How Does Chromebook Security Work?

How do Chromebooks manage to protect themselves so well? To begin, the Chrome OS is based on the Linux OS, one of the most secure operating systems out there. Linux is open-source, which means that anyone can contribute to its development. More people working on it raises the chances that bugs will be caught and fixed before they become problems. By using Linux as a template, Chrome ensures that it has the strongest security of any operating system on the market.

In addition, Chromebooks come with a number of safety mechanisms, each one powerful on its own but also designed to back up the others, creating multi-layered security. These safety mechanisms include:

• Automatic Updating: Chromebook’s antivirus software is always running in the background, and while it’s running, it’s also constantly updating, adding new virus definitions to its library.
• Sandboxing: Chromebook’s operating system is set up so each website and app works as its own individual program, completely separate and walled-off from the rest of the computer. This means that, should you encounter a piece of malware or a threatening website, it will be kept contained, unable to infect the rest of your Chromebook.
• Verified Boot: Each and every time your Chromebook reboots, it performs a complete self-check of the operating system, looking for corruption or any signs of tampering. If it finds anything at all, it automatically repairs the operating system.
• Data Encryption: Any web data not stored in the cloud, including downloads, cookies, and browser cache files, is automatically encrypted in local storage.
• Recovery: Chromebook has a fast, easy recovery option. It only takes a single keystroke or a keyboard combination to reinstall the most recent operational version of your OS.