Latest from ITPro UK in Chromium

Google adds new security vendor plugins for Chrome, improved Chrome OS policy controls for IT admins

Connor Jones — Fri, 27 May 2022 10:25:36 +0000

Google Chrome Enterprise has announced a swathe of new features for the Chrome browser and Chrome OS to help IT teams deploy greater security controls across staff devices.

Leading the new announcements is an array of new integrations with popular cyber security vendors’ products allowing them to be used seamlessly in Chrome OS and in the Chrome browser.

RELATED RESOURCE

Netsuite integration checklist

Understand your integration needs

FREE DOWNLOAD

Bundled under the moniker of Chrome Enterprise Connectors Framework, four new integrations have been announced, with more currently in testing, across three key security pillars.

Netskope’s Security Cloud is one of the new integrations in the identity and access pillar, joining Okta Identity Engine’s policy support for Chrome OS, which was already available.

BlackBerry’s UEM and Samsung Knox are also both new, sitting in the endpoint management pillar, and will allow IT teams to better manage Chrome OS devices from one area.

VMware’s Workspace ONE will soon be updating its existing integration to the new Chrome Policy API and will be available in a testing programme soon.

Splunk’s Cloud Platform integration is the final new product available to IT teams to bolder their security insights and reporting. Google said it will provide insights into risky events in the workplace environment such as malware downloads and the re-use of vulnerable passwords.

Chrome OS gets enterprise overhaul in 10th anniversary update Are cloud-based PCs the future of the enterprise? Chrome OS Flex turns old PCs and Macs into Chromebooks

Palo Alto Netowrks and CrowdStrike integrations are also expected to join Splunk’s soon after, once they pass through the Chrome Enterprise Trusted Tester Programme.

Google has also introduced a new category for ‘security and trust’ that allows IT teams to search for other Google-validated integrations that strengthen security and assist companies in moving to a Zero Trust model.

New security improvements are coming directly to Chrome OS too, in the form of enhanced policy controls. IT admins will now be able to define rules for users actions in a way that helps prevent data leakage.

Such actions include copy and paste, screen capturing, and printing. Chrome OS will be able to trigger controls on actions that could lead to data leakage or data theft on endpoints.

The new features precede Chrome Enterprise Day on 8 June - a one-day event for IT teams interested in running Chrome OS more securely across their organisation.

The event will offer sessions for all types of Chrome users, from basic Chrome browser users to teams refreshing old hardware with Chrome OS Flex.

Google says Chrome is now faster than Safari on Apple Silicon

Connor Jones — Tue, 08 Mar 2022 11:42:21 +0000

Google said on Monday that its Chrome browser now beats the performance of Safari on Apple hardware, according to Apple’s own benchmarking tests.

The current version of Chrome, Chrome 99, is also now reportedly the fastest browser ever recorded on Apple’s Speedometer benchmark too, with a score of 300.

Best web browsers 2023: Google Chrome vs Microsoft Edge vs Firefox Google reveals five high-risk flaws in Chrome browser Google Chrome update fixes zero-day under active exploitation

This means Google’s latest browser, long known for being resource-intensive and prone to crashing, is not only faster than Safari but also now the fastest browser on Apple hardware.

Apple’s dedicated Safari webpage claims its browser is “the world’s fastest” but added in the fine print that testing was carried out between August and September last year. Regardless, Google will be pleased with its feat given Safari was considered the much faster choice for Apple users since the launch of the M1 processors.

Google credited the landmark performance score to a number of improvements, chief among which was the enablement of ThinLTO in Chrome 99 - a build optimisation technique that “inlines speed-critical parts of the code base, even when they span multiple files or libraries,” said Max Christoff, senior director at Chrome Engineering.

Enabling ThinLTO led the engineers to achieve a 7% performance boost over current Safari builds but coupled with graphics optimisations, Chrome’s performance received an additional 15% increase.

Other areas in which Chrome made improvements were the implementation of the V8 Sparkplug compiler and short builtin calls.

RELATED RESOURCE

Cloud operational excellence

Everything you need to know about optimising your cloud operations

FREE DOWNLOAD

“Sparkplug is a new mid-tier JavaScript compiler for V8 that generates efficient code with low compilation overhead,” said Christoff. “Short builtin calls are used by the V8 JavaScript engine to optimize the placement of generated code inside the device’s memory.”

These two contributed to a “substantial difference” specifically to Apple’s M1-based Macs and helped boost performance further by avoiding indirect jumps between function calls.

Overall, the latest Chrome build is running 43% faster than it did 17 months ago when Apple first released its devices with its own M1 chips.

Performance increases can also be found on Android, Google said, with page loading times down 15% thanks to prioritising critical navigation moments on the browser user interface thread.

The improvements build on previous work to reduce startup times using what Google calls “freeze-dried tabs” - using a lightweight version of a tab on load - and improving speed and memory usage using isolated splits which preloads the majority of the browser process codes on a background thread.

IT Pro News In Review: Zoom microphone bug, new Google Chrome OS, Intel acquires Tower Semiconductor

IT Pro — Fri, 18 Feb 2022 13:11:54 +0000

Welcome to IT Pro's News in Review, a weekly bite-sized bulletin of the top tech stories of the week, for the week ending 18 February, 2022.

This week's stories:

You can find more videos like this in our video library and even more on our YouTube channel. Let us know what you think of this week's video – you can also find us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Raspberry Pi OS finally gets a 64-bit release

Connor Jones — Fri, 04 Feb 2022 11:22:24 +0000

Raspberry Pi has announced the release of the first stable 64-bit version of Raspberry Pi OS after almost two years of development and beta testing.

The Debian-based operating system was first unveiled in 2020 alongside the 8GB Raspberry Pi 4 and even though 64-bit processor architectures go back to 2016's Raspberry Pi 3, the previous Raspbian OS was favoured due to backwards compatibility for older devices on 32-bit architectures.

Raspberry Pi: Top projects to try yourself A complete guide to Raspberry Pi OS Raspberry Pi 4 Model B review: Back, and better than ever

The decision to move to a 64-bit operating systems was largely driven by forward-looking compatibility concerns, said Gordon Hollingworth, director of software engineering at Raspberry Pi.

"Compatibility is a key concern: many closed-source applications are only available for arm64, and open-source ones aren’t fully optimised for the armhf port," he said.

Armhf port is a Debian port for arm processors that has support for the floating point unit - a feature useful for critical accuracy requirements in computing and digital signal processing.

Hollingworth went on to say there are some performance benefits to the arm64 instructions set but these, at the moment, are only visible in benchmarking tests. That said, the assumption is that these performance increases will be more evident in real-world applications in the future.

(Image credit: Raspberry Pi)

RELATED RESOURCE

The Total Economic Impact™ of IBM Spectrum Virtualize

Cost savings and business benefits enabled by storage built with IBMSpectrum Virtualize

FREE DOWNLOAD

A theoretical concern is that 32-bit architectures only allow the Raspberry Pi to address 4GB of memory. The Raspberry Pi 4 shipped with 8GB back in 2020 and so a 32-bit design would not be optimal to leverage the extra hardware's capabilities.

The Raspberry Pi 4 has been able to access the full 8GB of its memory despite running on a 32-bit operating system since launch, using the Arm Large Physical Address Extension (LPAE), but processes are limited to a maximum of 3GB of memory. Raspberry Pi reserves the top 1GB of the virtual address for the kernel.

Hollingworth noted that very few applications for the Raspberry Pi require the full 8GB of memory in a single process, with Chromium being the most memory-intensive using one process per tab.

"But some use cases will benefit from being able to allocate the entire memory of an 8GB Raspberry Pi 4 from a single process," he added.

Those looking to use their Rasberry Pi as media units will run into a stumbling block when trying to access streaming services such as Netflix and Disney+ as the 64-bit version of Chromium, installed by default, has no version of the WidevineCDM library. Users will have to flicker between the 32-bit versions for streaming and back to 64-bit again after watching through terminal commands.

Microsoft tests experimental “Super Duper Secure Mode” for Edge browser

Keumars Afifi-Sabet — Fri, 06 Aug 2021 10:40:06 +0000

Microsoft developers are testing a new 'Super Duper Security Mode' in its Chromium-based Edge web browser that trades optimised performance for better security.

Google Chrome, and Chromium-based browsers like Edge, are built on the open source V8 JavaScript engine, although it’s often targeted by hackers because bugs are routinely discovered and exploitation follows a straightforward template.

