Last Friday, we reported on an issue in Windows 11 where Google Chrome would simply refuse to launch. Chrome’s support manager, Ellen T., confirmed that the team had investigated the problem and pinned it on Microsoft's Family Safety feature, but users were provided with a quick workaround instead of an official fix.

The workaround? Either disable the “Filter inappropriate websites” option under Family Safety or, oddly enough, rename the Chrome.exe file to Chrome1.exe.

Microsoft still hasn’t rolled out an official fix, but it has finally acknowledged the issue while confirming another bug impacting Chrome users, too.

Chrome’s still the main target in Microsoft’s latest bug

As reported by Neowin, Microsoft confirmed one more issue affecting Google Chrome users on Windows via a new Microsoft Learn entry. The entry was opened on Tuesday, June 24, and it hasn’t been updated since.

The new bug Microsoft has identified also has to do with the Family Safety feature that caused the issue we reported on earlier. However, instead of the feature causing Chrome to crash entirely, the feature just… doesn’t work.

The Redmond-based giant explains that the Web Content Filtering system relies on a block list to prevent browsers from accessing inappropriate search results and websites.

Unless a browser version is added to the block list, it won’t be, well, blocked — even if content filtering is turned on for the account. Something that, in the Microsoft Learn entry, the tech giant admitted to not having done with the latest version of Chrome and several other browsers.

Due to this mistake on Microsoft’s end, the browsers not added to the list might temporarily appear unblocked. Thankfully, Microsoft confirmed that it’s currently working on updating the block list.

The Redmond-based giant also touched on the issue we’ve already talked about in our previous article, which is causing Google Chrome and “some browsers” to shut down unexpectedly. PCs with Parental Controls enabled typically receive a parental approval message: “You’ll need to ask to use this app.”

Once a parent approves, the child gains access to the browser. However, this bug is causing the browser to shut down immediately without the prompt even appearing. Microsoft has pinpointed that this issue is only observed when the Activity reporting feature is disabled.

The suggested workaround is to enable Activity reporting under Windows settings in Family Safety. Once the feature is enabled, parents will begin to receive approval requests as usual.

The issues discussed above are affecting Windows 10 version 22H2 and Windows 11 versions 22H2, 23H2, and 24H2.

Is this another sneaky push toward Microsoft Edge?

Microsoft’s confirmed that it’s actively working on resolving both the above issues, and will update the support document when it has more information. What’s great is that the tech giant has finally acknowledged the issue and provided a workaround to the Google Chrome crashing problem.

Considering Microsoft has had quite the rocky history with Google Chrome, it’s frankly a bit odd that both issues seem to primarily be affecting Chrome.

Microsoft has a history of targeting Chrome (the world's most popular web browser) directly in various ways, including publishing a guide on “how to uninstall Google Chrome,” displaying pop-up ads promoting Edge in the Chrome app, and interrupting users who search for Google Chrome using its Edge browser, just to name a few.

Are both bugs genuine, or are they simply another attempt by Microsoft to push users toward Edge instead of Chrome? In this instance, I guess we’ll never know.

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Microsoft has a long and underhanded history of trying to gently subvert users away from Google Chrome on Windows.

In an effort to push the Edge web browser and its Bing search engine to Google's userbase (with all the tact of a used-car salesman), Microsoft has injected pop-up ads, tricked users with a fake Google Search page, flagged other browsers as errors that need to be fixed, and potentially broken a Chrome feature by blocking it through a system update. Oopsie.

However, after years of "coincidental" issues, "unintended" behaviors, and "accidental" bugs, Microsoft may have found a way to at least cut off the youth from being indoctrinated by Google's superior search and browser... By accidentally flagging it as unsuitable using Windows 11's Family Safety feature.

Too hot for Windows: Google Chrome no longer safe for small eyes on Microsoft's OS

In yet another unlikely turn of events that seems to benefit Microsoft's Edge browser and penalize Google's Chrome, Windows 11's Family Safety feature has been effectively blocking the world's most popular browser from opening for the better part of a month under the guise of a parental control measure.

The issue was first reported on June 3 to the r/Chrome subreddit by user Witty-Discount-2906, who claimed that following a crash, Chrome now "Just flashes quickly, unable to open with no error message."

Some time later, another Redditor suggested it was related to Windows' Parental Controls, stating, "I've had 9 students come see the IT Desk in the last hour saying Chrome won't open."

The issue was seemingly confirmed by Chrome support manager Ellen T, replying to a related post to the Google Chrome Help Community message board, stated: "Our team has investigated these reports and determined the cause of this behavior. For some users, Chrome is unable to run when Microsoft Family Safety is enabled."

According to a follow-up post, Microsoft advises that parents (or IT admins in the case of our previous Reddit sleuth) seeking a solution can use the Family Safety web portal or mobile app to select their Child's (or user's) account and choose to disable "Filter inappropriate websites" under the Edge tab.

However, while this will open up access to Chrome once more, it'll also open up access to all of the parts of the internet most parental controls seek to keep restricted.

Alternatively, admins or parents can navigate to Windows > Apps & Games, and unblock Chrome from there.

What's next

If this is a bug, it's an incredible on-brand one, and a genuine blessing. Typically, Microsoft would have to set aside engineers for weeks to plot and scheme ways to attempt to topple Chrome's popularity. This one would then have fallen into its lap for free.

According to Chromium's bug tracker, the problem persists for some, though reports have slowed. One team member shares: "We've not heard anything from MSFT about a fix being rolled out. They have provided guidance to users who contact them about how to get Chrome working again, but I wouldn't think that would have a large effect."

Narrowing down potentially affected users, the Chromium team member shares: "The set of Chrome users who are affected are those who turned on Web Safety under the Edge tab of the parental controls between roughly Nov 2024 and June 3rd."

Whether this is a fault with Chromium or with Windows 11's Family Safety feature remains to be seen. However, Microsoft will likely not see a situation that causes Edge to appear more attractive than the competition as a high-priority issue. So while we wait for a potential fix, I wouldn't blame Microsoft for dragging its heels.

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On Wednesday, Google pushed an update to all users of its Chrome web browser that aimed to patch two critical security flaws. There aren’t many details about the flaws available, nor what part of Chrome could be at risk, but it’s recommended that all users update their browser as quickly as possible to avoid any potential issues.

Google keeps mum on details

In a statement, security engineers on the Chrome team are quoted, somewhat vaguely, as saying that “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.”

The new high- and medium-severity fixes are as follows:

High CVE-2025-5063: Use after free in Compositing.

High CVE-2025-5280: Out of bounds write in V8.

Medium CVE-2025-5064: Inappropriate implementation in Background Fetch API.

Medium CVE-2025-5065: Inappropriate implementation in FileSystemAccess API.

Medium CVE-2025-5066: Inappropriate implementation in Messages.

Medium CVE-2025-5281: Inappropriate implementation in BFCache.

Medium CVE-2025-5283: Use after free in libvpx.

Earlier in May, Google issued an update to all two billion Chrome users to address another vulnerability. If left unchecked, this vulnerability could potentially lead to account takeovers if the query parameter is stolen.

This vulnerability was first reported on X by user @slonser_ and is so significant that America’s Cyber Defense Agency has issued a mandatory warning that all federal staff must update their browsers or stop using Chrome by June 5.

Because the information surrounding this vulnerability is now in the public domain, any hacker or pentester who wants to penetrate the security walls of an out-of-date Chrome build will be able to do so easily.

How do I update Google Chrome?

Luckily, updating is the easy part. Even though this set of vulnerabilities is quite serious, the process of getting your Chrome build current is anything but.

