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Google makes search in Chrome more secure


Google is making web searches more secure in its Chrome browser, whose latest beta now conducts searches over Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) whether or not a user is signed in to Google. In a blog post, software engineer Adam Langley said the feature is now in Chrome version 25, which is presently in the Dev and Beta channels. "Serving content over SSL provides users with a more secure and private search experience. It helps ensure that malicious actors who might intercept people’s internet traffic can’t see their queries," Langley said. He said that while Chrome presently sends searches via SSL from the Chrome omnibox (address bar) when a user is signed in, the new feature will use SSL for all searches, regardless of whether a user is signed in. Langley noted many major sites have begun serving content over SSL by default, such as Gmail in early 2010, Twitter in February 2012, and Facebook in November 2012. Also, he said search has been moving toward encryption, with Google introducing Encrypted Search in May 2010. Google even made encryption the default for signed-in users starting in October 2011, Langley noted. Even Mozilla, makers of Chrome rival Firefox, announced a switch to SSL for all Google searches in July 2012, and Apple's Safari followed suit in September 2012. "Chrome is continuing this trend," he said. Langley also said the new secure search will not affect speed. "Users shouldn’t notice any changes. If anything, their searches will be slightly faster due to Chrome’s implementation of the SPDY protocol, but there should be no other user-visible effect," he said. — LBG, GMA News

Tags: google, chrome
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