John Paul M. Joaquin Tech 02.08.2023 06:Feb AM EST

Google Adds Biometric Authentication to Chrome To Protect Saved Passwords

Google Chrome just became much safer, provided you have the proper device.

The California-based tech giant recently revealed it added a biometric authentication lock to Google Chrome's Password Manager, preventing anyone else but the registered user of a supported computer from accessing them.

Google previously added a similar feature with Google Chrome's Android version that prevents anyone but the user from seeing their activity in incognito mode through a biometric authentication lock.

Google Chrome Biometric Authentication Lock For Computer Details

Google mentioned in its announcement that it added the option to use biometric authentication to verify the identity of the person in front of a supported computer before filling in password fields.

More specifically, users of supported computers can use their fingerprint or face to fill in password fields, and reveal, copy, or edit credentials saved in Google Chrome's password manager - much like Chrome for Android per Android Authority.

It is important to note that the PC version of Google Chrome normally asks for PINs and passwords to authenticate the user's identity, which can be stolen and even memorized depending on who's in front of the computer while the user is away, per Android Police. Needless to say, these supported computers are those that can register biometrics like faces and fingerprints to unlock them and more.

People with devices that can scan fingerprints and/or faces and can connect them to their computers can also use this new feature.

This feature prevents anyone other than the computer's user from filling in password fields when its user is away from their device. Additionally, it comes with an almost identical experience to Google Chrome's Android devices when accessing saved passwords via Chrome or under the device's settings.

However, many PCs already utilize a similar authentication feature called Windows Hello to reveal credentials in a web browser's password manager, which includes Chrome, Edge, and other browsers.

Regardless, having this feature for PCs natively is still welcome as it provides another layer of protection for their saved passwords.

The feature may or may not be available on your device, but if it isn't, expect that Google will roll the feature out to the Stable Chrome channel soon, much like its new Credential Manager.

Other New Features For Google Apps

Aside from the biometric authentication lock for Google Chrome's password manager, Google also released new features for some of its other apps. For instance, Google's app for iOS devices will soon allow users to protect the privacy of their Google app by setting up their Face ID, preventing anyone but the user from opening and gaining access to their Google data.

The search giant also added a feature to Google Images that blurs explicit images in search results when SafeSearch filtering isn't switched on for signed-in users under 18. Interestingly, this new setting will soon be the default for people who don't already have the SafeSearch filter turned on.