recent code change (opens in a new tab) for Google Chrome discovered an updated feature that will be popular Web browser automatic prevention of insecure downloads from HTTP sites.
Formerly the norm, many HTTP sites have been upgraded to use HTTPS encryption to protect the extensive data we share about ourselves online.
Now the preferred option, Google has already implemented a number of changes to make it more secure for users to recover and share data.
Chrome: HTTP and HTTPS
One such change is the recently introduced “Always use secure connections” toggle that tells Chrome to upgrade all sites from an HTTP connection to HTTPS. Older sites that only support HTTP also show an “Not secure” warning in the address bar.
Code change noticed by 9To5Google (opens in a new tab) indicates that the switch will now warn users before downloading anything from the HTTP connection. Previously, Chrome users were notified when an HTTPS site downloaded an HTTP file, known as mixed content.
In keeping with the nature of the toggle button, it will mainly serve as a full-prevention warning, allowing users to continue using the web as desired, which in some cases may still result in a less secure HTTP connection.
The update is unlikely to arrive in Chrome 111, expected in March 2023 for testing, but could be part of the company’s next release later in the year.
Google’s commitment to its browser, whether it’s security enhancements or other features such as recently announced memory and power saving modes, is praised by web users to the point that it now accounts for two-thirds (66%) of all browsers installed on computers according to to statistics counter (opens in a new tab).
Microsoft Edge and Apple Safari fall far behind in second and third place, representing approximately 11% and 10% of the desktop browser market, respectively.