Today we're having a peek at Kiwi, a web browser based on Chromium, but made to be a whole lot better than Chrome. This web browser is for Android only - for now - and it's got features the likes of which most users will likely be glad to utilize. One of these features is a full-fledged dark mode, made for easy access and non-intrusive deployment.
Once upon a time, OK not so long ago, browsers such as Chrome and Firefox fought for supremacy over browser extensions. That war has seemingly simmered down but the remnants threaten the security of at least one of them. Chrome browser extensions have, unfortunately, been one of the major sources of malware for its users. Now Google is stepping in and will tighten security by soon preventing extensions from being installed from outside its own Chrome Web Store.
Today the folks behind Adobe software safety revealed a fix for a flaw for Flash. You might not use Flash actively - you might not even realize it's on your computer (desktop computer, that is,) but there it might very well be. Good news for Apple computer users is this bit of malware seems to be relegated to Windows. Maybe. Very likely, but not certainly.
The HP Chromebox G2 mini desktop announced in January is now available to purchase. HP added the device to its online store today, where it promptly sold out in certain configurations. The device, like most Chromebox models, resembles a set-top box, but packs Google's Chrome OS as an alternative to Chromebook laptops.
Facebook just can't seem to catch a break and has become everyone's favorite scapegoat for privacy problems. Sometimes, however, it's not exactly Facebook's fault. Case in point is a recently reported and, fortunately, fixed vulnerability that allowed malicious third-party sites to glean Facebook information like a user's profile picture and name. And that vulnerability, ironically comes from a standard Web feature that was introduced way back in 2016.
Once the only way to protect accounts, be they online or offline, passwords are now seen more as a liability than an ally. Everyone's out to kill it, from Apple to Microsoft to, now, Google. The rollout of the Chrome browser version 67 went almost under the radar. That, however, belies what's inside this feature packed release, which includes the beginning of the end for weak passwords using WebAuthn and something like a secure USB key or even your fingerprint.
Google plans to change how it flags secure sites in Chrome, retiring its "Secure" indicator in favor of highlighting which pages don't support HTTPS. The decision, which will take affect in a later release of Chrome, flips the current system on its head.
Google is taking a smarter approach to autoplay content, with its latest Chrome update promising to learn what you want to hear - and what you don't - to make browsing less annoying. Autoplaying music and videos can be one of the more frustrating aspects of the modern web, given how frequently sites are now including videos that automatically begin playback, or adverts that start talking to you and force you to go hunting down the offending tab.
Chrome 66 just came out of production, finally blocking annoying autoplaying content, but Google is already whetting developers' and users' appetites on what's coming next. While it might not be a grand launch just yet, Chrome 67 will be laying the foundations that will make Web-based mobile experiences better by taking advantage of the smartphone's sensors as well as the new WebXR framework that combines VR and AR APIs into one.
In early January, ASUS introduced multiple products including the Chromebox 3, a miniature desktop that runs Google's Chrome OS. Chromebox 3 is the latest model in ASUS's Chromebox lineup; this one features an 8th-generation Intel Core processor, among other things. Now, four months later and only a couple weeks after Acer launched its own alternative, ASUS has officially started taking preorders.
Microsoft has launched Windows Defender Browser Protection for Google's Chrome browser via an extension. Anyone can download the extension now, adding an extra layer of protection to block malicious websites. The extension, which is free, alerts users when they attempt to load a dangerous website and directs them back toward safety.
Google is on a crusade to banish bad ads from the Internet. Some would argue that it's a self-serving crusade meant to steer the industry towards its own brand of ads. It's hard to argue, however, that Google is also addressing some of the biggest complaints surfers have with ads. With Chrome 66, now available on all platforms, the web browser finally delivers on the promise of blocking autoplaying videos and audio. That is, if they fall under criteria.