[lioeters]

The title is alarming enough that I immediately searched for a way to block it.

Apparently, this is only specific to Chrome on Windows:

> [it] looks through your computer in search of malware that targets the Chrome browser itself using ESET’s antivirus engine. If it finds some suspected malware, it sends metadata of the file where the malware is stored, and some system information, to Google. Then, it asks you to for permission to remove the suspected malicious file.

Seems fairly reasonable.. At least I'm not affected by it, being primarily on Mac and Linux.

Another comment here mentions "Chrome scanning utility" on a MacBook though. Ideally I wouldn't use Chrome at all, but I need it for developing and testing web applications.

Just wanted to mention this open-source firewall (macOS application) called Lulu, with which you can (mostly?) block Chrome and other apps/services from phoning home behind the scenes.

https://objective-see.com/products/lulu.html