Web browsers: Chrome and Edge to use AI to warn of spam sites

Chrome and Edge now have AI protection on board to warn users of fraudulent websites. However, the feature is not yet active by default.

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Stylized image: Search returns spam and malware

The search returns spam, malware and scams.

(Image: Bild erstellt mit KI in Bing Designer durch heise online / dmk)

2 min. read

The Chrome and Edge web browsers are supposed to use AI-based Large Language Model (LLM) and machine learning to provide even more effective warnings about phishing websites. However, initial sightings show that these features are not yet available or active by default.

These functions have been discovered by users on X, among others. For Chrome, however, the scam detection feature is currently only available in the pre-release version in the Canary branch and is obviously not active there by default. However, it can be activated via chrome://flags.

According to the description, detection takes place on the client side. Websites are examined via LLM in order to detect fake websites that want to steal access data in a Microsoft-like manner.

How the detection works in detail and how the new function warns users is not yet known. It also remains unclear when the feature will be included in the stable version of Chrome.

In a pre-release version of Edge, a similar function is called Scareware Blocker. It is not active by default. Scareware is malware that puts pressure on victims to believe that a PC is supposedly infected with viruses, for example, in order to get them to perform certain actions such as handing over log-in data. If the detection fails, a warning message should alert users, Microsoft writes in an article. If the site is trustworthy, exceptions can be added.

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Here too, it remains unclear how the approach works in detail and when the new protection function will be available for all Edge users.

(des)

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This article was originally published in German. It was translated with technical assistance and editorially reviewed before publication.