If you want to update your Google Chrome build to the latest version, simply open up the Settings menu, and navigate to the About Chrome section from the left-hand tab, seen here:

Once you open the About Chrome page, your browser will automatically update to the latest version.

After downloading and installing the update, you’ll be prompted with a Relaunch button in the same section. Click that, and you’re good to go!

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It's a busy time for the tech industry. Companies are holding their annual events, setting up upcoming software releases, and previewing what’s coming with new devices set to launch in the fall.

Google will hold its annual Google I/O event on Tuesday, the same time as Microsoft Build 2025 and the Asian tech expo Computex. It will also happen weeks before Apple's big event, the Worldwide Developers Conference on June 9.

Google I/O 2025 is a big event for the company. It's in the middle of all the tech trends right now. It's developing new devices to keep up with Apple, pushing its AI to stay right on top of Microsoft, and still offering a variety of services, whether it be Google Cloud, Chrome, or even YouTube, that are either the top dog in their fields or put the company right up there.

How to watch Google I/O 2025?

Google I/O takes place on Tuesday, May 20, with the keynote speech starting at 1 p.m. Eastern. The speech will be streamed on Google's Developers YouTube channel.

Here's what we're expecting to see during the keynote speech.

Google Smart Glasses

On May 13, Google's Android Show focused on the upcoming changes for Android 16, which should be released sometime in June. Sameer Samat, president of Android Ecosystem, hosted the show. At the end of the event, he put on sunglasses, teasing that there would be some news coming at Google I/O.

Smart glasses are the current hot tech trend, with Meta's Ray-Ban glasses being the current market leader. Apple is reportedly working on its version, and it makes sense for Google to make its own.

Google was the first to release smart glasses when it released Google Glass in 2013. However, the price and lack of functionality made them unattractive at the time.

It's a different story in 2025, with technology getting smaller and cheaper, making smart glasses easier to produce while offering many possibilities. Powering these glasses will be Android XR, an operating system for headsets and glasses. Expect a chunk of the show to be dedicated to these new glasses.

Gemini

Even though Google smart glasses might be the show's breakout star, the main character will be Gemini.

Google released its Gemini 2.5 model in March and expects it to be in everything the company produces, whether hardware, software, or services.

Wear OS

The next version of Wear OS is coming. Wear OS 6 was shown during the Android Show, and as expected, it will use Gemini, although there is more.

The wearable OS will have a new look for Pixel Watch and show more data at a quick glance. Expect to see even more features for Wear OS during Google I/O.

Android 16

Even though the Android Show covered Android 16, there are likely some more features to discuss. What those features could be remains unclear, but Google wouldn't have an I/O show without discussing the next Android release.

Google TV

Google TV, the company's operating system for smart TVs, is currently using Android 14, and it's time for an upgrade. Google TV usually updates to the new version of Android every two years, which means it should be jumping to Android 16.

If it does, expect to see more features for smart TVs, and very likely, the incorporation of Gemini into Google TV.

Pinterest Alternative?

A new Pinterest-like social media platform from Google could be an interesting surprise. The Information reported that Google is looking to release an app that enables users to put together their pictures into shared collections.

It's hard to tell what Google is cooking with this platform, but that's why there are shows like Google I/O to showcase it.

Google Chrome

While Google is still dealing with the legal matters involving Chrome and the monopoly the company has that could require it to tell the internet browser, it might as well reveal some new features for it. If there are new features for the browser, like everything else in the show, expect it to incorporate Gemini.

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If you're setting up a new Windows 11 laptop or desktop or switching browsers to Google Chrome right now, you may have run into this persistent blue pop-up error stating that Chrome isn't supported on your PC:

"This app can't run on your PC."

Don't panic, you're not the only one.

Laptop Mag has identified an issue with Chrome installation on Windows and corroborated the bug on multiple devices. As it turns out, other Windows users are aware of the issue and not happy about it either.

Laptop Mag reached out to Microsoft and Google about this bug. A representative for Google tells Laptop Mag that the company is aware of the situation and has updated the installer so it is now compatible with Windows machines.

In the meantime, here's what we know about the Google Chrome installer issue, plus the official fix and our original workaround.

Affected systems

Laptop Mag's testing lab was able to confirm that the issue is specific to Windows devices. We replicated the error on four systems and then came across Reddit users with similar troubles.

"Just re-installed Windows and I can't install Google Chrome," reads one Reddit post.

"It's not just you. Something is going on with the installer," comments another user faced with the same problem.

In our research, macOS systems were able to download and install Chrome the usual way.

Our lab also attempted to install Chrome on a Windows 10 machine, which brought up the same app incompatibility pop-up error as Windows 11.

If you already have Chrome installed, you won't have any issues with loss of service. This is specifically impacting new Chrome installations.

We do not currently know what's causing the installer error. Due to the timing, it doesn't appear related to the March 21 Google Chrome update, nor was there a Windows 11 or Windows 10 system update that could have caused compatibility issues.

How to get a working Chrome installer

The compatibility error appears to be caused by a version of the general Chrome installer, ChromeSetup.exe. This is the Installer file you find at the top of the Google Chrome download page.

Google has now updated that installer with a compatible version of the ChromeSetup.exe executable. So you may need to refresh your browser or clear your cache to get the correct installer.

Alternatively, you can get the Windows 10/11 64-bit specific installation file, ChromeStandaloneSetup64.exe, otherwise known as the offline installer.

The bad news is that the offline installer is no longer available through the typical Google Chrome download page.

The good news is that the Windows 64-bit offline installer is available for download from Google, but you need a specific web address to access it. To get the offline Chrome installer:

1. Go to http://google.com/intl/en/chrome/?standalone=1
2. Click "Download Chrome"
3. Download and install the app

Both the Offline Installer and General Installer are working on the systems Laptop Mag used for testing.

If you have a saved version of an older Chrome Installer, versions of the installer prior to 3/25 appear to be working.

As of our update on 3/25 at 4:33 pm Eastern, all versions of the ChromeInstaller currently available on Google's pages are compatible with Windows systems.

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Windows 11 users wanting to get rid of the Microsoft Edge browser shouldn't bother checking Microsoft's website about uninstalling it because it offers no help at all.

Microsoft recently created a page supposedly to help uninstall Microsoft Edge from Windows, but it doesn't offer much instruction at all. First spotted by Windows Latest, the page instead tries to convince the reader not to uninstall the company's browser.

When doing a search for "How to uninstall Edge" on Microsoft's website, the first result is a page titled "Are you sure you want to uninstall Microsoft Edge?" Instead of instructions, the page goes on to explain the benefits of Edge over Google Chrome citing browser features such as "Copilot, Designer, Vertical tabs, Coupons, Read Aloud, and VPN."

The page even includes a chart comparing these features in Edge to Google Chrome, emphasizing that Chrome lacks them.

Aside from a few more banners about features, that's pretty much it for what's available on the page that is supposed to be on how to uninstall Microsoft Edge.

Like with Internet Explorer, Edge is the default browser for Windows 10 and 11. As often happens with default programs, there can be measures implemented to prevent users from installing it. If a Windows 11 user tries to uninstall the Edge browser in the typical steps to remove any program, the only option available is to "Modify" the program while the "Uninstall" option is greyed out.

Now for those who want to get rid of Microsoft Edge from Windows 11, there is a way to do it, however, it's not as easy as just clicking "uninstall." LaptopMag put together a simple guide on how to uninstall Microsoft Edge, and it does take several steps, which is probably more than most Windows users would expect to get rid of a program. The process does require inputting certain commands into the Windows Terminal, but it's fairly easy to do and won't take long.

Microsoft made the big change from its longtime Internet Explorer browser to Edge back in 2020. The Chromium-based browser was the company's attempt to modernize its browser to keep it competitive with competitors such as Chrome and Apple Safari.