Best web browsers 2023: Google Chrome vs Microsoft Edge vs Firefox What is Microsoft Edge? Everything you need to know Why Chromium-powered Edge could be a gamechanger

The issue lies in a technology known as ‘just-in-time complication’ (JIT), which was introduced in 2008 to speed up specific tasks in JavaScript.

JIT takes loosely-typed programming languages, such as JavaScript, and compiles these to machine code just prior to when it’s needed, which has resulted in impressive performance gains since its implementation.

However, these gains add complexity and come at a cost, according to Microsoft’s Edge vulnerability research lead, Jonathan Norman. Roughly 45% of flaws in V8 after 2019 related to the JIT engine, and we’ve already seen in 2021 a string of examples of hackers exploiting V8 bugs in Chrome and Chromium-based browsers.

In light of this, Edge's new mode disables JIT so developers can ascertain whether any measured dips in performance are manageable in order to improve security.

Developers believe that disabling JIT would eliminate just under half of the vulnerabilities that hackers can target, which also means fewer security updates and emergency patches. It also means developers have the capacity to add a few technologies to Edge that aren’t compatible with JIT.

Due to the way the technology works, Intel’s hardware-based exploit mitigation technology Controlflow-Enforcement Technology (CET), as well as Arbitrary Code Guard (ACG), aren’t compatible with V8. By disabling this performance-boosting technology, Norman said the team can now enable both security mitigations.

“Our hope is to build something that changes the modern exploit landscape and significantly raises the cost of exploitation for attackers,” said Microsoft Edge vulnerability research lead, Jonathan Norman. “Mitigations have a long history of being bypassed, so we are seeking feedback from the community to build something of lasting value.

“This is of course just an experiment; things are subject to change, and we have quite a few technical challenges to overcome. Also, our tongue-in-cheek name will likely need to change to something more professional when we launch as a feature. For now, we are going to continue having fun with it.”

While Super Duper Secure Mode isn’t being released generally, users of Edge Canary, Dev, and Beta can access it by entering “edge://flags/#edge-enable-super-duper-secure-mode” into their address bars and enabling the feature manually.

RELATED RESOURCE

Five questions to ask before you upgrade to a modern SIEM

Do you need a better defense strategy?

FREE DOWNLOAD

The move represents an intriguing step forward for the Chromium-based Edge, which was initially pitched as a viable competitor to Chrome when Microsoft launched the second generation of the browser in January last year.

The firm continued to aggressively promote the new Edge both through advertising and within Windows 10, with many new Windows users hamstrung into using the browser by default, for example. This was compounded with a string of new features aimed at mirroring the advancements in Chrome and targeting the mass market, like grouped tabs.

With Microsoft unable to compete with Chrome’s market dominance, however, the firm recently repositioned Edge as a business-centric browser, with a number of features designed around improving the remote working experience, and increasing productivity.

This latest experiment continues this trend of Microsoft seeking more niche use cases for Edge. It's likely that Super Duper Secure Mode will be pitched to those in need of highly robust internet security, such as businesses in highly regulated industries.

Opera update adds free VPN, built-in ad blocker to ChromeOS browser

Bobby Hellard — Thu, 01 Jul 2021 10:21:36 +0000

Opera has released a host of new features for its Chromebook web browser to position itself as a full-featured alternative to Chrome that's also fully optimised for ChromeOS.

The new web browser boasts tools that are not available in the standard Chrome OS, such as a free browser VPN, built-in messengers, an ad blocker, and five different colour themes.

New Chrome OS update makes it easier to check for hardware faults Chrome OS gets enterprise overhaul in 10th anniversary update Parallels Desktop brings Windows 10 apps to Chromebooks

Opera suggests that its tweaked Android version is a simple and fast laptop browser, with "custom-made optimisations that deliver a full-fledged laptop experience". The major changes will allow users more 'laptop-style' controls, including keyboard shortcuts such as 'Ctrl+T' for opening new tabs and 'Ctrl+L' for focusing the address bar.

What's more, Opera suggests it has developed the only browser that lets users access chat functions without disrupting their work or the browser itself. Apps for Facebook Messenger, Instagram, Twitter, WhatsApp, and Telegram are built-in, so users won't have to reach for a phone or specifically go to the website of each service.

The decision to develop an alternative for Chrome was largely based on a study conducted by Opera that found users wanted more than one browser, particularly for different purposes. Opera claims to be the first company to provide an alternative browser to Chrome that's optimised for ChromeOS, since the operating system launched back in 2011.

"Chromebooks, with their user-friendly interface and touchscreens, are excellent devices for people's everyday needs," said Stefan Stjernelund, product manager of Opera for Android. "We decided it's high time their users got access to an excellent alternative browser with a unique set of features they'll find both useful and fun."

RELATED RESOURCE

How to maximise the value of your data and apps with IaaS

Free yourself from infrastructure complexity

FREE DOWNLOAD

The timing is also key, with Chromebook demand reaching an all-time high during the pandemic; according to Canalys, 11.2 million units were shipped between October and December 2020, which represents a 287% increase year-on-year. According to Opera, this highlights how important Chrome OS has become as it offers convenience for workers and students alike.

The Norwegian firm also expects a further 40 million units to be shipped during 2021.

Acer Chromebook Spin 713 review: A high-end package with a budget price

Stuart Andrews — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 09:35:14 +0000

If you’re one of those Chromebook devotees lamenting the demise of the classic Google Pixelbook, the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 feels like a natural successor. Miss the squarer 3:2 aspect ratio, QHD screen and the all-metal, thin-and-light design? The Pixelbook’s convertible form factor? The Spin 713 has you covered, only without the sky-high price tags of Google’s own-brand Chromebooks and with a spec that’s bang up to date.

Our test model came with a tenth-generation Intel Core i3-10110U processor with two cores and four threads that boost up to 4.1GHz, and while it wasn’t right at the top of the table in our performance benchmarks, it wasn’t far off. Geekbench 5 scores of 1,008 and 2,184 for single- and multi-core operations put it ahead of the Pixelbook Go and its scores of 761 and 1,373.

With 8GB of RAM, you’ll need a lot of Chrome tabs open or several demanding applications running before you see any hint of slowdown – or even hear the Spin’s cooling fans go to work. If you do need more power, there are Core i5-10210U and Core i7-10510U variants available for £200 or £300 more. For most people, however, the Core i3 will be perfectly adequate.

Chromebook demand "through the roof" with 287% growth Acer Chromebook 714 review: Unfussy, affordable and effective Chrome OS gets enterprise overhaul in 10th anniversary update

The form factor remains as good-looking and versatile as previous versions, with a military-grade metal chassis in a gunmetal tone that’s under 17mm thick and just 1.45kg in weight. You can use it in the standard clamshell configuration or fold the screen flat against the base for a tablet-style experience, or even pose it in a tent configuration for watching video or playing games. It’s very usable across all modes, partly because the 3:2 aspect ratio works for tablet use, where a 16:9 format can feel cramped, and gives you the illusion of a bigger screen in laptop mode thanks to the extra height. Switching between the 13.5in Acer and a 15.6in laptop, the Acer never feels small.

The IPS screen is fantastic, with an unusual 2,256 x 1,504 resolution that works brilliantly with Chrome OS’s desktop scaling. It’s bright, at nearly 400cd/m2, and covers 99.8% of the sRGB colour space, not to mention 86% of DCI-P3. We measured the average Delta E at 2.29, so while colour accuracy isn’t quite perfect, it’s close enough for anyone bar professional designers.

Whether you’re streaming video or playing Stadia games, image quality is brilliant, and the only downside is its spectacularly reflective surface, which ups vibrancy and contrast at the expense of being able to see anything with any kind of bright light behind you. Audio quality isn’t to be sniffed at, either: it’s very clear, with some warmth and bass, and can go quite loud without getting shrill or distorted.

As for usability, the Spin 713 makes the most of the available space with a good-sized backlit keyboard with large, flat keys and an equally sizable touchpad that has a 3:2 aspect ratio to match the screen. The keyboard isn’t the best here – while there’s enough travel, the action could be crisper – but it’s not far off the pace, and the touchpad is near impossible to fault, tracking fast movements and gestures perfectly. If this was your main work machine, you would be perfectly happy, and a battery life of 12 hours or more means you won’t run out of power before the day is done.

If you want to use the Spin 713 within a desktop setup, you’ve got all the connectivity you need. It’s one of the few modern Chromebooks that still feature an HDMI output, although you could use DisplayPort over a USB-C adaptor or hub if you prefer, while there’s a single USB-A 3 port and two USB-C 3.1 ports. Acer gets extra credit on the wireless front too, with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.

