8
2
%userprofile%\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default
This location stores two file Preferences and Secure Preferences. What is the difference between the two and what gets modified in case of any modification in Google Chrome?
naqushab
Posted 2017-01-30T21:36:06.060
Reputation: 175
4
Google Chrome has a "secure preferences" feature, that matches up the saved profile to a "good copy" - and if the two do not match Chrome will reset the settings when the browser is restarted. Ultimately, it's an anti-malware feature.
Some experience issues with this feature because is it prevents some admin scenarios. The problem is the secured profile is bound to a machine specific ID, as disclosed in the linked SO answer below and mentioned here in a Chromium ticket.
As far as I know, this feature is not documented anywhere. I think it was discovered by someone who found it in the source code, some info How to migrate Google Chrome profile (extensions, cookies, etc.) to another Windows installation?
Guessing from the Chromium source, this feature exists on all platforms except Android/ChromeOS.
wp78de
Posted 2017-01-30T21:36:06.060
Reputation: 1 161
I uploaded the Preferences file for someone, am I in danger? – Shayan – 2019-02-25T00:44:15.187
1
@Shayan I cannot speak into this. You may want to ask here: https://security.stackexchange.com/
– wp78de – 2019-02-25T16:46:07.297-3
Here is the difference :-
Secure Preferences is the file that is touched when preferences are changed inside a DOMAIN. Like in an enterprise.
Preferences is the file that gets modified when preferences are changed normally (LOCAL domain)
naqushab
Posted 2017-01-30T21:36:06.060
Reputation: 175
They are both JSON-formatted text files, you can easily check it yourself: copy both, change something in Chrome and see what changed using diff or other comparison tools. – Hex – 2017-01-30T21:43:15.110
Actually I am having an issue, I am installing a chrome extension which gets entry in either of them, so wanted to know in which cases do either of the files gets modified. Or is it random. – naqushab – 2017-01-30T21:45:14.583