Google’s 7 Security Goals For Chrome

In a perfect world, when it comes to browsers, safety should be your first concern above all else. Of course the world is not perfect and many of us choose our browser for a number of other reasons, sacrificing safety. Silly people. Google understands this though. Yesterday they released their 7 security goals for making Chrome safe while giving you all of the goodies you want. Now you can have your cake and eat it too.

1. Don’t get in the way.

This is great to see. There’s nothing more annoying than having security software that slows your computer down or interferes in your work every time it does its thing. Does your computer come to a crawl when a virus scan is being run?  It’s not fun.

2. Design for defense in depth (and more depth).

With the number of threats out there today, one security layer is not going to keep you safe. Layered security is essential when it comes to computing.  Chrome uses a lot of different ways to make sure your browsing experience is safe as possible from whatever comes at it. Most are even created in-house!

3. Security is a team responsibility.

Security is a priority, and it’s not limited to just the Chrome Security team. It’s in the minds of everyone at Google. The whole company has security in mind, and the community it forms keeps you even safer.

4. Speed matters.

With 60,000 new malware threats appearing daily, you’ve got to be on the ball to handle it. Google knows this and aims at fast turnaround when new security threats emerge that could affect Chrome.

5. Be transparent.

I like to see Google telling it like it is. If there’s a threat and you’re at risk, they tell you. No sneaky silent fixes or downplaying real threats. Where other browser companies may dodge the ball, Google shines the light on the problems. You need to know, and Google’s going to tell you.

6. Engage the community.

No one’s perfect, not even all the masterminds at Google. If you find a bug, Google wants to know. They’ll even reward you with their bug bounties.

7. Make the web safer for everyone.

Google’s unofficial motto is “Don’t be evil.” They share their security tools with other browser vendors—they’re open source! They care about your security so much that they won’t screw you over if you don’t use their browser.

I use Chrome all the time – primarily for the speed and the security. Knowing these 7 goals only reinforces my choice. Don’t take my word for it though. If you want to hear it from the horse’s mouth, check out the Core Principles. You’re welcome.