Last year, Microsoft promoted Edge even further with the incorporation of AI features. Microsoft, a major investor in OpenAI, began pushing its own AI companion, Copilot. The company used the AI as a feature for the Edge browser, making it provide AI chatbot functions within it. Google made a similar move last year, incorporating AI features into Google Chrome.

An update to Copilot in January added a "Think Deeper" mode to the AI that was powered by OpenAI's o1 reasoning model.

If you've been struggling to remove an extension in Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge, your device may be under a trojan malware attack.

According to an August 6 report from Reason Labs, a consumer-focused cybersecurity firm, a newly identified malware campaign has affected "at least 300,000 users across Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge." 

This sophisticated malware campaign involves a multiple-stage attack, but Reason Labs identified the initial source as malicious advertising, or malvertising, that directs users to false imitations of download pages for popular software, such as Roblox FPS Unlocker, YouTube, VLC media player, Steam, or KeePass.

If someone clicks 'Download' on one of these malicious websites, it installs a Trojan — which is aptly shortened from Trojan horse, something that masquerades as one thing when it's actually another — instead of the software the user was intending to download.

Once successfully installed, Reason Labs says the trojan malware can force install more malicious extensions for Chrome and Edge, prevent browser updates, put devices at risk for future attacks, and steal private, personal data.

Reason Labs "alerted Google and Microsoft" upon discovering the issue, and "they are taking the appropriate measures."

Here's how to find out if your laptop is infected and how to remove the malware plaguing your system.

How to find and remove this trojan malware from Chrome and Edge

One thing all affected devices have in common with this attack is malicious extensions. Look at your installed extensions in Chrome and Edge and see if any stand out as ones you didn't install.

Reason Labs believes there are likely more, but mentioned a few known malicious Chrome extensions, including "Micro Search" and "yglSearch." For Microsoft Edge users, look for a "Simple New Tab" extension.

Unfortunately, this malware has persistence mechanisms, which means that even if you successfully remove the malicious extension, a scheduled task will put the malware right back on your computer as soon as it reboots.

Because of these persistence mechanisms, Reason Labs notes that the scheduled task, some registry keys, and the malware files must be removed from the device to eliminate this Trojan malware.

Reason Labs provides easy-to-follow instructions for each step of the malware removal process, but if you're not comfortable messing with your computer's Registry Editor (which can be dangerous if you don't know what you're doing), reach out to a tech-savvy friend or a professional to help you make your device malware-free.

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Google Chrome will receive a new update that replaces its existing browser extension platform, which could cause certain extensions to stop functioning.

According to a pop-up that's appearing on Google Chrome, which is warning that certain extensions "may soon no longer be supported" (via Bleeping Computer).

This is a result of Manifest v3, which has been in the works since 2018, with a Chromium blog post confirming that the new extension version would "Create stronger security, privacy, and performance."

Six years later, Google is finally moving to implement Manifest v3, but the shift away from v2 could have disastrous consequences for your favorite browser extensions.

What will be affected by Manifest v3

One victim includes uBlock Origin, an immensely popular adblocker that will not be making the move to Manifest v3. However, this isn't necessarily the result of the creator's decision, but the limits of the new platform instead.

Creator Raymond Hill claims on a GitHub post that "you will have to find an alternative to uBO (uBlock Origin) before Google Chrome disables it for good." 

While Hill is building a v3-compliant version of uBlock, he claims that it's "Too different from uBO to be an automatic replacement." He hopes users can "Find a replacement to uBO according to what you expect from a content blocker," solidifying that "uBO Lite may or may not fulfill your expectations."

So what exactly is different about Manifest v3 that makes uBlock Origin incompatible? It has to do with the extension's filtering capabilities, and as a result of this change, Hill says that "uBOL will be less effective at dealing with websites using anti-content blockers or minimizing website breakage."

Google's response to these criticisms

Back in 2019, Google's official response in a security blog post was "No, Chrome isn’t killing ad blockers -- we’re making them safer." 

How exactly? Well, Google suggests Manifest v3 will mean extensions do not need access to all of a user's data to accomplish its tasks, and, in this case, adblockers should be able to do their job without being able to see unrelated information (like emails or photos).

Essentially, it's replacing the Web Request API (which filters everything on the browser through the network) with a specific Declarative Net Request API (which specifically targets the information it needs to perform its job).

Google acknowledges that it has been a "Controversial change since the Web Request API is used by many popular extensions." The company then ends the blog post by recognizing that this will "Require developers to update how extensions operate," but Google believes "It is the right choice to enable users to limit the sensitive data they share with third parties."

Long story short, Google is fundamentally changing how extensions acquire information on your browser to perform its tasks. This means that many existing extensions will not work with the coming of Manifest v3.

What Google is trying to do makes sense on paper. It's been advertising its plans for this change for quite a few years now. Although certain extensions aren't willing to make the changes needed to work on the newest versions of Chrome, or perhaps can't for whatever reason, there's no denying that it's coming.

So what can you actually do about it?

What can you do about this Google Chrome update?

We recommend going through all of your existing browser extensions and confirming which will be moving over to Manifest v3 to prevent you from being blindsided in the event an extension you like stops functioning. If it's not moving over to Manifest v3, you have time to find alternatives.

Considering this has been in the works for years, any extensions that will be affected should have made preparations for Manifest v3 by now. For example, AdBlock released a blog post in 2022 confirming its plans to move over to Manifest v3, and back in April of this year, it officially released a compatible version.

Similarly bringing up the issue of filters, the AdBlock blog post claims that "With Manifest V3, AdBlock is required to limit how many filter lists we have available to users," which is what made uBlock decide that it would no longer maintain its original version.

If you're looking for a good adblocker that's Manifest v3-friendly, extensions like AdBlock will absolutely fulfill your needs.

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Google Chrome has been notoriously deemed incredibly demanding on hardware, but an upcoming update that's currently available on the developer version of Chrome could address this issue.

It's no secret that Chrome is by far the most popular browser option available, regardless of how hard Microsoft tries to shove Edge down our throats. In fact, it's not even close, with Backlinko highlighting that Chrome's 2024 market share is at 64.73%, whereas Edge is at a measly 4.97%. 

But among all of Google Chrome's praise comes frequent criticism, whether it be around its privacy concerns, vulnerability issues, or problems with it simply being too demanding on CPU or RAM. In fact, our very own Rael Hornby stepped away from the browser, citing that it no longer "Feels all that lightweight and speedy" anymore.

However, it seems like Google is taking a page out of Opera GX's book, which features a resource management setting that provides a detailed breakdown on how much performance is being dedicated to each individual tab, whether it's involving RAM or CPU usage.

Chrome's implementation isn't completely identical to this, but it's similar in that it will help users get a greater understanding of where the application is consuming so much of your PC's power.

Chrome's upcoming feature changes everything

Google has yet to confirm when the update is coming to the public version of Chrome, but it's currently available within its experimental versions.

Yes, you no longer have to worry about Chrome absolutely destroying your computer with its RAM-hungry habits. This comes in the form of a new experimental flag present within Google Chrome Canary, which will give Chrome permission to warn the user if the application is sapping an extraordinary amount of processing power. 

But Chrome won't just warn the user by vaguely gesturing towards the overabundance of the CPU being used, and will instead highlight which tabs in particular are the culprit.

This is massive for anyone guilty of keeping a hundred tabs open at a time, some of which might be tearing your PC apart without you realizing it. 

I've had situations where my computer will suddenly crash and require a forced restart, and I can only assume my dozens upon dozens of Chrome tabs are the culprit, although it probably doesn't help when I have other applications open alongside it.

