Google has added a new privacy tool aimed at Chrome users called the Privacy Guide.
According to Google, the guide is “a step-by-step guided tour of some existing privacy and security controls in Chrome” that lets Chrome users adjust all their important settings from a centralized location.
Adding a few hand-holding precautions is a move reminiscent of Apple’s decision to reconfigure their privacy settings a few years ago: Google’s working to help the average user gain a better understanding of how to remain secure and keep their data private in the modern age.
How Privacy Guide Works
The guide is rolling out with a collection of features to address the issues that Google thinks are most important: Controls for cookies, history sync, Safe Browsing, and Make Searches and Browsing Better. Then, Google plans to add more settings, taking user feedback into consideration.
The Guide hasn’t begun rolling out yet, but once it does, you’ll be able to find it in Settings > Privacy and Security > Privacy Guide. Once clicked, the guide opens up as an in-window series of cards that walks the user through a variety of privacy options.
Changes are saved as you progress, so you can stop the guide halfway through and pick it up again at a later date without losing any previous settings.
The guide is coming for Chrome desktop users with version 100 or above, and will be fully out in “the coming weeks,” Google says in its announcement blog post.
Chrome Security
Just how safe are you while using Chrome?
Two months ago, we reported on a high-severity zero-day vulnerability that affected everyone who hadn’t updated to the latest version of Chrome. And one month ago, we featured a new code package for would-be phishing hackers that allowed anyone to create fake Chrome browser window login pop-ups with very little effort — pop-ups that could be used to trick victims out of their personal data.
While the Google Safety Engineering Center would have already been working on the Privacy Guide by the time either of those security crises reared their heads, it’s good timing. The guide could go a long way towards addressing Chrome security risks by gently nudging users toward the safest configuration of settings.
And while you’re waiting for the Chrome Privacy Guide to roll out to your device, a good password manager is the most useful step anyone who’s not working at Google can take. It’ll flag suspicious sites, and could keep you from logging into the wrong one — no matter which browser you’re using at the time.