Perhaps the most important thing about the Spin 713 is that it looks, feels and performs like a high-end Chromebook, while remaining thoroughly affordable. Granted, it’s not quite as speedy as the Dell Latitude Chromebook 7410 or HP Pro C640, but it’s substantially cheaper while delivering a similar experience – or a better one in some respects. It’s an excellent Chromebook and incredible value.

Acer Chromebook Spin 713 specifications

Processor	Dual-core Intel Core i3-10110U
RAM	8GB LPDDR4
Graphics adapter	Intel UHD Graphics
Storage	128GB eMMC
Screen size (in)	13.5in
Screen resolution	2,256 x 1,504
Screen type	IPS
Touchscreen	Yes
Memory card slot	MicroSD
Graphics outputs	2 x USB-C 3, HDMI
Other ports	USB-A
Web Cam	720p
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 6
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 5
NFC	N/A
Dimensions, mm (WDH)	300 x 235 x 16.8mm
Weight (kg) - with keyboard where applicable	1.2kg
Operating system	Chrome OS

Windows devices targeted by PuzzleMaker malware exploiting Chrome zero-day flaw

Rene Millman — Wed, 09 Jun 2021 12:21:25 +0000

Security researchers have warned about PuzzleMaker, a new hacking group that is using a series of Google Chrome and Windows 10 exploits to attack organizations worldwide.

According to reports, researchers first observed the attacks in mid-April. These attacks, which were highly targeted against companies worldwide, used a chain of Google Chrome and Microsoft Windows zero-day exploits.

Zero Day Initiative disclosed unpatched Microsoft Jet database flaw EFF sues NSA over hoarding details of zero day flaws Microsoft warns of Windows XP zero day vulnerability Another Adobe zero day strikes

Researchers failed to find an exploit used for remote code execution (RCE) in Chrome but found and analyzed an elevation-of-privilege exploit used to escape the sandbox and obtain system privileges.

As researchers didn't find the RCE in Chrome, they looked elsewhere and discovered a possible candidate. On April 12, Chromium developers committed two (issue 1196683, issue 1195777) Typer-related bug fixes to the open source repository of V8 — a JavaScript engine used by Chrome and Chromium web browsers. This was after a team in a Pwn2Own competition demonstrated successful exploitation of the Chrome renderer process using a Typer Mismatch bug.

"One of these bug fixes (issue 1196683) was intended to patch a vulnerability that was used during Pwn2Own, and both bug fixes were committed together with regression tests – JavaScript files to trigger these vulnerabilities," said researchers.

Researchers said a user with the Twitter handle @r4j0x00 later published a working remote code execution exploit on GitHub.

RELATED RESOURCE

Enabling operational resiliency with Veritas

Boost your DX goals with data and infrastructure insights

FREE DOWNLOAD

Following the use of this exploit, hackers then used another exploit to abuse Windows Notification Facility (WNF) with a Windows NTFS privilege escalation bug (CVE-2021-31956) to execute code with system privileges on compromised Windows 10 systems.

This enabled hackers to access the victim's system and execute four malware modules; these were stager, dropper, service, and remote shell modules.

The stager checks if exploitation is successful. If so, it downloads a dropper module from a C2 server. The dropper module installs two executables that pretend to be legitimate Windows files. The first file is registered as a service and used as a launcher for the second executable. The second file is used as a remote shell and is the attack's main payload.

"The remote shell module has a hardcoded URL of the C&C server inside (media-seoengine[.]com). All the communication between the C&C server and client is authorized and encrypted. The remote shell module is able to download and upload files, create processes, sleep for specified amounts of time and delete itself from the compromised machine," said researchers.

Researchers warned the malware doesn't appear to have any strong connections to other threat actors. Organizations have been urged to apply all patches to affected systems as soon as possible.

New Chrome OS update makes it easier to check for hardware faults

Bobby Hellard — Thu, 22 Apr 2021 10:45:00 +0000

Google has released a diagnostic app for Chrome OS that lets users initiate a scan for hardware faults within a Chromebook.

The app is part of a recent update to Chrome OS that also aims to reduce the number of tabs you open by giving the launcher more instant capabilities.

Chrome OS 87 makes life easier for parents with young children Chromebook demand "through the roof" with 287% growth Dell Latitude Chromebook 7410 review: A security-conscious Chromebook with no staying power

The diagnostic app will be accessible from the launcher so users can instantly scan various parts of their device for issues. This can be used on their Chromebook's CPU, memory, and battery and give quick insights on what might be slowing their device down.

The Chromebook launcher, which is where users can normally find apps, local files, or Google search, will now also include a calculator, weather updates, stock prices, and even quick word definitions in an attempt to create a single source for all of a Chromebook user's needs.

For example, if the battery is draining faster than one would normally expect, the app can run a 'discharge test' to see if the hardware is the cause of the problem. The app will also offer up links to relevant support articles and save the test results in a session log that can be shared with customer support teams if the problem is severe enough. There will also be a list of standard troubleshooting advice for more minor faults.

In the coming weeks, Chrome OS will also receive the 'Live Captions' feature that was recently added to the Chrome browser. These are automatic, real-time captions for any media that has audio, and will be an option on "most" Chrome OS devices inside the Accessibility menu.

The updates come as Chromebook sales continue to increase, according to recent Gartner research, which suggests that shipments reached "triple figures" for the first quarter of 2021. This follows on from strong sales in Q4 of 2020, where Canalys suggested demand was "through the roof".

Google speeds up Chrome update cycle to four weeks

Bobby Hellard — Fri, 05 Mar 2021 13:05:00 +0000

Google's Chrome browser is moving to a faster release cycle with new milestones shipped every four weeks, instead of the usual six-week cycle, the company has announced.

It will start with Chrome 94, which is due for release in the third quarter of 2021 and means that the big centenary update - Chrome 100 - is likely to fall early next year, on 29 March.

Best web browsers 2023: Google Chrome vs Microsoft Edge vs Firefox Weekly threat roundup: Zero-days in Windows, Adobe, Google Chrome Google Chrome makes it easier to fix weak passwords

Chrome will now be in line with Mozilla's Firefox, which switched to a four-week cycle last year. However, Google is also offering an 8-week cycle via an Extended Stable option for enterprise administrators and Chromium embedders who need more time to manage the update.

There will also be bi-weekly security patches to fix certain issues, but these will not contain new features or even the majority of the security fixes that the 4-week update will bring.

"As we have improved our testing and release processes for Chrome, and deployed bi-weekly security updates to improve our patch gap, it became clear that we could shorten our release cycle and deliver new features more quickly," Alex Mineer, the technical program manager, Chrome operations, explained.

The Chrome team has updated the documentation for its release cycles but it is also calling for feedback from Chromium contributors to be sent to 'branches@chromium.org'. There is also a preliminary update on the release calendar which will be kept up to date ahead of the new release cycle.

Google has also said that Chrome OS users will also receive support for multiple stable releases in the future. More details on that will be shared "in the coming months" the company said, but it will include choices for milestone updates to managed devices.

Google introduces new video tools for Meet, Chrome OS

Sabina Weston — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 12:05:00 +0000

Chrome OS users will now be able to record their screens in meetings, as part of a slew of new features and devices announced by Google.

Although mostly aimed at children and teenagers confined to remote learning as schools remain closed, the new tools are likely to be found useful by a wider audience.

The screen recording tool will be rolled out in March with the latest Chrome OS update, and other new video conferencing features will follow.

Google fixes zero-day flaw in Chrome and Chrome OS Chrome OS 87 makes life easier for parents with young children Is it nearly time to dump Windows for Chrome OS?

For instance, Google Meet is providing teachers with increased control over the virtual classroom, soon giving them the option to end meetings for everyone on the call, which will prevent students from staying on after the teacher has left — including in breakout rooms. They will also be able to prevent interruptions with a new “mute all” tool, which will become available in the next few weeks.

Over the next few months, Google will also be adding a tool which will allow meeting hosts to control when other participants can unmute themselves, as well as provide better access to key moderation controls when using iOS or Android devices.

The newly-announced features are all part of Google’s efforts to increase the safety of underage users, bettering their quality of education as well as preventing major security incidents such as ‘Zoom-bombing’.

RELATED RESOURCE

Future of video conferencing

Optimising video conferencing features to achieve business goals

FREE DOWNLOAD

To coincide with the release, the company also announced that it will be launching over 40 new Chromebooks, many of which will be 2-in-1 devices that combine the features of laptops and tablets.

The new devices are to be equipped with a stylus, touchscreen, as well as dual-cameras, making it easier for users to take notes, edit videos, record screencasts, and create a range of media, from podcasts to books and illustrations.

