Chrome Privacy & Security Settings - Google Safety Center (2024)

FAQs

What privacy settings should I use on Google Chrome? ›

Incognito mode

Incognito gives you peace of mind when you share your device with friends and family. Browse in Incognito, and your browsing history from your Incognito windows is deleted from Chrome once you close them.

Get warnings about unsafe sites

Phishing and malware detection is turned on by default in Chrome. When you encounter phishing, malware, unwanted software, or social engineering sites, you may get a red warning that says "Dangerous site." If you see this warning, we recommend that you don't visit the site.

You'll get this error if you have antivirus software that provides "HTTPS protection" or "HTTPS scanning." The antivirus is preventing Chrome from providing security. To fix the problem, turn off your antivirus software. If the page works after turning off the software, turn off this software when you use secure sites.

Double-check all your settings As a recommendation, you may want to turn off all tracking settings and pause all privacy options for optimal security. If you don't want your data tracked, going through all these settings is the best way to prevent it.

New Incognito Window.

Windows, Linux, or Chrome OS: Press Ctrl + Shift + n. Mac: Press ⌘ + Shift + n.

If Google Chrome blocks a site automatically, it may be because Google deems that site unsafe, or because your employer or school has chosen to prevent access to that site, so you should proceed with caution.

Safe Browsing protects you against attackers who may trick you into doing something dangerous like installing malicious software or revealing personal information like passwords, phone numbers, or credit cards.

Clear and reset your browser. Clearing stored data and resetting your browser might be enough to get rid of the fake McAfee virus pop-ups. Remove any suspicious extensions or apps manually. Run an antivirus scan to make sure everything is OK.

Safety Check

Chrome continuously checks if your browser is set up securely. It makes sure you have the latest security updates, checks your passwords and extensions for potential security risks, and resets permissions from unused sites to protect your privacy.

Why is Google giving me a security warning? ›

We send you security alerts when we: Detect important actions in your account, like if someone signs in on a new device. Detect suspicious activity in your account, like if an unusual number of emails are sent. Block someone from taking an important action, like viewing stored passwords.

Connections to sites that use HTTPS are more secure than those that don't. When you turn on Always use secure connections, Chrome upgrades URLs to use HTTPS and displays a warning before you visit a site that doesn't support it. Privacy and security.

The ad privacy features in Chrome can deliver the same browsing experience without the tracking. This is all part of the planned elimination of third-party cookies. It's only a first step towards a more private web. Chrome will continue to roll out more privacy protections over time.

Chrome strives to set safe defaults so you can safely browse the internet using Chrome without being a privacy or security expert. Chrome helps you understand personalization features, how to enable them, and their impact when enabled. However, privacy is a personal choice and not one size fits all.