Microsoft is reaching out to Chrome users with a new browser extension designed to help protect them against online threats as they browse the web. Called Windows Defender Browser Protection, the extension promises to shield users from a number of potential online threats by warning about links in phishing emails and malicious websites.
"The Windows Defender Browser Protection extension for Google Chrome allows you to add an additional layer of protection when browsing online, powered by the same trusted intelligence found in Microsoft Edge," Microsoft says. "The extension alerts you about known malicious links, and gives you a clear path back to safety."
The extension works by matching links against a constantly updated list of known malicious URLs. If a link matches one on the list, Windows Defender Browser Protection will flash a red warning screen, alerting users that the website is known to be malicious.
It's an interesting move, to be sure – particularly because Chrome already offers this sort of protection on its own. However, Microsoft claims that the phishing protection offered by Microsoft Edge is effective against 99 percent of attacks, compared to 87 percent and 70 percent for Chrome and Firefox, respectively. Since, according to Microsoft, the Chrome extension relies on the same backbone as Edge, then there's an argument for adding it as an extra layer of protection.
In any case, if you're a Chrome user, you can pick up Windows Defender Browser Protection from the Chrome web store now.
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