Being warned that a particular tab is especially doing damage would address one of the biggest criticisms many users have been tossing at Chrome for years about its performance zapping behaviors.

How to activate it on Google Chrome Canary

If you've downloaded Google Chrome Canary and are looking for how to activate this new setting, here's what you do, as discovered by WindowsReport.

1. Type chrome://flags into Google Chrome Canary's address bar. Heed the cautionary statement at the top that says WARNING! EXPERIMENTAL FEATURES AHEAD!

2. Go down to Enable performance intervention suggestions and toggle it to Enable.

3. Right below it, do the same for Enable performance intervention demo mode.

4. You'll be prompted to relaunch Chrome. Do it!

And just like that, it's active. You can manually trigger the feature by going to chrome://discards and selecting Trigger Performance CPU intervention at the top, which will then make the little notification appear about which tabs are draining the most performance.

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I don't know about you, but I come across a lot of articles I want to read, but there never seems to be enough time to read through them all. Luckily, Google is rolling out a new 'Listen to this page' feature in Chrome for Android users, so I can listen to articles while I'm walking or doing chores and get through my list faster.

In addition to the perk of listening to articles in the background while doing other things, there's potentially a student-focused perk. Instead of trying to read a lengthy article for a research paper and take notes at the same time, have Chrome read it to you so you can focus solely on taking notes. Being able to pause playback and skip in 10-second increments ensures you won't miss anything important.

And here's the best part: you can skip around to different tabs while listening to your content. A handy mini media player stays at the bottom of your screen when the feature is active, letting you control playback from any Chrome tab.

According to a Google support page, these are the supported languages available in 'Listen to this page' mode: Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, English, French, German, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.

Although the feature has the potential to be incredibly helpful in many ways, it's not perfect yet. For example, it isn't available on all websites yet, and there's no way to know whether it's available on the website you're on until you try to select it in Chrome's overflow menu.

Google is rolling the feature out to all devices now, but as with all feature rollouts, it might not have hit your device just yet. Here's how to check whether you have the 'Listen to this page' Chrome feature on your Android phone, and how to use it if you do.

How to use 'Listen to this page' mode in Chrome

Not everyone will have Google's new Chrome feature yet, but here's how use 'Listen to this page' mode if you do have it.

1. Open a website page you'd like to listen to and tap the three vertical dots in the top right corner.

2. Tap Listen to this page from the menu options. It should be between Translate and Add to Home screen. 

If you don't see the Listen to this page menu option, the feature likely isn't available yet for the website you're currently on. Unfortunately, the only way to know whether the feature is available is to open the menu and check for Listen to this page.

3. The website page will start being read to you immediately after tapping Listen to this page. Tap on the media box that pops up at the bottom of your screen to customize the reader.

You can pause, skip forward or backward, adjust playback speed, change the reader's voice, and toggle Highlight text & auto scroll on or off.

While listening to text in Chrome, you can switch to a different tab or continue looking around the website you're on without disturbing playback. You can even lock your screen and keep listening, but closing out of the Chrome app will stop playback.

If you don't see Listen to this page as a menu option in your Chrome app, check the Google Play Store to see if it's fully updated. This new feature is tied to the newest version of Chrome, not your version of Android, so as long as your Chrome app is updated, you should see the feature appear in the next few weeks. 

On Thursday, Google's Chrome team shared the secrets behind its highest-ever score on the new Speedometer 3.0 browser benchmark tool. This result further proves that using Chrome is one of the speediest ways to browse the internet.

Google Chrome is the world's most popular web browser, and it's not even close. According to the most recent stats, Chrome accounts for 65% of the web browser market. That positions Chrome over three times that of its nearest competitor — Apple's Safari, which recently reported a 60% increase in performance since Speedometer 3.0's release.

That kind of lead doesn't come along by chance, and Chrome's success stems from Google's meticulous optimization and scrutiny of performance and the code that makes the browser work. As a recent post to the Chromium Blog states: "On the Chrome team, we believe it’s not sufficient to be fast most of the time, we have to be fast all of the time."

However, to measure web performance, there first needs to be a standard that all web browsers can agree on when it comes to measuring and understanding the speed they perform. That's where Speedometer 3.0 comes into play.

Speedometer 3.0: What is it?

That's one of the key factors in the development of Speedometer 3.0, an open-source web browser benchmark tool designed by Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Mozilla in collaboration with the industry's top players.

The website states that Speedometer measures a browser's Web application responsiveness by "Timing simulated user interactions on various workloads."

Speedometer pretends to do everything an online user would do, only at a breakneck pace that pushes each browser to its limits. While doing so, Speedometer measures how well each browser responds to these tasks and repeats them over and over to build a precise picture of its technical capabilities.

Some tasks Speedometer will assign to the browser being tested include building a to-do list and measuring the speed at which a browser can add, complete, and remove multiple items in quick succession.

Another key test is how fast browsers can handle rich text editing—that is, their ability to switch fonts, alter colors, and add formatting or hyperlinks to regular text to change its appearance or intractability.

These tests run continually over specific periods before tallying the results through a numbered score. That score reveals how many runs (or cycles) the browser achieved per minute. The higher the score, the better.

Chrome's performance secrets: Optimize, optimize, optimize

In a blog post detailing Chrome's latest benchmark results, the Chrome team pointed out how Speedometer 3.0 allowed them to see where Chrome spent the most time (meaning which tasks caused the most slowdown during the test).

This finding gave the Chrome team some clear targets, allowing them to optimize with precision and garner the browser's best results to date. Some of these areas involve code-based red tape within the browser itself, and others are situations where the browser has to interact with the setup of other websites.

For example, part of Chrome's code includes a function (a programming term loosely referring to a particular block of code used to perform a specific task) called SpaceSplitString.

As the name implies, this function splits a "string" (meaning a string or sequence of characters that can be numbers, letters, or symbols) whenever it sees a space before adding all of the individual broken-up parts to a list.

On inspection, the Chrome team found that this function would check how extensive that list is far more than needed, resulting in inefficiency and slowing down Chrome by causing it to perform unnecessary tasks. So, the team removed the additional checks to patch the leak and refunded that slice of performance back to the browser.

Quick draw!

Another critical area the team has worked on is how fast Chrome can "draw" up web pages and render fonts.

Most modern websites rely on stylesheets to instruct your browser on accurately displaying the page the way the designer intended it to look. The Chrome team noticed that performance is affected if the browser detects duplicate stylesheets on the same page, making it do twice the work to render the website accurately. Chrome will "dedupe" these stylesheets and only work from a single source.

The Chrome team has also worked alongside Harfbuzz (a text rendering engine) to ensure certain fonts (like macOS' Apple Advanced Typography, or AAT) are better processed and displayed to get words on the page quicker without impacting visuals.

While these changes seem small, they significantly impact Chrome's overall performance and experience, as you can see in the results graph shared below.

Outlook

Google's Chrome browser is going from strength to strength following Speedometer 3.0's development. The Chrome team states that since Speedometer's May 2022 release, it has used the tool to drive a "72% increase in Chrome's Speedometer score — translating into performance gains for our users."

To put it plainly, the effectiveness of this benchmark can't be overstated. Speedometer allows developers to be responsible for keeping the world's most popular web browser in top shape and in first place.

You can read more about the Chrome team's efforts to maximize the speed and performance of Google Chrome at the Chromium Blog, or download Chrome today by visiting Google's Chrome homepage.

More from Laptop Mag

• ChromeOS may add 3 cutting-edge features to Chromebook
• I'm done with Google Chrome: Here's where I'm heading next
• Don't buy a Chromebook without checking this feature — it makes all the difference

Heads up! Google Chrome is gearing up for a new security feature aimed at safeguarding your home network. Code-named "Private Network Access for Navigation Requests," this innovation aims to shield your connected devices from potential threats lurking on websites. Thanks to a report at Ghacks.net, we can share Google’s plans to safeguard your home network. 

