We’re used to talking about how Google Chrome, as well as other browsers, fixes vulnerabilities that can affect security. It’s common and usually happens every time they release a major update. However, it’s not so common to talk about a security bug that’s been present for 20 years. That’s what happened with Chrome, which fixed a vulnerability that has endangered privacy for two decades.
We’re going to tell you what it’s all about, as well as give you some interesting tips to avoid problems when using your browser on a daily basis. Keeping your devices organized and fully protected is going to be key. This is even more important when it comes to your browser, as you could be sharing sensitive data there.
Chrome fixes a two-decade-old bug
With the release of Chrome 136, among other things, the browser has fixed a bug that has been present for 20 years. Specifically, a privacy bug. Now, with the new version, it has been fixed on Windows, Linux, and macOS. Millions of users who use this browser daily are now protected as long as they have the latest version installed.
But what does this bug consist of? When you visit a link, it usually shows you a different color to let you know you’ve entered. This has been present in Chrome, as well as other browsers, for many years. For example, if you visit RedesZone, read an article, and click on a link that leads to a tutorial, that link will change color once you’ve entered.
The problem is that this feature has exposed a vulnerability in Chrome. Websites have been able to detect whether a user has visited certain links elsewhere by exploiting how they handle the visited CSS selector. This essentially exposed users to potential tracking and browser profiling.
Now, with version 136, Chrome has radically changed the way visited links are tracked. It now uses a triple-key partitioning system. This allows the state of visited links to be stored using three elements: the link URL, the top-level site, and the frame origin. Only the site from which the link originates will be able to access this information.
Update your browser
Beyond this issue that Chrome has resolved, it has also fixed other vulnerabilities that could compromise security. Therefore, it’s essential to update and always have the latest version. Beyond improving performance, you can also benefit from security and privacy improvements.
To update it, you can go to the top right menu, select Help, and select About Google Chrome. It will automatically show you which version you have installed and, if there’s a newer version, it will update. Normally, this process is done automatically. However, sometimes it’s a good idea to check.
In short, Google Chrome has been updated and fixed a privacy flaw that’s been around for 20 years. You can always prevent tracking in Chrome with certain measures.
