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Chrome 86 beefs up password security on Android and iOS

Once again, Google is highlighting the plethora of improvements it is making to the Chrome browser. The update mainly deals with beefing up password security on mobile versions of Chrome, as it makes a number of security-focused additions and other usability tweaks.

Google will check whether users' passwords have been compromised, and that is found to be the case, the firm will take users directly to the appropriate "Change Password" form. The feature is presently available to Android and iOS users. The firm is also adding its Safety Check system to mobile, which checks for compromised passwords and makes sure that Chrome is up to date. It also checks whether Safe Browsing is on.

The firm is bringing Enhanced Safe Browsing to Android, which was made available to desktop browsers earlier this year. With the mode enabled, Chrome can "proactively protect you against phishing, malware, and other dangerous sites by sharing real-time data with Google's Safe Browsing service." Google expects that when this service is enabled, there will be a 20% drop in users entering their passwords into phishing sites.

Additionally, iOS users will be able to authenticate Chrome's auto-filled passwords using Face ID, Touch ID, or phone passcode. A similar feature for Android users was added in July.

Other additions include mixed form warnings on desktop and Android, which will warn about web forms that load via HTTPS but submit content over HTTP. Chrome 86 will also block or warn users when they initiate insecure downloads on secure pages.

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