The feature blocks navigation requests initiated by websites, acting as a security barricade for your home network. This proactive approach minimizes the risk of infections or intrusions, making your online experience safer. While details are still emerging (thanks to the eagle eyes at XDA!), I'm grateful to see Google prioritizing home network security. 

Google Private Network Access — how it works

Blocking Malicious Redirects: Traditionally, clicking a link or navigating to a new website triggers a smooth transition. However, some websites can sneakily redirect you to dangerous pages. This feature acts as a security checkpoint, blocking navigation requests initiated by malicious websites before they can harm your devices.

Double-Checking Destinations: Before granting access, Chrome verifies both the request's origin and the target website's security status. Think of it as a double-lock system ensuring both websites are clean before allowing the page to load.

Transparent Communication: If access is blocked, Chrome displays a clear error message, informing you about the potential threat and protecting your privacy. Additionally, developers get informed through Chrome's DevTools, helping them improve their websites.

While initially a warning-only system, future updates will allow users to disable it on a per-site basis. Mozilla and Apple support the feature's functionality but suggest a less confusing name like "Local Network Access" instead.

Final thoughts

This enhanced security measure arrives in Chrome 123, launching in Beta on February 21st and Stable on March 13th. While not foolproof, it's a significant step towards a safer online experience. Remember, vigilance is key – always use a reliable ad blocker, or antivirus, and practice safe browsing habits. You can read the official documentation Google released here. Enjoy safer browsing, my friends — well, soon enough.

Google Chrome is set to receive a trio of generative AI features from a series of updates already rolling out to U.S. users (with other regions to follow) throughout the coming month. The features include smart tab grouping, generative themes, and AI-assisted drafting.

With one of Chrome’s direct competitors, Microsoft Edge, happy to flex as an “AI Browser,” it would seem Google is more than willing to follow suit across its next series of updates. The features draw upon similar generative tools found in other parts of the Google ecosystem, including the Pixel 8’s generative AI wallpapers and the “Help me write” feature found in Google Docs.

Generative AI in Google Chrome: Organize, customize, and inspire

Alongside the current update (M121), users will be able to make use of the new Tab Organizer — a feature designed to unclutter and categorize your open tabs. Right-click any open tab and select “Organize Similar Tabs” and Chrome will now be able to group together related content, doing away with the painful process of scouring an overly-populated tab bar for the right content.

As previously mentioned, generative themes will also debut on Google Chrome alongside the Tab Organizer. This feature can be found in the “Customize Chrome” panel and allows users to select a subject, style, mood, and color before generating a unique and personalized backdrop for their browser. 

In an update to follow, the “Help me write” feature found in Google Workspace will become available across the world wide web, with the handy generative AI tool available by right-clicking any text box or field you come across while browsing. This is great for getting a head start when it comes to contributing to conversations online or to help you find the right words and tone when reaching out to others.

Outlook

Google has also recently expanded the potential of its search engine with the new Search Generative Experience for snapshot summaries of the results page. They’ve also implemented Duet AI into Google Workspace for enhanced productivity and created the world’s worst most inconsistent chatbot in Google Bard. And it’s Google’s multimodal AI Gemini acting as the brains behind the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra’s new Galaxy AI features.

With Google putting all of its eggs in the generative basket, Chrome’s evolution into a full-scale AI browser seems like only a matter of time — and the M121 update now rolling out seems to be the first step in that direction. The inbound trio of generative AI features offers a solid mix of improvements to organization, customization, and inspiration, giving users a varied platter to engage with on release.

Most websites you visit in your browser will ask you to accept or reject cookies, and for the most part, these cookies can be helpful and they're supposed to have a limited lifespan. Browser cookies can remember what's in your shopping cart or save your login status on a website, making your browsing experience easier.

Unfortunately, a recent report from CloudSEK researchers (via BleepingComputer and Android Police) outlines how hackers have been using a zero-day exploit to restore expired Google authentification cookies. Put simply, this exploit means that hackers can use your expired browser cookies to bypass two-factor authentication and gain access to your Google account.

How can you protect your Google account login details?

Six malware groups are currently selling this exploit, and with no word from Google yet on the exploit or their plans to combat it, there's no way to know how long your login details will be vulnerable or even if you've been affected.

According to a discussion between BleepingComputer and CloudSEK researcher Pavan Karthick, the company was able to reverse-engineer the exploit and "use it to regenerate expired Google authentication cookies, as shown below." 

Although Karthick and other CloudSEK researchers were able to successfully regenerate authentication cookies for Google account login details (thus verifying the exploint), here's some good news. Karthick explained to BleepingComputer that "the authentication cookie can only be regenerated once if a user resets their Google password." 

This means that if you reset your Google account password, hackers can still gain access one more time by regenerating authentication cookies, but not after that. If you don't change your password, the authentication cookie can be regenerated multiple times, giving hackers continuous access to your account. Simply signing out of your account won't prevent authentication cookies from being used to access your account. 

And unfortunately, until the exploit is addressed by Google and fixed, hackers could repeat the process again with your new login credentials after you change your password. Google hasn't officially said anything about this security exploit, but the company issued countermeasures to seemingly fight off hackers, but malware group Lumma issued an updated exploit that bypassed Google's countermeasures.

There doesn't seem to be a permanent fix to protect yourself from this vulnerability. Your best chance will be changing your Google account password regularly, and hoping that Google updates its users soon with a plan of action. Check out the best password managers to keep track of all your passwords.

Make sure your Google Chrome browser is updated as soon as possible to avoid potential malicious attacks by remote hackers. On November 24, Benoît Sevens and Clément Lecigne of Google's Threat Analysis Group discovered an integer overflow bug (called CVE-2023-6345) in Skia, the graphics engine for Google Chrome and ChromeOS (via Android Central). 

According to the National Vulnerability Database, this integer overflow bug "allowed a remote attacker who had compromised the renderer process to potentially perform a sandbox escape via a malicious file." In simple terms, this bug could allow hackers to execute a virus on your laptop via Chrome or access your sensitive in-browser data. 

The bug has a Chromium security severity of high, and in Google's recent release notes, the company notes that it's "aware that an exploit of CVE-2023-6345 exists in the wild." Automatic updates will roll out to Mac, Linux, and Windows users "over the coming days/weeks," but many people are able to update to the new browser version now.

Here's how to check your Chrome browser's version number, as well as how to manually check for updates if you don't have the most recent update yet.

How to update your Google Chrome Browser

If you don't have Google Chrome set to automatically update, you'll need to manually check for updates to get the patch for this integer overflow bug. For Mac and Linux users, the stable channel will be updated to 119.0.6045.199, and for Windows users, it'll be updated to 119.0.6045.199/.200. 

To see your Chrome browser's current version number, click on the three vertical dots in the top right corner of your open browser window. Select Settings from the dropdown menu, and then scroll all the way down to find About Chrome in the left-side menu.

Underneath the Google Chrome header, you'll see Version followed by a string of numbers. Compare the numbers you see to the ones above specific to your computer's operating system. 

Above my current version number, there's a message that reads "Nearly up to date! Relaunch Chrome to finish updating." If you see this message, it means your browser has automatically been updated with the most recent patch, and you just need to restart the browser to complete the process. Any tabs you currently have open will reopen once your browser restarts.

If your version number isn't up to date, it's possible the patch might not have reached you yet. Once there's an update to install, it'll either be automatically installed if you have auto-updates enabled, or you'll see a button that reads Update Google Chrome.

