Automatically Scan Downloads from the Internet for Malicious Content with SquareX’s Upgraded Download Interceptor
Want to know if a file is malicious before you download it to your computer? What if there was a way to view malicious files safely on your browser without causing any harm to your device?
SquareX is on a mission to protect users from the array of cyber threats they face daily, from malicious websites and files to malicious content and insecure network connections. Our goal is to provide comprehensive protection, ensuring a safe and private online experience for everyone.
Recently, we released one of SquareX’s standout features — in-browser Malicious Document Detection for Gmail.
We have now extended our advanced in-browser scanning technology to all downloads on the internet. This powerful feature springs into action the moment a user receives an email attachment or downloads a file from the internet. It meticulously examines each file within the browser itself, effectively identifying threats such as maldocs. These malicious documents often contain dangerous macros or embedded active content designed to compromise your computer. SquareX’s technology is not only effective but also respects your privacy, as it operates without sending your data to external servers. For those seeking even greater security, SquareX offers a cloud-based isolation feature known as Disposable File Viewer. This creates a safe space for viewing files from unknown sources or those flagged as potentially harmful, providing an added layer of protection.
In a previous blog article, we explored the Download Interceptor. This is a feature that makes it convenient for users to opt to view files safely in the Disposable File Viewer every time they initiate a download from the internet. Read more on how the Download Interceptor works and how to toggle it on.
We are excited to announce an upgrade to the Download Interceptor, which now includes in-browser file scanning. This feature ensures users can safely view files downloaded from the web. It works by screening each file for safety, flagging them as safe, suspicious, or malicious. This allows users to understand the nature of the threats and the file’s metadata before making a decision to download.
This enhancement means that when a file is downloaded, the interceptor will provide detailed insights into the file’s safety, including the reasons it was flagged and any malicious content it may contain. With this information at their fingertips, users can make informed decisions about downloading the file or opting to view it safely in the Disposable File Viewer. Moreover, for files deemed suspicious or malicious, SquareX now offers additional options for file sanitization. Users can choose to download a sanitized version of the file, with harmful content removed, or convert it to a safe PDF version.
Getting Started with SquareX
New to SquareX? Here’s how you can get started:
- On Chrome/Brave/Edge browser, go to sqrx.com
- Add SquareX to your browser. Sign up for free.
Are you an existing SquareX user?
- Head on over to your SquareX extension and click on it. Under the Disposable File Viewer section, select the gear icon.
2. Woah! See the new options for Download Interceptor? Go ahead and enable them.
This is what each of the setting does:
“Download Interceptor”: Enabling this allows a popup to come up everytime a download is initiated. This popup has the option to view the file safely with SquareX, where the file will be opened in SquareX’s Disposable File Viewer. For sites where you don’t want the popup to come up, you can click on “Don’t ask for this site”. This will add the site to the Whitelist, which you can edit from the settings as well.
“Scan for Malicious Documents in Download Interceptor”: This setting allows the in-browser detection of the files to take place, where a flag indicating the safety of the file will be present.
“Block Downloads”: Enable this option if you want auto-downloads to be blocked and all downloads to go through the Download Interceptor. When this is enabled, the Download Interceptor will have the option for you to download the file to your system. Do look out for the flag before you decide whether you want to download the file or not!
Watch a Demo about how this feature works.
