Google has announced that with the release of Chrome 116, they will be increasing the frequency of updates to improve security systems. These updates will be released every week and will help to quickly address vulnerabilities and prevent any potential consequences.
Previously, Chrome versions were released in a stable channel every four weeks, with protection mechanisms being updated every two weeks. However, this created a temporary “window” where attackers could exploit vulnerabilities present in beta versions. Google has acknowledged that this is a serious problem considering the platform has billions of users.
The updates that are being implemented will not affect the functionality of the browser itself. Representatives from Google have clarified that prior to this change, there was a delay of up to 35 days for patches in older Chrome versions. However, with the introduction of two-week fixes, this time frame has been significantly reduced to 15 days.
Due to the recent increase in cyber attacks, Apple has also decided to accelerate the frequency of its updates for iOS and MacOS systems.
In addition to the increased security updates, Google has made a small change to the interface of Chrome. Users will now see the relevance of the system displayed in the upper right corner of the browser window. By clicking on this, users can restart the browser without losing any open tabs. This feature is currently being tested with 1% of customers in the latest stable version.