Norton Safe Search is a free-to-download Chrome extension developed by Gen Digital. It is a browser security extension that helps you search the web more safely by setting this software as the default search provider in Chrome. This extension uses Norton’s safety ratings to identify sites that may contain malware, phishing threats, or other online risks. 

Norton Safe Search integrates its protection directly into the browser, making it convenient for everyday web searches and browsing. You can check the safety status of websites and identify potentially risky pages before opening them.

Identify risky websites before visiting

Norton Safe Search is a Chrome browser extension that provides a security-focused search experience. It sets this platform as the default search provider and displays safety ratings for websites in search results, helping users identify trusted, cautionary, and potentially malicious sites before visiting them. It is designed to provide added protection against phishing, scams, malicious downloads, and other online threats.

This security and privacy software extension uses Norton Safe Web technology to analyze websites and identify potential security risks, including phishing pages and unsafe links. It is available in 24 languages such as Deutsch, English, Dutch, Turkish, Danish, Spanish, French, Italian, Hungarian, Norwegian, Polish, Japanese, Russian, Greek, and more. This extension currently has more than five million users on the Chrome Web Store.

Norton Safe Search’s additional permissions

Norton Safe Search uses several Chrome permissions to perform its necessary functions. These include access to browsing history for managing tabs and retrieving extension-related information, permission to read and change data on websites to exchange configuration details and display safety ratings, and permission to change search settings to searchsafe.norton.com. These permissions allow the extension to deliver search results and provide safety information during everyday browsing.

In addition, it also uses additional permissions that Chrome does not display. The “webRequest” permission obtains search terms from the address bar, while “webRequestBlocking” adds data for safety markings on search results. The “storage” permission saves and retrieves extension settings. However, some users expressed concern that the installation process can take a long time without clearly indicating which extension is being installed or how long it will take.

Protection with some limitations

Norton Safe Search is a useful free Chrome extension that provides a security-focused browsing experience through website safety ratings and safer search results. Its protection against potentially malicious sites, phishing threats, and other online risks makes everyday browsing more informed. Multiple language support adds accessibility, while its required permissions enable core functions. However, the lengthy installation process and unclear installation progress may disappoint some users.