Google also announced that it will roll out a range of Chromebooks that can better support students with limited access to a Wi-Fi connection. The “Always Connected” devices will be equipped with LTE connectivity, allowing users to access the internet using their preferred mobile network provider. It's currently unclear when these devices will become available - IT Pro has sought clarification on this.

Chromebook shipments between October and December 2020 hit an all-time high of 11.2 million shipped units, an increase of 287% from the same quarter in 2019.

Chromebook demand "through the roof" with 287% growth

Bobby Hellard — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 13:04:00 +0000

Chromebook shipments hit an all-time high of 11.2 million shipped units between October and December, an increase of 287% from the same quarter in 2019.

The global PC market ended the year with strong sales all around, but for Chromebooks, demand has increased dramatically, according to research from Canalys.

Remote working fuels biggest PC market growth in 10 years Apple smashes competition with record Q4 smartphone sales HP Chromebook 13 review: The best Chrome OS laptop yet

Vendors saw massive increases compared to 2019 as the overall Chromebook market almost quadrupled in size. HP was the top supplier in the fourth quarter, with 3.5 million units sold, 235% more than the same period in 2019.

Lenovo's sales grew 1,766%, putting the firm second with 2.8 million units sold between October and December. Acer and Dell were third and fourth, respectively, having shipped over 1.5 million units each, while Asus was edged out of the top five by Samsung. The South Korean firm shipped over a million units, increasing its sales by 630% year-over-year.

"Demand for Chromebooks is through the roof," said Canalys research director Rushabh Doshi. "With many countries being forced to accelerate their digital education plans in the wake of additional lockdowns, schools and universities are clamouring for easy to deploy solutions and Google's digital offerings for education are proving quite popular over rival platforms, especially in the US and Western Europe."

This demand for Chromebooks is expected to remain strong throughout 2021, according to Doshi, with mounting interest from consumers and businesses for affordable hardware. This is also the case for tablets, which saw significant shipment increases in 2020, with 160.6 million units moved throughout the year.

Apple recorded its best quarterly iPad performance since Q4 in 2014, selling 19.2 million units - 40% growth year-on-year. Samsung also saw tablet shipments increase with 9.9 million units. Amazon climbed to third having shipped 6.5 million tablets over the Christmas period, but the fastest-growing vendor was Lenovo, with 5.6 million units shipped in Q4 - a 125% increase from 2019.

As with its smartphone business, Huawei saw its tablet sales decline by 24%, making it the only vendor in the top five to see a drop.

Google extends Chrome support for Windows 7 until 2022

Carly Page — Mon, 23 Nov 2020 09:50:09 +0000

Google has announced that its extending Chrome support for enterprises using Windows 7 until at least 15 January 2020.

Back in January, Google announced that it would stop supporting the browser on Windows 7 from 15 July 2021. However, in a post on the Google Cloud blog, the company has revealed that its extending support for an additional six months, with support now set to end in January 2022.

Best web browsers 2023: Google Chrome vs Microsoft Edge vs Firefox What to do if you're still running Windows 7 Google Chrome is losing market share to Microsoft Edge

The company said it's decided to extend support due to the difficulties businesses have faced due to the remote working arrangements necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"This year has presented a lot of challenges for organisations of all sizes," said Max Christoff, engineering director of Google Chrome. "Facing difficult business and technology decisions, supporting a changing work environment, and navigating uncertainty are among just a few of the issues IT leaders have faced over the course of 2020."

The decision has also been spurred by the fact that a significant proportion of businesses are still using the decade-old operating system. Although Microsoft stopped providing security updates for Windows 7 in January this year, Google's figures show that 21% of organisations using Chrome on Windows 7 are still working to migrate over to Windows 10.

"While the past few months served as a catalyst for technology investments and digital transformation initiatives for many organizations, for others, some planned IT projects may have had to take a back seat.

"Our hope is that this extension gives our enterprise customers the flexibility they need to continue supporting their workforce, while moving off of Windows 7 as their situation allows."

News of this six-month extension comes just days after Google debuted Chrome 87, which it claims "represents the largest gain in Chrome performance in years". The company claims the update has the potential to reduce CPU usage by up to five times and to extend battery life by up to 1.25 hours.

Chrome 87 arrives with bolstered performance and security

Bobby Hellard — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 11:53:44 +0000

Google has released the final Chrome update of 2020 with a slew of new performance enhancements and some tighter security controls.

The update includes changes to the search bar, power-saving tweaks for tabs and faster bootup times.

Google almost 'broke the web' with its latest Chrome update What's next for Google Chrome? Chrome OS – Lost in the cloud?

"Today we're offering up our final Chrome release of 2020," said Matt Waddell, Chrome director of product. "The updates can help you get things done this holiday season (and beyond), so you can make life's work a bit smoother and reclaim precious time."

The update "represents the largest gain in Chrome performance in years", according to Waddell, due to a number of under-the-hood improvements. This includes prioritising open tabs to reduce CPU usage by up to five times and extending battery life by up to 1.25 hours, according to Google's internal benchmarks.

Furthermore, the tabs you constantly have open will soon be accessible via a search bar, which is coming to Chromebooks first before rolling out to other desktop platforms. The feature works regardless of the window you're in, according to Google.

Chrome will also start up 25% faster, also loading pages 7% quicker, but by using less power and RAM than before. This will also include Android, where Chrome will load pages "near instantaneously", according to Google.

There is also extra functionality coming to the actual Chrome search bar. Along with searching websites and keywords, you'll soon be able to move into settings just by type commands; for example, "edit passwords" will take you straight from the search bar to the settings interface - these commands will initially focus on privacy and security features.

Security has also been boosted for developers with Chrome 87 boasting new setting and UI functions, including APIs and updates to Chrome's built-in developer tools. These support Cookie Store API, easier modification of web fronts via CSS, support for tilt, pan and zoom controls on webcam streams and also support for debugging WebAuthn operations via Chrome DevTools.

Chromium browser updates are creating random debug.log files

David Gargaro — Mon, 19 Oct 2020 15:39:38 +0000

The latest version of Chrome and all Chromium-based browsers contain a bug that causes the creation of random debug.log files on users’ desktops and folders.

On October 6, Google released Chrome 86 to the “Stable” branch, which auto-updated for all users. All Chromium-based browsers, including Microsoft Edge and Brave, upgraded to this version on that date.

What's next for Google Chrome? Week in Review: Google Chrome hits the web Your Views: Google Chrome OS Mozilla finds Google Chrome flaw

Since its release, Chrome version 86.0.4240.75 has been creating debug.log error log files on desktops and in other folders. The debug.log file is Chromium’s default log file it uses to log newly found errors. The bug creates debug.log files with the following message:

[1016/1644047.132:ERROR:directory_reader_win.cc(43)] FindFirstFile: The system cannot find the path specified. (0x3)

Google has not released an official explanation of the bug. It is not known if this is a new bug or Google forgot to turn off logging after enabling it.

Debug logs are system generated and appear in the Dashboard when configured by the developer in the SDK. Chrome is having difficulty iterating over the files and subdirectories in a folder, and is logging it as an error.

Users can resolve the issue by deleting the contents of the Chromium Crashpad folder.You can find the folder in the following locations:

Chrome: C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Crashpad
Edge: C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Edge\User Data\Crashpad
Brave: C:\Users\User\AppData\Local\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Crashpad

Follow these steps to delete the contents of the Crashpad folder and prevent the creation of debug.log files:

Close the browser with the debug.log issue
Go to the browser's Crashpad folder
Delete the contents of the Crashpad folder
Restart the browser to create a new Crashpad folder

Chrome 85 arrives with faster page loading and tab throttling

Justin Cupler — Wed, 26 Aug 2020 15:09:08 +0000

Google has officially launched Chrome 85, and it arrives with faster loading speeds thanks to two improvements: page guidance optimization (PGO) and tab throttling. Also helping user experience is the new tab-collapsing feature.

PGO is nothing new to Google Chrome, as it debuted on Chrome 53 in 2016. Then, it was only available on Windows and used Microsoft Visual Basic C++ to help speed up load times.

In Chrome 85, it’s available on Mac and Windows using Clang, and Google says it “consistently shows pages loading up to 10% faster at the median and even greater speed improvements when your CPU is tasked with running many tabs or programs.”

What's next for Google Chrome? Mozilla finds Google Chrome flaw Your Views: Google Chrome OS Google Chrome fixes browser engine flaws

While a speedier load time is good, one common complaint users have about Chrome is how many resources it commits to background tabs. Google is working on this with its new tab throttling, which is in beta testing now.

