ZDNet: You should probably update your Google Chrome browser this weekend. “If you are one of the millions of worldwide Chrome users, it’s time for yet another update. That’s right, a sixth zero-day exploit has been discovered in Chrome and, fortunately, the update was released shortly after.”
Bleeping Computer: Google Chrome emergency update fixes 6th zero-day exploited in 2023. “Google has fixed the sixth Chrome zero-day vulnerability this year in an emergency security update released today to counter ongoing exploitation in attacks. The company acknowledged the existence of an exploit for the security flaw (tracked as CVE-2023-6345) in a new security advisory published today.”
The Conversation: The vast majority of us have no idea what the padlock icon on our internet browser is – and it’s putting us at risk. “Do you know what the padlock symbol in your internet browser’s address bar means? If not, you’re not alone. New research by my colleagues and I shows that only 5% of UK adults understand the padlock’s significance. This is a threat to our online safety.”
MakeUseOf: A Complete Guide to Tab Management in Google Chrome. “Are you having a difficult time organizing your tabs in Google Chrome? In this guide, we’ll explore some solutions to stay on top of your Google Chrome tabs and upgrade your productivity online. Learn how to manage Chrome tabs better in this helpful guide.”
Bleeping Computer: Google shares plans for blocking third-party cookies in Chrome. “Google has officially announced plans to gradually eliminate third-party cookies, a key aspect of its Privacy Sandbox initiative. This phased approach begins with a 1% user testing period early in 2024, leading to a more extensive phase-out in the third quarter of 2024.”
Google Blog: Visit the new Chrome Web Store. “Inspired by our Material You design language, the new store has fresh color palettes, updated card styles and improved icon legibility that all better complement Chrome’s overall look. You’ll also see new extension categories, like AI-powered and shopping extensions, and ones that are more tailored to your interests based on what you’ve previously downloaded.”
9to5 Linux: Mozilla Firefox 120 Is Now Available for Download, Here’s What’s New. “Mozilla published today the final build of the Firefox 120 web browser, slated for release on November 21st, 2023, so it’s time to take a closer look at the new features and improvements.”
The Register: What’s really going on with Chrome’s June crackdown on extensions – and why your ad blocker may or may not work . “Web advert blockers and other Chrome extensions will stop working by June 2024 unless they’ve been revamped to keep up with Google’s changes to its ubiquitous browser. And even then, if those content-filtering extensions have been updated to meet Google’s latest specifications and requirements, the add-ons may not work as well or as comprehensively as they did previously.”
Lifehacker: This Plugin Shows You Where Every Amazon Product Was Made. “Most of us do at least some (if not the majority of) our shopping online now, but there are things we give up for that convenience. You can’t actually hold the item in your hands to see if reality lives up to the product description, so we often rely on bot-infested or fake reviews. But if you consider where the item is manufactured to be an indication of the likely quality of the product, you might now have a solution, at least on Amazon: Cultivate is a free web browser extension specifically for Amazon shoppers that tells you where the product you’re eyeing was manufactured.”
Bleeping Computer: Google Chrome now auto-upgrades to secure connections for all users. “Google has taken a significant step towards enhancing Chrome internet security by automatically upgrading insecure HTTP requests to HTTPS requests for 100% of users. This feature is called HTTPS-Upgrades and will secure old links that utilize the http:// by automatically attempting to first connect to the URL over the encrypted https:// protocol.”
University of Wisconsin-Madison: From ********* to EZacces$! Your browser extension could grab your password and sensitive info . “When you type a password or credit card number into a website, you expect that your sensitive data will be protected by a system designed to keep it secure. That’s not always the case, according to a group of digital security researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. They found that some popular websites are vulnerable to browser extensions that can extract user data like passwords, credit card information and social security numbers from HTML code. A preprint of their work has already created a buzz in tech circles.”
How-To Geek: Vivaldi 6.4 Takes Video Playback and Calendar to the Next Level. “The Vivaldi web browser is already popular and feature-packed. While it has received several updates recently, the latest Vivaldi v6.4 release makes watching and controlling videos easier than ever on desktop (particularly in ‘pop-up’ mode). It also delivers a better calendar experience, among other improvements.”
How-To Geek: Firefox 119 Arrives With Updated Firefox View and PDF Viewer. “Mozilla releases a new major Firefox update every four weeks, giving the open-source web browser a steady stream of improvements. Firefox 119 will start rolling out today, complete with an updated Firefox View, an improved PDF viewer, security fixes, and more.”
Make Tech Easier: 11 of the Best Music Extensions for Google Chrome. “Listening to your favorite music throughout the day can help you relieve stress, improve your mood, and give you an energy boost. That’s the power of music, and if you are a Chrome user, it’s now easier than ever to access and even create new tunes right from your browser. Chrome extensions can be excellent companions for any music lovers out there. Check out the best options for you if music is a big part of your life.”
How-To Geek: Tor Browser 13.0 Finally Adds a Landscape Aspect Ratio. “The Tor Browser 13.0 update introduces several long-awaited improvements, including a landscape aspect ratio, a fix for the ‘red screen of death,’ and several enhancements from Mozilla’s Firefox ESR 115. Updated app icons and GUI elements are also part of the mix, though Tor Browser retains its basic look and feel.”