This is Chrome's sixth zero-day vulnerability this year, but it looks like Google is acting quickly and rolling out a patch before any major harm can be done. Plus, a month ago, Google boosted its privacy game with a tool that can hide your IP address. It might not be as privacy-focused as FireFox or DuckDuckGo yet, but it's a step in the right direction.

Google Chrome is a fan-favorite browser because there are so many ways to personalize it, but sometimes, the notifications you get from Chrome are a nuisance. Chrome's default settings keep many intrusive notifications at bay by automatically blocking them (and recommending that you continue to block them), but all other notifications will come through. 

By default, Chrome asks you when a website, app, or extension wants to send you notifications, and then you'll consistently get notifications from that source whenever there's breaking news or important updates. These default settings work for many people, but not for everyone. 

Whether you use Chrome on a computer or on your smartphone, turning off notifications altogether is an easy process. If you don't want to turn off notifications entirely, you'll also find tips here on how to customize which sources can send you notifications.

How to turn off Google Chrome notifications on a computer

Assuming you already have Chrome browser pulled up on your computer, the process of blocking notifications on Chrome only takes five quick steps.

1. Click on the three vertical dots in the top right corner, and select Settings.

2. Select Privacy and security from the menu on the left side of your screen.

3. Scroll down and click on Site Settings.

4. Scroll down to select Notifications.

5. Set the default behavior to Don't allow sites to send notifications if you don't want any notifications from any website, app, or extension you use in Chrome. Or, you can select Use quieter messaging to block sites from interrupting you when asking to send you notifications.

If there's a single site you want notifications for, you can add it below the Customized behaviors heading. Any site added here follows its own rules, and not the default setting you choose above.

How to turn off Google Chrome notifications on Android

The Chrome app on Android might be the most popular browser app, but that doesn't mean people love the notifications that come with the app. You can disable all notifications in four easy steps.

1. Open your Chrome app.

2. Tap on the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Then, select Settings from the menu.

3. Tap Notifications, which will be towards the bottom of your screen.

4. Next to Allow notifications, toggle this control off. You should see a message on your screen now that reads "All notifications from this app are blocked." 

Alternatively, you can leave Allow notifications toggled on, and customize your notification settings instead.

Chrome installed on your iPhone or iPad doesn't currently get notifications, so if you're getting alerts from Chrome in iOS, you might need to disable pop-ups. To do this, head to your Chrome app, navigate to Settings > Content settings > Block Pop-ups, and turn Block Pop-ups off.

Disabling your Chrome notifications is one step closer to getting the most out of this browser. But if you want to further optimize your Chrome experience, check out our favorite tips and tricks when using Chrome.

I recently decided that it was time to take a break from Google Chrome — a browser I’ve spent 15 years using as my gateway to the information superhighway. Aside from becoming increasingly frustrated by its memory-hogging habits, I was curious about whether the grass was greener on the other side of the fence.

I’m happy to report my efforts weren’t in vain. There are decidedly greener pastures out there — especially if you have specific desires in mind. In my last article, I harped on about some interesting features in other browsers. But all that glitters isn’t gold, and I did find that, while looking greener, some of that grass was (at times) littered with the sloppy droppings of the neighbor's cat.

In defense of Google Chrome

Google Chrome was my browser of choice for over a decade for a reason. In my last article, I was quick to point out the ways in which I felt it was failing me. But, as I decided to move on from Chrome (and after checking out a lot of the alternatives), I am reminded of what makes this browser so special.

There are plenty of reasons that Chrome is the most widely used browser on the internet, be it an expansive extension library, its developer-friendly tools, cross-platform availability, or snappy page loading.

Chrome is impressively intuitive and well laid out — something that not every browser can wear as a badge of pride. It’s a get-up-and-go type of browser that keeps things fairly minimalistic on the UI front and covers a lot of what users need and want fairly well. It’s a great all-around solution to browsing the web. If you’re happy with Chrome, I’m happy for you.

Filing the Google Chrome void

Having used Chrome for so long, I’d stopped even looking at what other browsers had to offer. The last week and change have been an eye-opener of sorts. Sometimes a browser would leave me feeling as if I’d just escaped from a nightmare where Google’s Big Brother-like watchful eye peers into my very soul, and awoken into a world of total freedom, released from my ad-based oppression.

Other times it was like being strapped to a chair with speculums prying open my eyelids as I was forced to endure tortuous page-loading speeds, sluggish performance, poor design decisions, and having to watch my every last bit and byte of data handed over without consideration.

Among the browsers I’ve been checking out, here are some of the better ones I encountered, as well as the best use cases for each:

The majority of the time, it was business as usual, albeit under a different banner than what I’d previously worked under. In large part (but not entirely), that’s thanks to Google’s Chromium, the foundation of many modern browsers — including its namesake Chrome. To many, these browsers are little more than re-skins of Chrome, and I say to that many: please stop emailing me to tell me you think so — it’s boring. 

Awash in a sea of Chrome clones? 

Chromium-based browsers aren’t so much re-skins of Chrome as they are the multiversal equivalents of it. Oh look, here’s Brave browser — hailing from a universe where Google gives a hoot about your data autonomy.

Over there, that’s Opera GX. That’s the Chrome that could have been if Google cared about helping users who don’t want most of their RAM funneled into a dormant Reddit tab. And, look to your right, there’s the hilariously named Coc Coc, the variant of Chrome that would’ve happened if the Googleplex took flight and settled in Vietnam.

Chromium is a fantastic open-source platform, one that allows developers to quickly build upon and innovate. Of course, it’s still Google’s project and, while it allows these browsers to take advantage of the tool’s impressive features, it does afford Google a lot of power over the direction of the internet — especially when it comes to web and browser standards.

For that reason, many suggest steering clear of Chromium browsers altogether. If you really want to get under the thumb of Google, this is by far and large the best way to do so. Among the browsers I’ve been testing, here are some of the best non-Chromium options available:

Personally, unless there’s a sharp and sudden shift in the winds, I don’t see Google’s internet influence dipping by any considerable measure in the near future — but I do see it growing in size.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s great that there are viable Chromium alternatives available. However, it seems increasingly likely that we’re heading toward a homogenized landscape, one where Google holds all of the cards.

In other words, don’t feel pressured to abandon Chromium entirely when looking for a new home for your homepage. There’s a valiant notion behind it all, but at the end of the day, you should pick what works best for you.

Avoiding Chromium browsers simply “because Google” is akin to refusing to drink water anymore because you heard it's the primary ingredient in tsunamis. Sometimes a good tool is a good tool, no matter how poorly you feel about its creator.

For all I care, the guy who invented the monkey wrench could be a total rotter. That doesn’t mean I’m going to start attacking my plumbing with a screwdriver in retaliation.

 After I gave up Chrome, here’s where I ended up 

Personally, when it came to replacing Google Chrome I was left with three clear choices: Opera One/GX, Vivaldi, and Firefox.

My choices aren’t exactly based on strict, laboratory-tested benchmarks. It all came down to features, general performance, customization, and privacy/security. Something each of these three browsers has to offer in varying measures.

Firefox, while the only one of my dwindled shortlist not based on the Chromium skeleton, is the ideal Chrome replacement in many ways, it can practically slip right into the boots of Google’s browser and get you on your way in an instant.

In terms of sheer performance, I’ve found Microsoft’s Edge to be less RAM-hungry than Chrome tends to be. Which, given they’re both based on Chromium, and Edge’s expanded feature set is quite impressive. However, Edge is barely better (if not worse) when it comes to how it treats your data, with every search and surf being siphoned away into Microsoft’s data banks for processing.