Tab throttling will pull resources from tabs that have been idle for a while and push them to your active tabs. Google claims this will increase loading speeds while saving your battery and memory.

Though the speed gains will be small, any improvement to Chrome’s resource usage will be a welcome change for heavy Chrome users.

Speaking of tabs, Google Chrome 85 will also include collapsable tabs. You can categorize a selection of tabs under a name and collapse them by clicking on the category name to reduce the clutter. If you need the tabs again, click on the category name to expand them.

Chrome 85 is rolling out to computers now, but its full rollout may take a few weeks.

How to take a Chrome screenshot

itpro@futurenet.com (Rene Millman) — Wed, 08 Jul 2020 19:52:25 +0000

Taking screenshots in Chrome can be crucial for quickly capturing web page content, yet it can be more challenging than expected. When using a browser like Chrome, understanding the various methods to take screenshots can greatly enhance your efficiency.

Many devices allow users to take a screenshot by pressing a specific combination of buttons or keys. This combination differs depending on the operating system and the device.

Google Chrome has built-in screenshot tools for desktops, but they can be tricky to access. Once you find them, however, they are incredibly user-friendly.

Once you learn how to access them, the tools are easy to use. They work like the methods for taking a screenshot on a PC, or taking a screenshot on macOS.

How to take a Google Chrome screenshot

How to take a Chrome screenshot without an extension

(Image: © ITPro)

Chrome’s screenshot options are fairly intuitive to use but finding them takes some doing. To access them, follow these steps:

First, right-click on any empty space within the Chrome window and select 'Inspect' from the context menu (alternatively, you can use the shortcut Control+Shift+I on Windows and Linux, or Command+Option+I on Mac). This will open the Chrome Developer Tools panel.

Next, you need to open the command menu by pressing Control+Shift+P on Windows and Linux, or Command+Shift+P on Mac. This command menu allows you to execute various developer commands without navigating through the interface manually.

In the command box that appears, start typing the word 'screenshot.' This action will bring up a list of different screenshot types that you can choose from. Each option is designed for a specific type of screenshot, so select the one that best fits your needs, as detailed in the next section.

Click on the screenshot option that corresponds to your requirement. Whether you need to capture the entire page, just the visible area, a specific section, or an individual HTML element, Chrome’s built-in tools can handle it efficiently.

What type of screenshot can I take in Chrome?

There are four kinds of screenshots you can take in Chrome natively, depending on your need:

'Capture screenshot' takes a screenshot of the entire visible Chrome window, including only the content visible in the user window and discounting tabs, the bookmark bar, or any other on-screen content outside of Chrome.
'Capture full-size screenshot' is the same as ‘Capture screenshot’ but it captures an entire webpage from top to bottom - this is helpful for long pages that get cropped in traditional screenshots.
'Capture area screenshot' changes the cursor to a cross, allowing you to draw a selection box over the specific section of the browser window you wish to capture.
'Capture node screenshot' captures specific HTML/DOM elements on the page, which can be selected using the element inspection tool.

(Image credit: Future)

Once you select an option from the list, the screenshot should be downloaded automatically as a PNG image. The only exception to this is with the 'Capture area screenshot' feature, which will first prompt you to outline an area on the screen to capture. It's important to note that 'Capture area screenshot' only works within the Chrome window you have selected.

While these steps become familiar over time, there are more efficient ways to quickly take a screenshot without navigating through the developer console. Google Chrome offers several extensions that provide easy access to screenshot functionality along with other powerful features. These extensions can simplify capturing and editing screenshots, offering support for multiple image and video file types, including GIFs and screen recordings.

Most extensions are designed to be very user-friendly, allowing you to take screenshots with a simple click of a button. They often include robust editing tools, enabling you to annotate, crop, or enhance your images directly within the browser. Additionally, many of these extensions support various file formats, ensuring that your screenshots can be saved in the format that best suits your needs, whether it's JPEG, PNG, or PDF.

However, it's essential to consider your organization's security policies before installing any extension. Ensure that the tools you use comply with these guidelines to avoid any potential security risks. By leveraging these extensions, you can streamline your workflow, making the process of capturing and managing screenshots more efficient and less time-consuming.

Extensions for taking a screenshot in Chrome

A browser extension is a piece of software you add to your browser to change how it operates or add new functionality to it. There are thousands of extensions available through the Chrome browser, many of which offer screenshot functionality with just a click of a button.

These extensions are particularly useful as they support multiple image and video file types, such as GIFs and screen recordings. Additionally, they often come with powerful editing tools to annotate, crop, or enhance images directly within the browser. This versatility ensures that users can save their screenshots in formats that best suit their needs, whether it be JPEG, PNG, or PDF.

However, before installing any extension, it's essential to consider your organization's security policies to avoid any potential risks. By using these browser extensions, you can streamline your workflow, making the process of capturing and managing screenshots more efficient and less time-consuming.

We've highlighted five such extensions below, each designed to make taking screenshots in Chrome easier:

GoFullPage

(Image credit: gofullpage.com)

This easy-to-use extension lets you capture the entire webpage you’re on with just one click.

Simply click on the icon for the extension at the top right of the browser window, and it will capture the page in a scrolling screenshot. This extension can handle complex pages, including inner scrollable elements as well as embedded iframes.

Once finished, the extension will open a new tab containing the finished screenshot ready to be saved in your desired file format. These include JPEG, PNG, or PDF. If you want a PDF, you can also adjust the PDF page size.

Install GoFullPage here.

Awesome Screen Recorder & Screenshot

(Image credit: awesomescreenshot.com)

This highly-rated extension is free and has lots of useful features, including:

Capturing an entire webpage or just part of it
Support for PNG images
Adding comments or annotations to your screenshots
Blurring out any sensitive information you want to hide
Making MP4 video recordings of your computer screen with your narration

Once you complete your screenshot or recording, you can upload it directly to various project management tools, like Jira or Trello. You can also upload your screenshot directly to Google Drive through the extension.

Install Awesome Screenshot here.

Nimbus Screenshot & Screen Video Recorder

(Image credit: nimbusweb.me)

This is a sophisticated browser extension with a number of advanced tools, and its basic version is absolutely free.

Its key free features include:

Capturing an entire web page or part of it
Performing a “select and scroll” capture where you select a part of the page and scroll down to capture more of it
Capturing delayed screenshots
Capturing a screen in a mobile layout

The premium version starts at $5 (£4) per month and adds a few extra useful features, including:

Converting your screen recording to a GIF
Image editing
Adding a watermark to your screenshots
Cropping and trimming your video
Uploading videos to Google Drive or Dropbox

It can also operate with no internet access.

Install Nimbus Screenshot & Screen Video Recorder here.

Fireshot

(Image credit: getfireshot.com)

This is a partly free extension that also has a premium paid version.

As with most of these other extensions, you can capture the entire webpage or just the visible part of it. Or, by using your cursor, you can select a part of the webpage to capture.

You can save your screenshot as a JPEG, PDF, PNG, GIF or BMP. The files can be saved to your computer or sent via email.

Fireshot’s biggest selling point is its built-in image editor. You can easily and immediately crop, edit or annotate your screenshots in the editor.

The basic version of Fireshot is free, but the pro version with all the upgrades comes with a one-time price of $75 (£59). Besides giving you access to the image editor, the pro version also allows you to upload your screenshots to places like social media, Flickr, OneNote, or Picasa.

Install Fireshot here.

Lightshot

(Image credit: Future)

This is a free extension that excels in capturing selected areas quickly. It’s lightweight and offers basic online editing capabilities. You can upload your screenshots to the cloud for instant sharing and create quick sharing links. An additional feature allows you to search for similar images online.

Lightshot is particularly useful for users who need a fast and efficient tool for capturing and sharing screenshots without the need for extensive editing. Its simplicity and ease of use make it a popular choice among both casual and professional users. Whether you need to share a snippet of a webpage with a colleague or save an image for future reference, Lightshot provides a reliable and user-friendly solution.

Install Lightshot here.

Other extension options for taking screenshots in Chrome

Needless to say, there are many other screenshot extensions for Chrome. Honourable mentions include:

Blipshot automatically notes the page name, date, and time each time you take a screenshot. This makes it easier to find the screenshot later.

RELATED RESOURCE

Smarter AIOps

AI powered automation helping your business assure app performance

FREE DOWNLOAD

Marker is a paid professional tool used by tech workers who collaborate with teams of web developers. It allows you to “mark up” a screenshot with annotations and send it to teammates via project management tools like Trello, Jira, Asana, Slack, etc. All the reports Marker generates automatically include metadata about the web pages it captures. Marker plans start at $49 (£39) a month.

