Update your Chrome browser now to gain this critical security feature

By Judy Sanhz Published July 31, 2024

Graph explaining how App-Bound encryption works from Google. — Google

Yesterday, in a blog post on Google’s security blog, Willian Harris from Chrome’s Security Team said that Google is improving the security of Chrome cookies on Windows PCs by adopting a similar method used in macOS to help protect users from info-stealing malware.

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The security update addresses session cookies that authenticate your identity when you switch apps without logging back in. Google wants to adopt the security system used by Keychain on macOS and start using “a new protection on Windows,” which updates Data Protection API (DPAPI) and brings a new security tool called “application-bound” encryption.

With this new wall of security in Chrome, Google asserts that it’ll encrypt information related to app identity.

The new protection will be available in Chrome 127, but Google has plans to expand the App-Bound Encryption to payment data, passwords, and other persistent authentication tokens. Google explained how it works by saying that “App-Bound Encryption relies on a privileged service to verify the identity of the requesting application. During encryption, the App-Bound Encryption service encodes the app’s identity into the encrypted data and then verifies this is valid when decryption is attempted. If another app on the system tries to decrypt the same data, it will fail.”

Google’s new security approach will make it easier for antivirus programs such as Bitdefender and Malwarebytes to detect.

This news once again creates a curious wrinkle in the story, with Macs and Linux systems being the only ones not affected by the IT outage caused by a faulty update from CrowdStrike that affected industries such as retail, banks, and especially airlines, as George Kurtz, CrowdStrike VP, mentioned in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Microsoft is even considering making an important Mac-like change to the way Windows security works following the incident.

Chrome users can stay safe by updating their browsers as soon as possible since the Chrome 127 update is now available. This again reminds us of the importance of always keeping our apps and browsers running on the latest version.

Computing Writer

Judy Sanhz is a Digital Trends computing writer covering all computing news. Loves all operating systems and devices.

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Computing

ChromeOS 133 features teased ahead of update

The ChromeOS welcome tour page.

ChromeOS 133 is set to be available soon, but the chromeOS.dev team has already published notes for the upcoming operating system that runs on popular Chromebook netbooks. The ChromeUnboxed team suggests that the notes coincide with a Tuesday rollout for the next system update; however, the software has not yet landed.

Each ChromeOS drop includes its own unique features and fixes. By the time ChromeOS 133 arrives, users will get a detailed look at each previewed feature and more; however, the notes are a sneak peek at what can be expected from the update. The chromeOS.dev team highlighted some of the new aspects coming to the system.
Bounce Keys settings
ChromeOS 133 includes a new accessibility feature called Bounce Keys, which is intended to assist users with limited dexterity or tremors to navigate a keyboard. When enabled, Bounce Keys will ignore repeated keystrokes pressed in succession, making for a smoother typing experience with fewer unintended characters pressed. The feature allows for the time delay to be adjusted, from a short key to long key.
Super Resolution for Bluetooth mics
The update brings a toggle to the audio settings page that will enable a feature called “Bluetooth Super Resolution.” This feature will allow you to improve the audio quality of Bluetooth-connected microphone devices, by upscaling low-res audio sound quality to hi-res. ChromeUnboxed noted this feature will have to be tested in real-time to see how well it works.
Screencast additional language support
Screencast is an interesting feature in ChromeOS that allows you to record your screen and use your front camera for creating presentations, which you can live stream the cloud-based platform on Chromebooks. In addition to various built-in transcription tools for replays, the coming ChromeOS 133 update will add support for over 50 languages. You can access Screencast through the Launcher icon on a Chromebook and then search for Screencast.
Additions to the ChromeOS welcome tour
The new ChromeOS includes an updated, interactive, Welcome Tour that launches right after device setup, giving users a rundown of the basics of Chromebook and what they need to know to use their new device optimally.

Computing

Microsoft warns that the latest Windows 11 update may crash PC games now

Gaming PC on a desk.

Microsoft has once again temporarily halted the rollout of its latest major Windows 11 update, also known as 24H2. This time it is for systems running select Ubisoft games following widespread user reports of crashes and performance issues. The affected titles include Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Assassin's Creed Origins, Assassin's Creed Odyssey, Star Wars Outlaws, and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora.

Common complaints include black screens, freezing, and unresponsiveness during gameplay or while loading these titles. "I just bought a new gaming laptop with RTX 4080, Intel i9 14900hx. I can't play the game (Origins) even for 5 minutes because it crashes to a black screen, with audio, and the only way to close it is from task manager. Impossible to play," one user shared on Reddit. Others reported similar frustrations, citing the persistent error “NTDLL.dll” that renders their games unplayable.

Computing

Microsoft is, once again, trying to force users into using Edge

Microsoft Edge on a laptop on a couch.

Microsoft has deployed no shortage of tactics to get Windows users onto its Edge browser, and although some of the more nefarious methods of trying to force users to pick up the browser have failed, the company is still experimenting with new methods. The latest route launches Edge automatically on your PC on startup and prompts users to continually import data from Chrome, including your history, bookmarks, and tabs.

Richard Lawler from The Verge spotted the prompt, which showed up earlier this year without explanation before disappearing. It's back now, and in an official capacity from Microsoft. "This is a notification giving people the choice to import data from other browsers," said Microsoft's Caitlin Roulston in a statement to The Verge.