What is the difference between Preference and Secure Preference file in Google Chrome?

%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?

Solution 1:

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.