\nAs noted above, the results of a Safety Check are typically fairly straightforward. Particularly if all of Google\u2019s enhanced protection features are turned on. And they are, usually, by default. But that doesn\u2019t necessarily mean that reading or responding to the information is the easiest thing either. Especially for those that aren\u2019t technologically-inclined.
\nHere, we\u2019ll run down what was checked in each of the results and how to respond if you get a message or failed check. That\u2019s as opposed to a green checkmark, shown in the images above, indicating everything is okay.
\nSafety Check says my Chromebook needs an update
\nNow, the first thing the Chrom Safety Check will look for, on Chromebook or anywhere else, is whether the latest updates are installed. As with any OS, updates usually patch the biggest or more urgent problems. So it\u2019s important to get those installed ASAP.
\nIf Chrome is telling you that your Chromebook software (or Chrome itself) is out of date, it\u2019s also going to give you the option to install the updates. And, after installation is nearly complete, to restart Chrome (or your Chromebook) to finish the installation. So, stepping forward from here is arguably the easiest fix in Safety Check.
\nAll you\u2019ll need to do is tap on the \u201cRelaunch\u201d button when it appears. And Chrome will update itself, clearing away that issue. Although, in some cases, it may be necessary to run Safety Check again afterward, following the steps above. Especially if other issues were found with the tool.
\nMy passwords are weak?
\nPasswords are, of course, the most likely place most users will run into issues. So Safety Check effectively runs through and analyzes those that are saved to Chrome. Specifically, to check whether they\u2019ve shown up in any databases for leaked or compromised passwords. But also checking the relative strength of the passwords.
\nIf you have weak passwords, and you very well might, Safety Check will start by telling you how many there are in the results.
\nFrom there, a click on the right-facing arrow icon will takes you to a page containing all compromised or weak passwords. On nearly all of those, as long as they\u2019re a website, web app, or web applet password, Google also provides an outbound link button labeled \u201cChange password.\u201d And, of course, a click or tap on that takes users to the appropriate page to change it.
\nTying in with that, Google Chrome will also suggest and save \u201cstrong passwords\u201d on most websites via a prompt. That\u2019s when users go to change them.
\nHowever, users may also see that some passwords will require them to open up the full-blown app to change the password. And Google Chrome simply can\u2019t do that on its own. Although it\u2019s nice to see that they\u2019re still accounted for, as long as they\u2019re linked to Chrome or Google\u2019s password saving features. Additionally, some passwords that are weak may be out of date. For those, Chrome presents the option to change the saved password via a link below the button.
\nMore options can be found in the three-dot menu next to each individual password as well.
\nMy safe browsing is not turned on
\nBy default, Chrome keeps \u201cStandard protection\u201d turned on. So most users won\u2019t ever see an error message in that segment. But, if you do, that simply means that somehow \u2014 accidentally or on purpose \u2014 that got turned off. So you\u2019ll want to tap the right-arrow on that portion of the card to turn it back on.
\nWith that said, even if you\u2019ve gotten a green checkmark for this setting, it still may be a good idea to turn on Google\u2019s Enhanced Protection following those steps.
\nEvery other setting on this page should, with near certainty, be left as it is. But, within that menu, there are three options to choose from. The last of those, dubbed \u201cNo protection,\u201d is exactly as it\u2019s labeled and isn\u2019t recommendable. Standard protection is on by default. But Enhanced Protection adds more and is more proactive. Not least of all, it checks your passwords in real time and notifies you if one you\u2019re using has been compromised
\nTo turn on Enhanced Protection, you\u2019ll need to tap on the circle-selection set to the left-hand side of that option. Then you can use the back arrow to go back to the previous page in Settings. That\u2019s located at the top left-hand side of the UI.
\nProblems with extensions?
\nNow, problems with extensions should be less common since Google has continuously updated its policies and responses surrounding the feature. That\u2019s setting aside all of the extensions the company has removed over the past couple of years. But none of that means that extensions that are safe now always will be. Or that new ones with issues won\u2019t be discovered later on.
\nTo protect users from wayward extensions in Chrome, Google has made checking those part of its Safety Check on Chromebook and elsewhere.
\nIf an extension does require some action to be taken, the check will inform you and a tap or click on that portion of the results will open Extensions in a new tab. From there, you can uninstall extensions that are causing or could cause problems. And, of course, it\u2019s always good to remove any extensions you don\u2019t actually need on a regular basis. Which can also be done from that page.
\nThis works outside of Chrome OS too
\nOf course, Safety Check isn\u2019t only available on the Chromebook platform. Or on desktop platforms either. Although it can be found in exactly the same place as shown above on Windows, Mac, and Linux. At this point, Safety Check has also made its way to mobile. So by navigating to Google Chrome on your phone, you\u2019ll be able to find it there too.
\nSpecifically, at the very least on Android, that\u2019s found with a tap on the three-dot overflow menu. That\u2019s located at the top-right-hand side of the UI. Then, it\u2019s tucked behind another tap first on the Settings option and then, under \u201cBasics\u201d on \u201cSafety Check.\u201d
\nNow, it goes without saying that the tool isn\u2019t exactly the same across the board. On Android, for example, there are no Chrome extensions. So it\u2019s not going to check those. But regardless, this set of steps will work precisely the same way across each platform for Google Chrome. For those who want to stay a bit safer wherever they browse.
\nThe post How To Safety Check Your Chromebook Passwords, Security & Extensions appeared first on Android Headlines.
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![](\"https:\/\/plus.maciejpiasecki.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Safety-Check-Chromebook-DG-AH-2021.jpg\")
\nSource: ndroidheadlines.com <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"