Google Chrome

Google Chrome is a fast, simple, and secure web browser, built for the modern web. Chrome combines a minimal design with sophisticated technology to make the web faster, safer, and easier. Google builds powerful tools that help you connect, play, work and get things done. And all of it works on Chrome.

Is Google Chrome safe and private?

The Chrome browser utilizes site isolation, sandboxing, and predictive phishing protections to keep your browsing secure, among others. However, Google’s browser always raises privacy concerns due to the fact that everything you do in Chrome, including every character you type into the address bar, is recorded by Google and linked to you. While using other Google services, all that data may be cross-referenced.

More privacy-conscious users may prefer to use Firefox or other Chromium-based alternatives (that may or may not record as much data) or try Ungoogled Chromium.

Is Chrome the fastest browser?

Chrome, Firefox, Safari and other major browsers are updated every few weeks, so it’s hard to compare them over time which is the fastest. Chrome is known to be a RAM hog, but when used heavily, other browsers are known to be just as resource-consuming.

Google is good at creating the illusion of speed with prediction algorithms that preload parts of web pages that you are likely to visit. With a minimalistic design, you’ll feel at home with Chrome, plus built-in integration with other Google services and mobile browsing can also be very convenient.

What are the best Chrome alternatives?

There are tons of good and free alternatives for browsing the web. If you want a more private browsing, you can opt for Firefox or Brave. If you don’t want to use Google services, you can use Ungoogled Chromium.

Opera, Microsoft Edge and Vivaldi are other great options, these last two are Chromium-based just like Google Chrome.

What are the best features of Chrome?

Chrome is the most popular web browser out there, so website compatibility with it and other Chromium-based browsers is top notch. Performance is usually perceived as good (see question above).

Chrome is also feature-filled but not bloated. It does integrate nicely with other Google services and also lets you sync browsing history and bookmarks with your phone and other devices. Finally, Chrome has a vast library of extensions to add capabilities to your browser experience.

Features

Speed

Chrome is designed to be fast in every possible way: It’s quick to start up from your desktop, loads web pages in a snap, and runs complex web applications fast. Learn more about Chrome and speed.

Stay organized with tabs

Tabs help you stay organized, keep track of multiple pages, and multi-task. You can group tabs together for better organization or pin tabs to automatically open websites you use the most.

What’s New

The Stable channel has been updated to 130.0.6723.91/.92 for Windows, Mac and 130.0.6723.91 for Linux which will roll out over the coming days/weeks. A full list of changes in this build is available in the Log.

Try Performance Detection to optimize your browsing with one click

With the Performance Detection tool, Chrome proactively identifies potential performance issues and offers solutions. For instance, to speed up the tab you’re currently using, Chrome might suggest deactivating the tabs using extra resources. A “Performance issue alert” notification will appear, and all you have to do is click “Fix now” to improve your browsing experience. You can disable the Performance Detection feature in Settings if you prefer to manage performance manually.

Experiment with new modes in Memory Saver

Memory Saver, which speeds up your browser by freeing up memory from inactive tabs, now offers Standard, Balanced and Advanced modes. Standard mode deactivates tabs based on your system’s needs. Balanced mode considers both your browsing habits and system needs. And Advanced mode deactivates tabs after you stop using them more quickly than the other two modes. To choose the right one for you, go to the Settings menu in Chrome and select “Performance.”

Keep customizing your performance settings to your liking

In addition to Performance Detection and the new Memory Saver modes, in your Chrome settings you can personalize Chrome’s performance controls even more. For example, you can specify websites that should always remain active, like ones that do important background work. You can also now turn on and off the visual indicators for inactive tabs and memory usage in tab hovercards. All together, Chrome’s new and improved performance options can help you adjust your controls to be only what you need.

Security Fixes and Rewards

Note: Access to bug details and links may be kept restricted until a majority of users are updated with a fix. We will also retain restrictions if the bug exists in a third party library that other projects similarly depend on, but haven’t yet fixed.

