How to Disable “Help Improve Security” Data Sharing in Google Chrome

The Telemetry Upload

Google Chrome features a built-in security engine called “Safe Browsing,” designed to warn you if you attempt to visit a known phishing website or download a virus. However, Chrome includes an optional sub-feature that actively transmits your browsing data back to Google. When enabled, Chrome packages up specific system information, details about the URLs you visit, and snippets of potentially dangerous page content, and silently uploads it to Google’s servers under the guise of “helping improve security for everyone.” If you demand absolute privacy and refuse to allow your browser to upload telemetry data to external servers, you must disable this specific sharing script.

How to Turn Off Security Data Sharing

You can retain standard Safe Browsing protection while disabling the telemetry upload via the Sync settings.

1. Open the Google Chrome desktop browser.
2. Click the three vertical dots (⋮) in the top right corner and select Settings.
3. In the left-hand sidebar, click on You and Google.
4. In the main window, click on Sync and Google services.
5. Scroll down to the “Other Google services” section.
6. Look for the master toggle switch labeled “Help improve Chrome’s security” (Sends some system info and page content to Google).
7. Toggle this switch to the Off position.

Local Security Only

The change is instantaneous. Google Chrome will completely terminate the background telemetry scripts. Your browser will continue to protect you from malicious websites by utilizing a locally downloaded list of dangerous URLs, but it will never again package up your personal browsing data and transmit it to Google’s engineering team.