When it comes to taking screenshots in Chrome, users have a plethora of excellent and free options to choose from. Each extension offers unique features, thus it's essential to select the one that best meets your specific requirements. Whether you need a straightforward tool for quick captures and sharing or a more advanced solution for professional collaboration, there's certainly an extension that will cater to your needs.

Lightshot, for instance, is ideal for users who prioritize speed and simplicity. On the other hand, Blipshot offers the convenience of automatic timestamping for easy retrieval, and Marker provides professional-grade annotation and integration with team collaboration tools.

Ultimately, finding the right screenshot extension can significantly enhance your productivity and streamline your workflow, making it easier to capture, share, and manage visual information with efficiency.

Taking screenshots on Chrome mobile (Android & iOS)

While the methods above cover taking screenshots in Chrome on a desktop or laptop, what about your phone or tablet?

Unlike its desktop counterpart, Google Chrome on mobile devices (Android and iOS) does not have its own built-in screenshot function like the one hidden in the Developer Tools. Instead, you rely entirely on your device's native operating system screenshot capabilities.

Here's how it generally works:

Microsoft's Edge now more popular than Firefox for the first time

Keumars Afifi-Sabet — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 12:26:40 +0000

Fundamental changes to the Edge platform have seen Microsoft’s flagship browser swell in popularity to the extent it’s overtaken Mozilla’s Firefox as the second most widely-used browser.

Microsoft Edge crept up from a market share of 7.38% in February to 7.59% during March 2020, versus a slightly reduced 7.19% share for Firefox against 7.57% the previous month, according to NetMarketShare.

A steady rise in popularity for Microsoft Edge against the steady fall of Firefox’s market share over the last couple of years has seen a crossover moment occur for the first time.

What is Microsoft Edge? Everything you need to know Microsoft Edge branded as ‘worrisome’ for user privacy Why Chromium-powered Edge could be a gamechanger Mozilla teases subscription-based Firefox release

The milestone follows a period of change for Edge, that comes pre-packaged with its Windows operating systems. Among these changes are a reangling towards business users, and an overhaul of its codebase to the extent it’s now based on the open source Chromium browser.

Another feature, known as Collections, allows workers in procurement to drag and drop items from search results into a list that can be shared with others, complete with image and metadata for all items.

The Chromium-powered Edge has also seen a brand redesign to distinguish itself from the previous iteration of Edge, which has languished for years, as well as Internet Explorer, which has sustained an organic month-by-month decline.

Although Chrome enjoys a near-monopolistic market share of desktop browsers, often hitting between 60% and 70% in market share over the last few years, the tussle for second has been closely fought between Firefox, Edge and Internet Explorer.

Firefox has, itself, undergone a series of key changes focused almost exclusively on protecting user privacy. The most recent step forward in its development, which typifies this trend, involves the launch of a paid-for virtual private network (VPN) that encrypts users’ connections across apps and devices.

Unfortunately for Mozilla, these efforts haven’t paid off in the way the developer may have hoped, given its market share has continued to fall over time, from 9.27% in March 2019, for example, to just above 7% last month. Comparatively, Edge held just 5.2% market share the same time last year.

The rise of Microsoft Edge has also coincided with the fall of Internet Explorer, which held a market share above 12% during 2018. This is largely due to the fact many businesses still rely on the web browser to run business-critical applications.

The fact the new Edge is powered by Chromium is also sure to attract a swathe of users simply curious as to how it compares against previous iterations, and whether this cleaner codebase leads to smarter functionality.

Businesses can block Chromium-powered Edge rollout

Keumars Afifi-Sabet — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 11:22:36 +0000

Microsoft’s next-gen Edge internet browser will be beamed to Windows 10 devices from January 2020, but reticent organisations can block the software update from rolling out automatically.

From 15 January, Windows users will be able to browse the web using a Chromium-powered version of Microsoft’s flagship browser, according to official documentation, as the company aims to ratchet up its prominence and userbase.

The new browser will be shipped through Automatic Updates for Windows, but organisations reluctant to make the immediate switch can use a Blocker Toolkit to prevent the update being delivered automatically. This tool will not expire, and organisations can use it to block an automatic update.

Businesses that manage IT environments through an update management platform such as Windows Server Update Services wouldn’t need to use the Blocker Toolkit, however. These systems can already be used to manage the rollout of Windows 10 updates, including the addition of Chromium-based Edge.

While Edge, and Internet Explorer before that, failed to capture the internet browsing public’s imagination against the likes of Chrome, Firefox, Opera and Safari, Microsoft is hoping a host of revisions to the software would pose something of a gamechanger.

Microsoft, meanwhile, has invited developers to submit their apps and extensions through the Partner Center Developer Dashboard, which has been released in preview. The Microsoft Edge Addons store has been opened fully, and previously released Chromium-ready browser add-ons will be compatible with the new Edge.

Best web browsers 2023: Google Chrome vs Microsoft Edge vs Firefox Microsoft just redesigned its Edge browser to be an essential business tool Best Linux distros 2023: The finest open source operating systems around Five things to consider when planning your Windows 10 migration

The Edge browser, built using Google’s open-source technology, has been in preview for the last few months and represents a major directional change in light of the fact Microsft has ditched its own web engine.

The company unveiled a series of business-focus features for its new Edge browser in November, as well as a new logo to distinguish its identity from the Microsoft Edge of old.

An update to the preview version of Edge saw the introduction of an ability to access company intranet directories within the browser.

There is also functionality to allow workers to drag and drop items from search results into a list that can be shared to others, including images and metadata. These lists can be exported to Word, or Excel, which will input the metadata into a spreadsheet.

What is Chromium?

connor.jones@futurenet.com (Connor Jones) — Fri, 27 Sep 2019 14:30:00 +0000

Google Chrome first made its debut in September 2012. Since, it has surpassed Microsoft's Internet Explorer to become the world's most popular web browser, and eaten away at the market share of its smaller rivals, namely Firefox and Safari.

However, the arrival of Chrome introduced users to far more than a new browser. The source code used as a basis for Chrome, aptly named Chromium, has also become a significant influence to third-party development.

Microsoft Edge Browser adopts Chrome-based code Why it's time you made the switch back to Firefox Best web browsers 2023: Google Chrome vs Microsoft Edge vs Firefox Microsoft just redesigned its Edge browser to be an essential business tool

The open source code, which is maintained by the Chromium Project, is commonly used among developers, and is now famed for providing the building blocks for the new Edge browser developed by Microsoft.

Chromium is perhaps best known, however, for powering Google’s in-house operating system, Chrome OS, and is also used on the tech giant’s range of Chromebooks, running the browser and operating system on the same codebase.

Despite originally being designed as a project for developers seeking to download and edit codes, Chromium is now also a browser in its own right. However, it only uses the base open source code, thus making it significantly less feature-rich than other, more mainstream browsers.

Due to Chromium's open source nature, developers are encouraged to contribute and expand Chromium by using it in other software projects and creations. Some more accomplished developers are even specifically invited by the project's leaders to upgrade the existing code and come up with ways to build a "safe, faster, more secure computing experience", as explained on the Chromium website.

How is Chromium different to Chrome?

Some of the biggest differences between Chrome and Chromium centre on the quality of the build and how updates are managed. While the Chrome browser is refined and strives to be bug-free, Chromium is rough around the edges and lacking in features. It's also fully open-source, as opposed to the Chrome browser.

Updates, meanwhile, aren't issued to Chromium automatically, and it's highly unstable in nature and therefore prone to crashes; the fact that it's "tremendously buggy" is even written in the description on its download page. Moreover, glitches are hard to flag than bugs in Chrome, with the flagship web browser featuring a mechanism by which users can file reports for engineers to analyse.

Meanwhile there are are a number of popular video codecs that aren't supported in Chromium, like the H.264 used by Netflix, for example. Chromium generally offers a vastly-reduced user experience compared with Chrome and other popular web browsers, and most video streaming services are inoperable.

Perhaps, the easiest way to explain the differences between Chromium and Chrome, is that Chrome has everything Chromium has to offer but Chromium doesn't have access to all the features Google has equipped Chrome with.

What is Chromium used for?

Given Chromium's open-source nature, combined with the expertise behind the new code and it's not shocking to know that the code has been used by other browsers due to its innovation and fundamental quality.

The project benefits from having some of the best developers across the globe working on it - only developers approved by Google can actually make changes to the official Chromium code. Hobbyists can download and manipulate their own version but not Chromium itself.

