Google boosts programs vs cyberattacks

Google is enhancing its cybersecurity programs to protect its individual and company users from threats on the internet.

Screenshot of Google Safe Browsing website

Protecting users vs cyberattacks

An ABS-CBN News report noted that protection from cyberattacks has become crucial in the current times as the number of browser users increases, which is according to Google cybersecurity expert Parisa Tabriz.

The COVID-19 pandemic also contributed to this urgency as companies had to accelerate their digitalization programs to ensure that employees are able to work remotely.

Many of us are right now connected in a browser on a web app and it has really underscored how important browser security is both as individuals as well as enterprise organizations, she said.

Studies also prove how timely it is to up the game in terms of cybersecurity, Tabriz pointed out.

Citing reports, Tabriz said that Asia is the most attacked region in 2021 with about 26 percent of global attacks directed to the said region.

Furthermore, 80 percent of companies in the Asia-Pacific is experiencing ransomware attacks, she added.

To help users use the internet safely, Tabriz said Google has improved its vulnerability reward program that works with hackers to find weak points.

These reports not only help us fix and improve Google security products but also security on the web and Internet at large because oftentimes these bugs are in open source projects that other products use other services use and so really is helping to secure the Internet together, she explained.

Tabriz currently leads Google's Project Zero which aims to identify vulnerabilities in the hardware and software system.

Meanwhile, eligible organizations can use Project Shield, a free defense program for news, human rights organizations, and election sites from DDoS (distributed denial-of-service) attacks.

"Project Shield really allows Google to absorb bad traffic...and just act as a shield for much smaller websites," Tabriz said.

Screenshot of Protect Shield website

Google also has Google Safe Browsing that protects about 5 billion devices from malware and phishing attacks.

Tabriz said they have been observing a substantial increase in the number of phishing scams and Google ensures it is improving its ways on how to detect such in any environment.

Google is also working on research together with other experts, and institutions that aim to be beneficial for many.

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Source: ABS-CBN