{"id":10567,"date":"2023-08-29T18:04:59","date_gmt":"2023-08-29T18:04:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/?p=10567"},"modified":"2025-09-03T22:20:37","modified_gmt":"2025-09-03T22:20:37","slug":"report-malware-websites-in-chrome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.auslogics.com\/en\/articles\/report-malware-websites-in-chrome\/","title":{"rendered":"Here is How to Report Malware Websites in Google Chrome"},"content":{"rendered":"

The ever-expanding access to the Internet is creating a more inclusive global community and bringing humans closer to information.<\/p>\n

There are now more than 5 billion global internet users<\/a> and more than 1 billion websites <\/a> on the web. However, this surge in Internet activity carries a darker underbelly – malicious and scam websites.<\/p>\n

There were 493 million ransomware attacks in 2022<\/a> and Google discovered thousands of unsafe websites<\/a> each day. With this worrying trend, understanding how to effectively report malware websites becomes a critical skill for Internet users to safeguard themselves and the Internet community.<\/p>\n

So, if you notice a malicious website, it’s no longer enough to close the tab immediately – you can go a step further and report it to Google. This way, the company can warn other unsuspecting site visitors.<\/p>\n

This article will show you how to recognize and report scam and malicious websites. We’ll also share tips on how to browse the internet safely.<\/p>\n

Identifying Malicious Websites<\/h2>\n

\nMalicious websites come in many forms and are designed with different objectives. They can be created to siphon sensitive information, install different types of malware applications on user computers, deceive users into investing in scam projects, or force people to view and click spammy ads.<\/p>\n

Recognizing these sites today can be challenging. Cybercriminals are increasingly using advanced web design techniques and social engineering to mimic legitimate websites and trick users.<\/p>\n

Also, some legitimate websites might be infected with malware as Google has reported, which makes detection all the more complex.<\/p>\n

That said, there are different steps you can take to recognize a suspicious site.<\/p>\n

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Need help with your PC?<\/div>\r\n\t
Try our Ask a Question<\/a> service — our experts will diagnose and resolve your PC issues completely free of charge.<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n

Check the URL<\/h3>\n

\nScammers and cybercriminals build websites using URLs that are identical to that of legitimate brands and websites. This practice is called cybersquatting<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If you make a mistake while typing a URL into your browser’s address bar, you may end up opening a scammer’s website. So, make sure you always check the address to ensure you’re on the right website.<\/p>\n

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📌 Related: <\/strong>Signs of Malware: How to Know if Your Computer is Infected<\/a><\/p>\n

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Check the Website’s Encryption Status<\/h3>\n

\nYou can recognize a secure website by looking for the padlock icon beside its address in your web browser. You should also confirm that its URL contains HTTPS <\/a> instead of HTTP.<\/p>\n

This way, you’ll be sure that communication between your device and the website is encrypted.<\/p>\n

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You can also click on the padlock to confirm that the SSL certificate<\/a> used by the website is legitimate as scammers tend to use the comfort of the HTTPS status to lure unsuspecting users.\n<\/p>\n

Use Google’s Safe Browsing Tool to Scan Websites<\/h3>\n

\nWhile Google tries its best to remove malicious websites from its search results and warn you about such sites, you may still end up visiting one.<\/p>\n

That’s because you may be clicking on the link from your email or social media and might not be using Google Chrome. While other browsers offer security functions to prevent you from visiting these sites, even legitimate sites may contain malware in comments sections and other pages.<\/p>\n

With Google’s Site Status tool, you can scan the link you want to open to be sure it doesn’t have any malware.<\/p>\n

Open the Site Status page<\/a>, paste the link into the text bar, and click the search button.<\/p>\n

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Look for Other Signs<\/h3>\n

\nRegardless of how sophisticated a scam website may look, there are signs to tell you that it isn’t legitimate.<\/p>\n

Some phony businesses operate websites with authenticated SSL security certificates and advanced website layouts.<\/p>\n

So, make sure you take note of the following:\n<\/p>\n