These projects include:

Opera

It has been around for decades now and has pioneered features such as tabbed browsing and private browsing. It also sports a free VPN service built into the browser and a turbo mode which compresses web pages, making them load up to 50% faster. Opera decided to drop its Presto engine in 2013 in favour of Blink, the engine built with Chromium, which is also used to run Chrome.

The former Norwegian search engine, now owned by a Chinese collective, has the largest user share of any non-Google, chromium-based browser with 1.6% in early 2018, according to Net Applications.

Vivaldi

Vivaldi is another browser that has gained popularity since its inception in 2016, built largely by former Opera engineers. The browser was conceived by Opera's former CEO who was unhappy with the direction the company was taking.

The Chromium-based browser offers a plethora of features such as a breakout panel, which allows users to have two sites open in one tab, the ability to annotate web pages and also tab hibernation, which frees resources used by inactive tabs. Given that it's Chromium-based, all apps on the Chrome Web Store can also be installed on Vivaldi.

Brave

While somewhat niche, the Brave browser is a privacy-first platform that boasts some pretty nifty features. Created by the co-founders of the Mozilla project, Brave blocks adverts and trackers by default, as well as phishing, malware and risky plugins. Brave claims to load desktop web pages 2x faster than competitors and 8x faster on mobile too.

Microsoft Edge

Microsoft recently announced that it too will start adopting Chromium as the engine that powers its Edge browser, originally released some three years ago. Microsoft chose to adopt the engine's code to keep up with new web technologies, increasing its compatibility. As a result of the open-source shift, we can now get a Microsoft browser on MacOS for the first time.

Is Chromium safe?

Among the key considerations when choosing which browser to use is safety and security, defences against privacy intrusion and malware infection. With risks heightened in the current landscape, it's important to consider whether an internet browser can offer things like password storage and anti-tracking.

Where Chrome is regularly updated by its developers, Chromium lacks any auto-update mechanisms which means users must be constantly aware of the latest security updates as and when they become available. These essential patches won't be applied to Chromium builds when they become available unless users manually check for them, and it could lead more casual users at higher risk of attack.

RELATED RESOURCE

A three-phased approach to observability

How to improve the customer experience by moving from reactive to data-driven behaviours

FREE DOWNLOAD

Meanwhile, a host of open source versions of Chromium may be infected with malware or hidden lines of attack code, which means devices on which these are installed will be left vulnerable to being targeted by cyber criminals. The safest bet for both simple and advanced users is to acquire Chromium directly from Google and be aware of third-party links.

There are regular patches, however, that address various security concerns in Chromium, but these, as already mentioned, must be applied manually. "We are committed to promptly addressing all security issues, and delivering fixes to our users via our fast automatic update process," said Chromium's Core Principles of security. "This approach has allowed us to maintain an industry-leading response time to security vulnerabilities."

Who is using Chromium?

Those who are crazy for all things open source will appreciate Chromium – being at the forefront of the development of the code which feeds the world's most pervasive browser engine is a cool thing to experience for enthusiasts.

Given that Chromium is somewhat detached from Google, it collects and shares far less data with its parent than the Chrome browser. Although many value the privacy this affords, Chromium does send some data to Google as part of its feature set, such as search suggestions based on history.

How to download Chromium browser

If you're interested in trying out Chromium, it's essential you download the safest version.

Downloading Chromium isn't as intimidating as its open-source nature sounds. Just like a regular browser, it has a download page which should automatically recognise which system you're running, providing the appropriate version for you.

The web page will also issue you with the build revision number and a warning about how buggy the build could be.

Alternatives to Chrome

If it's brand new features you want, without all the hassle of dealing with manual updates and poor web compatibility, then Google's Canary build may be a better fit for you.

Google's Canary is the least stable of the Chrome builds, of which there are 4: Chrome, Beta, Dev and Canary. Canary benefits from compatibility features which aren't found on Chromium, such as Flash, PDF reader and multimedia codecs.

Canary will feel more like Chrome, only fitted with some cutting edge features that have yet to be fully tested by Google's engineers. It's so unstable it won't even let itself become your default browser. It's intended for those that want to see what Chrome could look like weeks or months down the line. You can download it here.

Chromium vs. Chrome: The verdict

So, the final question: Chromium or Chrome? Two very different browsers for two very different markets. There are pros and cons to both browsers so whether it's a deep love of coding or just simple curiosity, let this persuade or dissuade you from jumping into the Chromium project.

Chromium is a fascinating project, one that's become so well regarded that many developers jump at the chance to shape the technology that's become so prevalent across technology today. As a mass collaboration of ideas on a hugely impactful project, Chromium really sets the bar high for community engagement.

Google triples rewards for Chromium bug hunters

Keumars Afifi-Sabet — Fri, 19 Jul 2019 09:36:00 +0000

White hat hackers and developers will earn greater rewards for submitting vulnerabilities to Google's Chromium bug bounty programme.

The Chrome Vulnerability Rewards Program will triple the maximum baseline reward from $5,000 to $15,000 while also doubling the maximum reward amount for high-quality reports from $15,000 to $30,000. This is on top of a doubling of the reward for bugs identified using fuzzers to $1,000.

High-quality rewards have been defined as a submission that includes an exploit that can be easily, actively and reliably levied against users. These reports should also have a minimised test case and demonstrate the exploit is very likely, as well as showcase analysis to determine the root cause, among other factors.

The scheme was launched nine years ago so researchers could contribute to Chromium security maintenance. The base reward for eligible bugs in 2010 was $500, in line with payments made by Mozilla through its own bug bounty programme.

Teenage hacker makes $1m from bug bounty rewards Microsoft launches $20,000 Azure DevOps bug bounty programme Intel ups bug bounty programme reward to $250,000 in light of Meltdown and Spectre

By contrast, the maximum reward for submitting critical and high-security rated vulnerabilities to Mozilla today lies at $7,500, while the maximum bounty paid for a moderately-rated security issue is $2,000. Google's tripling of the maximum baseline rewards for valid flaws eclipses these figures.

The standing reward for exploit chains that can compromise a Chromebook or Chromebox with persistence in guest mode is also being raised to $150,000.

Meanwhile, the Google Play Security Reward Program has raised its reward for remote code execution bugs from $5,000 to $20,000, among other changes.

"Chrome has always been built with security at its core, by a passionate worldwide community as part of the Chromium open source project," said Chrome Security Team's engineer program manager Natasha Pabrai and security engineer Andrew Whalley.

"We're proud that community includes world-class security researchers who help defend Chrome and other Chromium-based browsers."

Although the increases are significant, Google's programme rewards still aren't a match for the likes of Microsoft and Intel.

The latter, for example, raised its maximum fee for researchers who find side-channel vulnerabilities from $100,000 to $250,000 in light of the Spectre and Meltdown flaws.

Microsoft, on the other hand, launched a programme for its Azure DevOps platform in which valid submissions can earn a maximum of $20,000.

Plugging Chrome's private browsing loophole

Google has instigated these changes to its bug bounty programmes in conjunction with a major privacy-centric tweak to its Chrome browser.

When the next Chrome release is issued, the company will plug a loophole that has allowed sites to detect when people are browsing in Incognito mode. This has allowed some publishers to deter people from circumventing paywalls, for example.

Chrome's FileSystem API is normally disabled while people browse in Incognito mode, and many sites have the ability to check whether the FileSystem API is available. If publishers receive an error message following these checks, they can deduce the user is using private browsing to access their site.

Chrome 76, set to be released at the end of July, will change the behaviour of the FileSystem API to plug this loophole and prevent websites from determining how users are accessing their sites.

"The change will affect sites that use the FileSystem API to intercept Incognito Mode sessions and require people to log in or switch to normal browsing mode, on the assumption that these individuals are attempting to circumvent metered paywalls," said Google's partner development manager for news and web partnerships Barb Palser.

"Unlike hard paywalls or registration walls, which require people to log in to view any content, meters offer a number of free articles before you must log in. This model is inherently porous, as it relies on a site's ability to track the number of free articles someone has viewed, typically using cookies. Private browsing modes are one of several tactics people use to manage their cookies and thereby 'reset' the meter count.

"Our News teams support sites with meter strategies and recognize the goal of reducing meter circumvention, however, any approach based on private browsing detection undermines the principles of Incognito Mode."

This Chrome extension kills its worst CPU-guzzling tendencies

Keumars Afifi-Sabet — Wed, 17 Jul 2019 11:06:00 +0000

An American computer scientist has published an open-source extension for Google's Chrome browser that automatically detects and blocks the application's notoriously heavy CPU usage.

