Google Brings Password Protection to iOS, Android in Chrome 86

Google today published several security protections arriving in Chrome 86. Updates include new password defenses on Android and iOS, Safe Browsing for Android, improvements for touch-to-fill passwords on iOS, and alerts for users before they submit nonsecure forms.

The latest version of the browser, available today, will notify iOS and Android users when passwords they asked Chrome to remember are exposed. To check for compromised passwords, Chrome sends an encrypted copy of a username and password to Google, which checks them against lists of known compromised credentials. If it finds a password has been compromised, it will redirect users to the correct "change password" form following the alert.

Google is extending Enhanced Safe Browsing to Android, following its availability on desktop earlier this year. This shares users' real-time data with the Google Safe Browsing service to better protect users from phishing, malware, and potentially dangerous websites. 

iOS users will be able to authenticate using Face ID, Touch ID, or their smartphone passcode before auto-filling passwords. The Chrome Password Manager will let users autofill saved passwords into iOS apps or browsers by enabling Chrome autofill in Settings.

Earlier this year Google began blocking what it calls "mixed content," or secure HTTPS pages with nonsecure features. Some HTTPS pages may offer downloads over nonsecure links or use forms that don't securely send data. To protect against these, Chrome 86 will have "mixed form warnings" on desktop and Android to warn when nonsecure forms are on HTTPS pages.

Read the Google Security Blog for more details.