff of employees who use your network computers on a daily basis or have a smaller in-house team managing your business, we can create custom solutions designed specifically to address all of your needs and concerns.
Our team of highly trained and experienced technicians and engineers work diligently to provide comprehensive services to our clients in the Greater Boston area and beyond. From 24/7 monitoring and management services to complete IT support for growing small businesses on a budget, we can help you address the issues of today and prepare for what’s coming next tomorrow. Our innovative technology solutions can be paired with whatever services and technologies you require to work effectively and efficiently within your organization’s industry. We have worked with a wide range of clients across many different industries and can help you achieve your goals.
Will Enhanced Safe Browsing Impact Daily Activities?
Many business owners worry that all of these levels of services for security in Google Chrome and security in Gmail might slow down productivity. However, Enhanced Safe Browsing was designed to work automatically in the background to ensure a faster, more proactive tool. While protecting you from potentially dangerous websites, downloads, and extensions, you and your team will not be inundated with lots of pop-ups, messages, and requests. As long as you are signed in to your Google account, these services will improve your security for Gmail and Chrome.
As you go about your daily business, this enhanced tool will check for:
- Risky website addresses
- Suspicious downloads
- Dangerous extensions
- System information
- Web pages and documents
Google then uses the information collected about these types of web-based properties, tools, and data to improve your security in Google Chrome and enhance security in Gmail. These services will temporarily associate the information received by Enhanced Safe Browsing with your Google Account to assist in protecting you, your device, and your data while using Google Apps. This method is used to offer security features in real-time, scanning everything you are doing as you go to offer warnings or block downloads, access to dangerous websites, or use of risky extensions. This ensures ongoing safeguards against known phishing schemes and malware infections across the board.
Ongoing Management of Google Safe Browsing Tools
Once you have Enhanced Safe Browsing enabled on your Google account, it is possible to go back in and adjust your settings to ensure that you have the level of protection that you desire. You can also turn this feature on and off, as needed. If you have Enhanced Safe Browsing turned on, it will also be turned on automatically when you sign into Chrome or Gmail using your password. It is important to understand that some setting changes may take up to 24 hours to complete, including turning off Enhanced Safe Browsing and the level of protection that you have chosen for your devices.
If you need assistance with these features or any other network security protections, you can count on our team at Synivate to ensure that everything is working as it should. Our managed services can be used to improve weaknesses, identify strengths, and enhance your existing systems, processes, and operations to ensure that you have the most comprehensive IT strategy available to achieve your unique business objectives. Each client is different and their requirements can vary depending on the industry that they serve and any regulations they might need to uphold. So whether your company is a simple mom-and-pop organization or if you have a larger corporate model with dozens of employees, we can help you to protect it all more effectively.
Innovative Technology Solutions and Best Practices
Our team will help ensure that your organization is properly aligned with the industry’s best cybersecurity practices and that you have implemented the latest security measures and protocols. All of these services are designed to ensure that your company’s data, applications, and networks are protected from all types of cyber threats. We also assist you in developing an effective business continuity system, otherwise known as a backup and recovery plan. In the event of a disaster – natural or human-designed – it is essential that you are able to get back up and running as quickly as possible to protect your business.
We will work with you to streamline your IT processes, ensure that your resources are operating efficiently, and that your system is optimized for the best performance. Our team will ensure that you are compliant with industry standards and regulations, as well as help you to remain focused on future goals and increased productivity at all levels of your operations. In addition, we offer quarterly business review meetings to ensure open communications with our clients. This helps us to keep you informed about new opportunities to enhance your security, while giving you the chance to keep us up to date about your ever-changing technology demands and goals.
Contact Synivate for a FREE Evaluation
If you are ready to get started and empower your business to achieve its fullest potential. Give Synivate a call at 617-517-0704 and speak with one of our friendly and helpful technicians. We can answer any questions that you might have about our managed services and assist you in maximizing the potential of your already existing security options. So whether you want to take advantage of free tools like Google’s Enhanced Safe Browsing for Chrome and Gmail OR if you want to take a more intense approach to network security and staff training, you can count on Synivate to help you achieve your goals.