Whether this is a result of bugs, websites overloaded with data, or badly-written code, the Chrome browser has gained a reputation for consuming a vast amount of processing power, often without explanation.

The Chrome Reaper, howeve, is a browser extension that terminates browser processes when they use too much memory and CPUutilisation meets or exceed a certain threshold for a specified length of time. These may include web pages that are extremely bloated or slow, as well as cryptocurrency mining scripts.

David Flater, a computer scientist with the US government's National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST), has published details on the Chrome Reaper via Github, where users can download the extension or offer feedback.

Is your browser secretly mining cryptocurrencies? Google bans cryptocurrency mining extensions from Chrome Web Store Best web browsers 2023: Google Chrome vs Microsoft Edge vs Firefox

Users can set this threshold to lie between 10% and 90% with 10% increments, and the time set to values between three and 30 seconds. The reason for adding such user-customised variation is because many cryptominers are designed to limit CPU utlisation well below 90% in order to avoid detection.

When the Chrome Reaper terminates a web page or an extension suddenly dies, users will receive a push notification informing them what's happened. The extension will show itself as active with a small icon in the address bar, otherwise, displaying total CPU usage.

The extension also features whitelisting functionality so that known browser functions or websites that do exceed the threshold won't be disrupted. Entire sites can be whitelisted, moreover, as this functionality exempts the hostname as opposed to specific URLs.

Chrome is renowned for its functionality and slick user interface (UI) but has developed a reputation for leaning far too heavily on processing power. This browser extension, Flater hopes, can allay frustration many often feel while using Google's flagship browser.

Qualcomm announces 'extreme' ARM chip for thin and light PCs

Connor Jones — Fri, 07 Dec 2018 11:13:00 +0000

Qualcomm has revealed the Snapdragon 8cx, a chip designed specifically for Windows 10 'Always Connected' PCs, claiming hefty performance into the first ever 7-nanometre chip for PCs.

It's the largest, most powerful CPU Qualcomm has ever made and has beaten Intel in reaching the 7nm process node for laptop and desktop computers; Intel has been attempting to create 10nm-based Core processors but has somewhat stalled the process given it has struggled to develop the chips at scale.

With the X' standing for extreme, the Snapdragon 8cx promises significant performance boosts over its predecessor, the Snapdragon 850, which was the first system-on-a-chip designed for Windows 10 Always Connected PCs.

Sporting an 8-core CPUs, the Snapdragon 8cx features a tightly packed plethora of transistors to offer boosted performance without compromising on battery life.

Qualcomm claims that the 8cx's performance will rival that of Intel's 15-watt U-series processors currently used in Windows's low-end thin and light systems, except that it will draw on less than half of the electricity at just 7 watts.

The chip will also feature a brand new GPU, the Adreno 680 Extreme which it said would eclipse the performance of its previous iteration, the Adreno on the Snapdragon 850, boasting 3.5 times better performance and performance that will be 60% more efficient.

In recent times there has been a big push for Microsoft and Qualcomm to create a new breed of Chromebook-like thin and light productivity machines and the 8cx promises to deliver on that.

Qualcomm must license its modem tech to rival companies, judge rules Qualcomm says Apple stole trade secrets to help out Intel What are always-connected PCs?

Although Intel and AMD comprise the bipartite market dominance for PC processors, Qualcomm has long cemented its authority in the mobile sphere, with most Android phones running some variant of Qualcomm's chips. With the Snapdragon 8cx, there is a possibility that the mobile mammoth could be making some large footprints in the PC scene very soon, especially with the debut of more capable Windows 10 'Always Connected' PCs.

Building on its suitability for always-ready, the chip will have a new X24 LTE modem which won't quite get up to 5G speeds like the X50 5G, unlike its 855 mobile chip, although Qualcomm is working on it, users can expect a respectable 2Gbps speed out of the cellular tech.

Everyone is excited about this because the 8cx is the first chip it has produced that genuinely shows potential to run Windows properly. Apparently, it's capable of running Windows Enterprise and that's partially due to its massive upgrade in memory when compared to the Snapdragon 850. It will support up to 16gb of LPDDR4x RAM as opposed to a lacklustre 4GB in its older sibling.

Despite having the option on the 7nm chip to favour battery life, Qualcomm has gone down the performance route, but still promises a battery life comparable to the 850. It should last you all day on a full charge and thanks to the Quick Charge 4+ technology, hook it up to a USB-C and it should juice up fairly quickly if its running low.

The new ARM chip which joins Apple in its superiority over Intel's versions is perfect for always-ready machines that are increasing in popularity. Always-ready PCs are computers which have mobile phone-like cellular connectivity, near day-long battery lives and month-long standby times. This means they're always ready when you need them and always connected to the internet without having to rely on public WiFi or personal hotspots for internet connectivity.

With battery life, connectivity and portability three of three key factors to consider when making a laptop purchase, we could be seeing much more of Qualcomm in the PC sphere as the market potentially grows.

Google bans cryptocurrency mining extensions from Chrome Web Store

Rene Millman — Tue, 03 Apr 2018 14:04:00 +0000

Google has banned from the Chrome Web Store any extension that features a secret cryptocurrency miner.

In a blog post, the search giant said that over the past few months there has been a rise in malicious extensions that appear to provide useful functionality on the surface, while embedding hidden cryptocurrency mining scripts that run in the background without the user's consent.

Google speeds up Chrome What is cryptocurrency mining? Is your browser secretly mining cryptocurrencies?

"These mining scripts often consume significant CPU resources, and can severely impact system performance and power consumption," said James Wagner, extensions platform product manager at Google.

He said that until now, Google's policy on cryptocurrency mining in extensions was permitted as long as it's the extension's single purpose and the user is adequately informed about the mining behaviour. But Wagner added that around 90% of all extensions with mining scripts developers have attempted to upload to Chrome Web Store have failed to comply with these policies and have been either rejected or removed from the store.

As such, Google has been forced to no longer accept extensions that mine cryptocurrency at all. Wagner added that existing extensions that mine cryptocurrency will be delisted from the Chrome Web Store in late June, but extensions with blockchain-related purposes other than mining will continue to be permitted in the Web Store.

Wagner lamented the fact that while the extension platform allowed developers to build plug-ins that helped users, these same capabilities have attracted malicious software developers who attempt to abuse the platform at the expense of users.

"This policy is another step forward in ensuring that Chrome users can enjoy the benefits of extensions without exposing themselves to hidden risks," he added.

Google looks to kill man in the middle attacks

Tom Brewster — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 11:53:00 +0000

Google Chrome researchers have announced Chromium updates to tackle man in the middle attacks, focusing on "mixed scripting" vulnerabilities.

These vulnerabilities occur when a page served over HTTPS loads a script, CSS or plug-in resource over HTTP.

"A man-in-the-middle attacker (such as someone on the same wireless network) can typically intercept the HTTP resource load and gain full access to the website loading the resource. It's often as bad as if the web page hadn't used HTTPS at all," read a blog post from Chris Evans and Tom Sepez - members of the Google Chrome Security Team.

They announced blocking mixed scripting conditions by default would be trialled in the first Chromium 14 canary release, meaning it could appear in the Google Chrome browser in future releases.

An infobar showing when a script is being blocked will also be added.

"As a user, you can choose to reload the website without the block applied. Ideally, in the longer term, the infobar will not have the option for the user to bypass it," the Google researchers said.

"Our experience shows that some subset of users will attempt to click through' even the scariest of warnings - despite the hazards that can follow."

Tracking your identity

In another security play, Google introduced a new tool on Wednesday to help users monitor their identity on the internet.

Called Me on the Web,' the feature can be found within Google Dashboard beneath the account details link.

Me on the Web offers recommendations of notifications for mentions of users' names or email addresses in websites and news stories.

"Me on the Web also provides links to resources offering information on how to control what third-party information is posted about you on the web," said Andreas Tuerk, Google product manager, in a blog post.

"These include common tips like reaching out to the webmaster of a site to ask for the content to be taken down, or publishing additional information on your own to help make less relevant websites appear farther down in search results."

Photos: The Google tablet to rival the iPad?

Nicole Kobie — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:49:00 +0000

If you thought the hype surrounding the release of the Apple iPad was a bit much, photos floating around the web are already suggesting what a possible Google tablet could look like - well before one has even been announced by any manufacturer.

Google opened Chrome up to developers at the end of last year, with specifically designed devices expected to arrive at the end of next year.

At the time, Google said the devices would likely be along the lines of a thin clamshell design, between a netbook and a laptop.

Click on Gallery above or here for images of the tablet mock-up from the Chromium Project site.