This update includes 2 security fixes. Below, we highlight fixes that were contributed by external researchers. Please see the Chrome Security Page for more information.

[TBD][375123371] Critical CVE-2024-10487: Out of bounds write in Dawn. Reported by Apple Security Engineering and Architecture (SEAR) on 2024-10-23
[TBD][374310077] High CVE-2024-10488: Use after free in WebRTC. Reported by Cassidy Kim(@cassidy6564) on 2024-10-18

We would also like to thank all security researchers that worked with us during the development cycle to prevent security bugs from ever reaching the stable channel.

Previous Release Notes:

Passkeys created in Google Password Manager now work across your computers and Android devices

Passkeys let you securely sign in to apps and websites with facial recognition, your fingerprint, or screen lock.
Create passkeys with Google Password Manager from your Android, ChromeOS, macOS, Windows and Linux devices.
Set up a Google Password Manager PIN to ensure your passkeys are end-to-end encrypted and can’t be accessed by anyone, not even Google.
Use your Google Password Manager PIN or your Android device screen lock to access passkeys across your devices.

Stay safe by default with revamped Safety Check features

Safety Check now runs automatically in the background and takes the following proactive actions to keep you safe.
Auto-revoke unused site permissions to protect your privacy.
Auto-unsubscribe you from abusive notifications.
Identify and warn you about potentially harmful extensions.

Get real-time protection against phishing and malware, powered by AI

Enhanced protection uses AI to offer Chrome’s strongest level of protection against potentially dangerous sites, files, and extensions.
At the top of your browser, open Chrome menu and then Settings.
Select Privacy and security and then Security.
Under Safe Browsing, select Enhanced protection.

Security Fixes and Rewards

As usual, our ongoing internal security work was responsible for a wide range of fixes:

This update includes 17 security fixes. Below, we highlight fixes that were contributed by external researchers. Please see the Chrome Security Page for more information.

[$36000][367755363] High CVE-2024-9954: Use after free in AI. Reported by DarkNavy on 2024-09-18
[$6000][370133761] Medium CVE-2024-9955: Use after free in Web Authentication. Reported by anonymous on 2024-09-29
[$6000][370482421] Medium CVE-2024-9956: Inappropriate implementation in Web Authentication. Reported by mastersplinter on 2024-09-30
[$5000][358151317] Medium CVE-2024-9957: Use after free in UI. Reported by lime(@limeSec_) and fmyy(@binary_fmyy) From TIANGONG Team of Legendsec at QI-ANXIN Group on 2024-08-08
[$5000][40076120] Medium CVE-2024-9958: Inappropriate implementation in PictureInPicture. Reported by Lyra Rebane (rebane2001) on 2023-11-02
[$4000][368672129] Medium CVE-2024-9959: Use after free in DevTools. Reported by Sakana.S on 2024-09-21
[$2000][354748063] Medium CVE-2024-9960: Use after free in Dawn. Reported by Anonymous on 2024-07-23
[$2000][357776197] Medium CVE-2024-9961: Use after free in Parcel Tracking. Reported by lime(@limeSec_) and fmyy(@binary_fmyy) From TIANGONG Team of Legendsec at QI-ANXIN Group on 2024-08-06
[$1000][364508693] Medium CVE-2024-9962: Inappropriate implementation in Permissions. Reported by Shaheen Fazim on 2024-09-04
[TBD][328278718] Medium CVE-2024-9963: Insufficient data validation in Downloads. Reported by Anonymous on 2024-03-06
[$3000][361711121] Low CVE-2024-9964: Inappropriate implementation in Payments. Reported by Hafiizh on 2024-08-23
[$1000][352651673] Low CVE-2024-9965: Insufficient data validation in DevTools. Reported by Shaheen Fazim on 2024-07-12
[$1000][364773822] Low CVE-2024-9966: Inappropriate implementation in Navigations. Reported by Harry Chen on 2024-09-05