Firefox, Vivaldi, and Opera all offered comfortable levels of performance and impressive privacy functions to boot. Was their performance leaps and bounds ahead of Chrome’s offerings? Not particularly. But I didn’t notice things clogging up as much as I might’ve previously. However, there could be some placebo effect going on there. But the same can’t be said for Opera GX, whose built-in resource management allowed me to fine-tune exactly what was allocated.

While browsers like Brave, TOR, and Epic all offer considerable levels of privacy and security. Their overall experience just wasn’t catching on with me. Plus, I don’t need any of my devices to feel like a vault. I’m happy with the basics.

Cut out the cookies, block a few ads here and there, nothing fancy. It’s a bonus that Opera offers a completely free VPN, but seeing as I already own a subscription to one of our best VPNs — this isn’t a deal breaker for Firefox and Vivaldi in not offering the same.

In terms of customization, all three browsers have their strengths, but this is where Vivaldi flexes like few browsers can. The Chromium-based web explorer has a plethora of customization options that will make anyone who loves the sight of sliders, check boxes, and color wheels jump for joy. Better still, it's simple and fairly intuitive — with some incredibly tailored results possible in minutes.

Firefox is similarly equipped to deliver excellent customization, but not with the same depth as Vivaldi. Sadly, Opera’s options are more narrow but not at all missing. However, the browser's contextual tabbing and organization go some way to making up for it.

Conclusion

Picking between those three options is no easy task. But as I said before, Firefox is the browser that seems to just slip right into place the easiest. I might hop between all three browsers mentioned in my shortlist for a while and see how my mind changes over time. But for now, I’m content with giving Mozilla’s cutesy Canidae its moment in the spotlight.

Is it the perfect browser? I’m not sure such a thing exists. But it’s good enough that I don’t feel like I’m missing out on much by making the switch. If anything, I might be gaining from doing so — with more control over my data, better customization, new add-ons to explore, and hopefully better performance in the long run.

Chrome is the most popular browser right now, but people are starting to prefer privacy-focused browsers that don't track their every move and serve personalized ads on a silver platter. It seems as though Google is in the process of rolling out an IP Protection feature in Chrome that could boost your in-browser privacy substantially.

This IP Protection tool, formerly known as Gnatcatcher on GitHub, was spotted by Bleeping Computer (via TechRadar). The tool would work by routing your web traffic through a Google-owned proxy server, essentially hiding your IP address from those wanting to track you. Eventually, Google might add another proxy server to this setup, so your IP address is further hidden, and neither server has access to your IP and destination URL.

Considering the fact that Google makes a lot of its money by tracking its users, selling data, and delivering personalized ads, this is an interesting move. Traffic will be routed through a Google-owned server, so Google will still have access to your original IP address and data, and they'll most likely keep logs and use your data that way. Still, it's a move in the right direction, but it won't be available to everyone just yet.

How can you get Chrome's new privacy feature?

Although Google will probably still collect, sell, and use your data for its own benefit, this IP protection tool can prevent other companies from targeting you and tracking your activity, as well as hide your IP address from malicious users.

The IP Protection tool will first be available to users who opt in, similar to Google Labs features like creating generative AI images through Search. According to TechRadar, Google says that the tool will roll out in stages for only a few websites in the beginning. The tool's effectiveness will be monitored, and if everything looks good, it'll roll out to more users.

Google has warned that this IP protection tool shouldn't be used as a privacy measure to replace all others, and it could even be subject to security risks at first. One of Google's proxy servers could be hacked, and whoever sees the data could manipulate or redirect it maliciously. 

Or, the proxy servers could be used to disguise the IP address used for a DDoS attack or another fraudulent activity. TechRadar notes that Google could require users to authenticate with the proxy server to prevent this from happening, or possibly introduce rate limits to decrease DDoS misuse.

Despite the potential risks with this IP protection tool now, it's somewhat hopeful news that Google is attempting to hide users' IP addresses through its Chrome browsers. Google's intentions may not be all positive, but it'll be a positive feature for Chrome users. 

Will this new feature convert users who are done with Chrome? Maybe not, but it might cause a few to stick around for a bit longer.

Google Chrome has been the copilot to my internet adventures ever since the browser launched in 2008 — and even though it’s never cost me a dime, the hours I’ve invested have left me in something of a sunk-cost fallacy when it comes to giving it up. But I think it’s about time I ripped this bandaid off and venture on to greener pastures.

My digital life resembles some sort of Peanuts comic, with me as Linus and Chrome as my old weathered comfort blanket. It’s often the first piece of software I install on any device that allows me to: Phones, laptops, tablets; Apple, Windows, Linux; just kidding, I don’t use Linux, I’m not a masochist.

When it was released, Chrome was the coolest thing to happen to the internet since being able to click “I’m over 18” when you absolutely weren’t. It offered a lightweight and speedy way of browsing the web that was practically unparalleled, especially when compared to Microsoft’s dastardly Internet Explorer.

But that was some 15 years ago now, and I’ve slowly come to the realization that in recent years Google Chrome stopped being the hero some time ago, and has officially lived long enough to become the villain.

Google Chrome: It's not me, it's you

Nowadays, Chrome doesn’t feel all that lightweight and speedy. My modern-day experience with Google’s browser feels a lot less like sprinting to the finish line and a lot more like slogging through a swamp of treacle in lead boots.

If you’ve ever dared to crack open the task manager while Chrome chutters along then you know exactly what I’m talking about. There, Chrome processes multiply and spread like I’ve failed to adhere to any rule in the “How to properly care for your Google Mogwai” handbook.

Gremlin doppelgangers of my once beloved browser spring up in abundance to take part in some Hungry, Hungry Hippos battle royale to see who can be crowned king of gobbling up the most RAM and bringing my machine to a juddering halt the fastest.

I’m not sure what half of Chrome’s seemingly every-other-day updates even do, but I know it’s not making anything faster — and they’ve yet to add the toggle switch for “Simulate the thermals of a nuclear control rod when running more than 5 tabs” option to the chrome://flags/ page, instead, Google seemingly presumes that’s a feature I want on by default.

Worse still, I can’t shake the feeling that the Googleplex has some suit-wearing corporate overlord salivating like Pavlov’s dog every time I click a link or strike enter at the end of a search query.

And so, I think it’s time. Time that I gave up on Chrome and found myself a new portal to the internet. I need to get with the times a little and sow my wild bookmarks.

Top 3 Google Chrome alternatives in 2023

The Browser Wars of yesteryear are well and truly over. Where once there were just a handful of mega powers in the ‘browseosphere’ there’s now more choice than a hipster brewery. Sadly, more choice can mean more confusion, making the decision of what to switch to far harder than the decision to switch at all.

However, among that sea of windows to the World Wide Web are some genuine stand-out candidates. Some are all new debutantes, some are reaping the rewards of decades of hard graft, and one is a comeback story so unlikely that I’m amazed it’s not screaming “We did it, Adrian. We did it” so loud my eardrums burst.

After a week of browsing around (pun incredibly intended), here are three options I’ve earmarked for my new digital doorway to the dub dub dub.

1. Opera One / Opera GX

• Available on: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS 
• Website: Opera One / Opera GX

Opera is a veteran of the Browser Wars, though only ever existing on the fringes. Like some cowardly bowman who occasionally flung an arrow in the general direction of all the action before giving up and going home early.

However, reports of the browser’s surrender appear to have been greatly exaggerated. Unbeknown to me, Opera has been out there all this time, living in the wilds like Hiroo Onoda, fighting a war long since lost. Not only did Opera refuse to throw in the towel, it made the leap to Chromium in 2016 and now exists in two formidable forms: Opera GX and Opera One.

