Google Releases Chrome 118 and Stable Version of Chromium
Google announced the release of Web-browser Chrome 118 and the availability of the stable release of the free project Chromium, which serves as the basis of Chrome. Although both browsers share similarities, there are key differences between them. Chrome offers features such as a system for sending collapse notifications, modules for playing video content, an automatic update installation system, Sandbox insulation, and access to Google API keys. The Extended Stable branch is also supported for those who need more time to update, with an 8-week timeframe. The next release, Chrome 119, will be launched on October 31.
Changes in Chrome 118:
The main changes in Chrome 118, according to the official release notes, include:
- Preparation for the termination of third-party cookie support: Chrome has initiated the phasing out of third-party cookies used by advertising networks, web-analytics widgets, and web analytics systems. This initiative supports the Private Sandbox project, which aims to balance user privacy concerns with the tracking needs of advertising networks and websites. In Chrome 118, developers will see warnings when sending cookies that will be blocked in the future. There are also command line options and settings available for testing the blocking before it is fully implemented.
The blocking of third-party cookies is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2024 and will initially only affect 1% of Chrome users during the testing period. By the third quarter of 2024, the blocking coverage will be expanded to 100%.
Instead of tracking cookies, Chrome suggests using the following APIs:
- fedcm (Federal Credential Management): This API allows the creation of unified identification services while maintaining user privacy and functioning without third-party cookies.
- Private state tokens: This API enables the separation of different users without relying on intersite identifiers and