Google pumps up Chrome security for macOS

Starting on March 31, web surfers using Chrome on Apple devices will receive more alerts.

Users of Apple's macOS system will begin seeing more warnings as they browse or attempt to download files, according to a Google blog.

Google said its newly released Chrome Settings Overrides API for Mac broadens protection by "improving defenses against unwanted software and malware targeting macOS."

The upgrade is intended to reduce malware targeting Apple devices, mitigating unwanted ad injection and the manipulation of Chrome user settings, specifically the start page, home page and default search engine.

The Settings Overrides API will now be required for developers wishing to make any changes to Chrome settings on Mac OSX, similar to what's already required on Windows.

With the new technology in place starting on March 31, web surfers using Chrome will receive alerts about any software that attempts to alter Chrome settings without using the API.