Google has introduced a new real-time password security alert to enhance account safety against cyber threats.
This upgrade, initially available to iPhone and PC users, will extend to Android users later this month as part of a broader security enhancement.
Previously, Google only notified users if their password was leaked in a data breach, but now users will also receive alerts for weak or reused passwords.
Data breaches occur frequently, potentially impacting thousands of individuals simultaneously.
Recently, TV streaming service Roku disclosed over 15,000 compromised customer accounts due to cyber attacks.
These breached accounts were being sold on the Dark Web for as little as 50 cents each.
Maintaining strong and unique passwords for each account is essential to prevent further risks if a password is compromised in a breach.
Experts recommend using a different password for each account to mitigate the consequences of password reuse.
A 20-character random password with a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, symbols, and numbers offers maximum security.
While challenging to remember, it’s advisable to avoid storing passwords in browsers and instead opt for a trusted password manager like Google’s.
Google is also enhancing its Safe Browsing’s Standard protection to check suspicious sites for malware in real-time, a significant improvement over the previous system.
Previously, Safe Browsing relied on a local list on devices, but this update will allow it to check sites against Google’s server-side list of known malicious sites instantly, expected to block 25% more phishing attempts.
Google Chrome, the widely used web browser, is cross-platform, free to download, and forms the core of Google’s operating system, Chrome OS.
Most of Chrome’s code originates from the open-source project Chromium, with Google Chrome being its general-release version.
Despite its popularity, Google Chrome’s global usage has slightly declined from its peak, with around 68% of web browsers worldwide being Google Chrome as per StatCounter data.
