While Chromebooks are generally limited compared to Windows and macOS laptops, I personally made the switch to Chromebooks full-time a while ago and haven’t looked back. One of the big reasons for that switch — and why I’m a big Chromebook advocate to this day — is just how effortlessly secure ChromeOS is for everyday users.
Google built ChromeOS to be as secure as possible, with features designed to limit your exposure to malware. Sure, you can find some of these features in other operating systems too, but all of these coming together in one overall package is what makes ChromeOS great.
Here are the core security features of ChromeOS that make Chromebooks safe and keep you protected while using your laptop.
Sandboxing for everything
Sandboxing is a technique where certain apps and processes are run in isolated environments, aptly called “sandboxes.” You can think of a sandbox as a virtual bubble that has limited access to the overall system. By running software in a bubble like this, you’re protected in case it’s infected with malware that tries to spread.
You may be familiar with Windows Sandbox, but you need Windows 11 Pro to access that feature. Meanwhile, in ChromeOS, sandboxing isn’t optional — everything from system services to browser tabs are run within their own separate sandboxes, and these sandboxes operate with the fewest possible privileges. They only have access to the resources they need, limiting the amount of damage they can do if compromised.
So even if you catch a malware infection, there’s little chance that the attack could escalate privileges and affect critical processes. In fact, over many years of using ChromeOS, I have yet to experience a single security issue, let alone a major put-me-in-full-on-panic-mode issue.
Verified Boot for OS authenticity
Dave Parrack / Foundry
Verified Boot means that every time you start ChromeOS, it checks to make sure that the system hasn’t been corrupted or tampered with since the last time it ran. This is done using cryptographically signed system images, which ensure that everything running on your Chromebook is as expected and as it should be.
First, ChromeOS checks the firmware in a read-only partition (that attackers can’t access or change). Next, ChromeOS checks and compares the kernel and system files to ensure nothing has been altered.
If everything checks out, ChromeOS boots normally. But if something (anything) is out of place, ChromeOS either reverts to a previous (secure) version of the operating system or, in extreme cases, prompts you to reinstall ChromeOS in Recovery Mode.
Read-only system files
As I mentioned above, ChromeOS has a read-only partition for core system files, including the kernel, system libraries, and other essential components. This partition can’t be altered. (ChromeOS has a separate read/write partition for settings, apps, user data, and the like.)
Doing this protects the core system files from things like malicious modification by hackers, but it also protects against accidental harm — by poorly written apps, rogue extensions, user error, etc.
What about when core system files need updating? ChromeOS first applies updates to an inactive partition while the system is being used. Then, when you next reboot your Chromebook, it switches partitions and applies the Verified Boot. If an error is detected, ChromeOS reverts to the previous version of the operating system.
Regular automatic updates
Dave Parrack / Foundry
One thing I love about ChromeOS is the stress-free update process. Unlike Windows updates, ChromeOS updates are automatic, consistent, and in the background without any user involvement beyond restarting your Chromebook when updates are complete.
Regular system updates are so important for patching security flaws and vulnerabilities. When updating is a huge ordeal, you end up putting it off and putting it off until you have time for it. With ChromeOS, updates are frequent, which means each update is relatively small and painless, and then you restart in a matter of seconds. It’s easy!
Given how often Google updates ChromeOS, the operating system is able to combat existing and emerging threats quickly and seamlessly, and that keeps you protected.
Recovery Mode and Safety Reset
Most operating systems have a recovery mode, so ChromeOS isn’t unique just for having one — but it does have one and Recovery Mode does keep ChromeOS secure. Plus, the big difference here is that Recovery Mode in ChromeOS is more user-friendly than in, say, Windows.
Recovery Mode is a way to restore the operating system back to factory settings (or an earlier version), which comes in handy when something goes wrong and the system stops working. That could happen due to corrupted system files, a failed update, performance issues, etc.
With ChromeOS, you can use Recovery Mode to reinstall the operating system while clearing all user data, and then you can restore that user data from your Google account. More recently, Google even implemented a new Safety Reset feature that lets you reinstall ChromeOS without losing your data.
Cloud-first approach for data
Google’s cloud-first approach is divisive, but it does have some positive implications for security. For starters, cloud-based apps are less susceptible to malware versus traditional apps. They aren’t completely immune, but the difference is non-trivial.
Having sensitive data stored in the cloud also lessens the risks associated with loss or theft of your Chromebook. And if your Chromebook does get lost or stolen, you can easily revoke access to your data (so the thief can’t do anything with it) and you can recover your data by signing into your cloud accounts on a different device.
And for schools or businesses that manage hundreds of Chromebooks through Google Admin Console, cloud control can ensure that policies are enforced, apps are deployed (or blocked), and everyone’s devices are kept up-to-date at all times.
Limited access to third-party apps
Dave Parrack / Foundry
For the most part, if you want to download and install apps on your Chromebook, you’re doing it through the Google Play Store. And while the Play Store isn’t perfect, it does have a vetting process that helps minimize the chance of running into malware.
Can you install third-party apps on your Chromebook? Yeah, but it’s risky. You can also install Android and Linux apps from some sources. Fortunately, Google warns you when you try to install unknown apps like this — and again, apps are run in sandboxes, which protects the rest of your system in case you somehow bring malware aboard.
Further reading: Chromebooks vs. laptops: What you need to know
Author: Dave Parrack, Contributor, PCWorld
Dave Parrack has been writing about technology since 2007. He has also been an editor, covering consumer tech news and seeking to help people better understand the devices and services they use daily. He has bylines at MakeUseOf, SlashGear, and New Atlas, and has produced thousands of articles in a long and varied career. He uses Windows (somewhat begrudgingly), but actually prefers his Chromebook. He thinks AI may just change the world, but hasn't yet decided if it will be for the better or worse.