The Silent Downloads
When you click a download link on a website, you expect Google Chrome to download one single file. However, malicious websites (or aggressive advertising networks) often attempt to abuse this action. When you click the initial link, the website’s Javascript will attempt to rapidly fire off three or four additional, hidden download requests in the background, attempting to secretly force adware or tracking cookies onto your hard drive. By default, Chrome attempts to ask you before allowing this, but you can instruct the browser to implement an absolute, global ban on any website attempting to download multiple files simultaneously.
How to Turn Off Automatic Multiple Downloads
You can permanently revoke the browser’s permission to queue multiple files via the site settings.
- Open the Google Chrome desktop browser.
- Click the three vertical dots (⋮) in the top right corner and select Settings.
- In the left-hand sidebar, click on Privacy and security.
- In the main window, click on Site settings.
- Scroll down and click on Additional permissions to expand the hidden menu.
- Click on Automatic downloads.
- At the top of the screen, under “Default behavior,” select the radio button next to “Don’t allow sites to automatically download multiple files.”
One Click, One File
The change is instantaneous. If a website attempts a “drive-by download” by queueing up a secondary file after your initial click, Google Chrome will immediately and silently kill the secondary request. The browser will strictly enforce a one-to-one rule, ensuring that a single click only ever results in a single file landing in your Downloads folder.