Google is rolling out a new safety feature in Chrome designed to alert users about potentially malicious websites before they load. This system mirrors the two-stage warning approach introduced for file downloads in 2024, which distinguishes between “suspicious” and “dangerous” files through distinct visual cues.
Under this framework, Chrome flags a site as “suspicious” when it exhibits characteristics common to phishing, malware distribution, or scam operations. Google classifies this as a lower-confidence verdict with a possible risk of harm, acknowledging potential false positives; users are advised to proceed only if certain of the site’s safety. Conversely, “dangerous” site warnings carry a high-confidence verdict and high risk of harm, signaling that the site should be avoided entirely.
The interface differentiates these alerts clearly. Suspicious site warnings appear as a pop-up overlay on desktop and mobile, dimming the page content behind it and offering a “Mark as safe” option for erroneous flags. Dangerous site warnings remain more intrusive, dominating the screen with a solid red background that replaces the webpage content.
Alongside the redesigned warnings, Google has upgraded Gemini-powered scam detection for Enhanced Protection subscribers. It remains unclear whether the new suspicious site notifications are exclusive to Enhanced Protection users or available broadly; Google has been contacted for clarification.