Opera GX launched for macOS and Windows in 2019, with mobile versions for iOS and Android following in 2021. Opera GX is a gamer-oriented browser focused on preserving system resources and offering deeper integration with popular apps like WhatsApp, Twitch, Discord, Twitter/X, and Instagram.

The so-called “browser for gamers” allows users to set limits on the amount of RAM, CPU, and network usage the app is able to lay claim to — ensuring that performance can be shifted to where it’s wanted. Better still, a feature called GX Corner keeps track of upcoming releases, the best discounts and deals on popular titles, and the latest gaming news from around the web.

Then, earlier this year Opera relaunched as Opera One — a completely redesigned browser with a new look and focus. It incorporates a new Modular Design philosophy that adapts to user’s needs by only focusing on the key features they commonly make use of. It also uses a Multithreaded Compositor to ensure webpages with modern elements such as 3D visuals or high-definition video run smoothly and to keep the browser at its best even under heavy load.

Opera One is also well and truly on the generative AI bandwagon, with its own Aria AI alongside ChatGPT and ChatSonic sidebar integration and smart AI prompts available from within web pages. These AI prompts can be used to simplify articles, summarize pages, and quickly line up social media posts to your linked accounts. The browser’s smart-features only go on from there, with context-based tab grouping for easier navigation,

2. Brave Browser

• Available on: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS
• Website: Brave

Where Opera GX is the browser for gamers, Brave is the browser for paranoid conspiracy theorists with a penchant for Crypto. The problem is, they’re also right. Just because you’re paranoid, doesn’t mean they’re not out to get you — or at least your marketing details.

What sets Brave apart from other browsers is its unrelenting pursuit of online privacy. Without your direct consent, your data remains yours when making use of the Brave browser, with the software dead set on blocking invasive ads, cross-site trackers, and third-party cookies in all their forms.

Brave offers malware and phishing protection, a free VPN, and even proxy access through the Tor network for anonymized network routing. The latter ensures your online activities in private windows remain anonymous and untraceable — something other browsers’ incognito/private windows only pay lip service to.

Brave users can also earn Brave Rewards, or BAT (Basic Attention Tokens) , a type of cryptocurrency earned by seeing and interacting with ads in Brave. By default, ads are blocked on Brave, though if you choose to see Brave ads, you can earn BAT for every ad you see or interact with. You can also choose which kind of ads you’ll see and how you see them — giving you complete control and reassurance that these ads won't track your data or send it elsewhere.

BAT is stored safely in your Brave Wallet, a fully-featured, native crypto wallet built directly into the browser. Earned BAT can then be used to purchase gift cards for your favorite stores or services, or even donated to charities, content creators, or websites you support.

3. Microsoft Edge

• Available on: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS 
• Website: Microsoft Edge

Trust me, I can’t believe I’m saying this either. The browser I once thought of as little more than a skin suit worn by my old nemesis Internet Explorer, is apparently in the midst of being crowned the comeback kid by many. And it owes a lot of that momentum to Microsoft’s newest pet project — Bing. No, not that Bing, Bing Chat. Although the two are now so heavily intertwined it’s sometimes hard to tell the difference.

Microsoft’s two-footed leap into AI has paid off big time with the company now reaping rewards left right and center by way of access to OpenAI’s GPT-4 and Dall.E models. Both of these are implemented into the Edge browser through Microsoft’s AI chatbot — affording users quick access to generative search, image creation, and content creation at the drop of a hat.

While it might play host to the world’s ugliest start page, Edge now sits at the center of a wider ecosystem featuring deep integration with a ton of Microsoft’s web-based tools. like Microsoft 365 and Outlook readily accessible in the sidebar. Said sidebar also houses a deals tracker that automatically searches for applicable vouchers on sites you visit and can track your orders across multiple sites. And, there’s also Drop, a sort of temporary stash to send files, links, and notes between all of your devices using Edge.

Then there are the benefits afforded to users who force themselves to use Microsoft’s search engine, Bing. In a not-all-that-subtle way of letting you know “Our search engine is so bad we’ll literally pay you for using it” Microsoft rewards… Bingers (?) with Microsoft Rewards points for each search.

These points can then be cashed in on a mix of both digital and real-world goodies, including Xbox Game Pass memberships, store vouchers, gift cards, or sweepstakes entries to Microsoft hardware giveaways. You can also earn bonus points for doing much of what you’d get up to online anyway like browsing the news or checking your local weather.

Outlook

For the sake of brevity, this list is limited to just three of the more interesting browsers currently available. However, that still leaves a ton of candidates on the table. Classics like Firefox and Safari still have plenty to offer and ‘newer’ browsers like Vivaldi can uniquely tailor your browsing experience on an individual level.

If you’re looking to pry away from the safety blanket that is Google Chrome, and make your way out from under the marketing thumb of the Googleplex, there’s a great selection of browsers to choose from. Potentially, one far better suited to you than the one you’re settling for now.

Chromebooks have become a favorite amidst students for completing school work, and any parent would want their child to work smarter, not harder. This is where convenient keyboard shortcuts come in, as they can save students time and energy, allowing them to focus on their assignments first and foremost.

Chromebooks are among some of the best laptops for college thanks to their affordable cost and easy-to-use operating system, which makes it convenient for the work expected of most students. Whether it's browsing the web, using Google's suite of apps like Sheets or Docs, or using Android and Google applications to perform tasks, it's lightweight and convenient. 

Laptop Mag has reviewed some of the best Chromebooks you can buy, and as a result, we have picked up many tips and tricks to ensure you and your student get the most out of the Chromebook experience. These keyboard shortcuts are game-changing and great to know, as they will improve your student's workflow and ability to get things done.

Best general Chromebook keyboard shortcuts

The first set of Chromebook shortcuts are universal, and can be used on any website or app. They will keep you productive and help you personalize your user experience, alongside convenient features like hiding certain windows, taking screenshots, or zooming in.

• Tab shortcuts: Ctrl + T opens a new tab, Ctrl + Shift + T re-opens the last closed tab, and Ctrl + W closes the currently selected tab.
• Options menu: Alt + E opens the options menu (the three-dot menu in Google Chrome and Google Files). This shortcut does not work while using Android apps.
• Cursor selection and movement: Shift + arrow keys selects text in the direction you move the cursor, and Ctrl + arrow keys moves the cursor one word to the left, right or to the beginning of the line above or below. Using Shift + Ctrl + arrow keys allows you to select larger portions of text quickly.
• Screenshot: Ctrl + Overview (the button that looks like a stack of windows) takes a screenshot of your current full Chromebook screen. Whether you need this for capturing the result you got on a web quiz, how a homework module is misbehaving, or something funny that someone said in a group chat, it's an essential shortcut to know.
• Screen zoom: Ctrl and + zooms in and magnifies the current tab of Chrome, while Ctrl and - zooms out and shrinks the current tab of Chrome. If you want to return quickly to 100% default zoom, you can do so with Ctrl and 0.
• Hide your game/tab: Alt and - will minimize the current window. If you have multiple windows open, hitting Alt and - again will minimize the next open window. If you only have one window open on your Chromebook, hitting Alt and - again will restore that minimized window.
• Split-screening windows: Alt and [ pins the current window to the left side of the screen. Alt and ] pins the current window on the right side of the screen, making it far, far easier to reference your notes while you write your history report or helpful technology articles. Alt and = will make a window full-width again without making it fullscreen, which hides the address bar, tabs, and toolbars.

Best Google Docs and Google Drive shortcuts

There are a ton of Google Drive and Google Docs shortcuts that users can use; we aren't even able to share all of them. There are that many. However, the keyboard shortcuts selected are the ones you need to know. Let's start with the Google Drive shortcuts first. 

• Display all the keyboard shortcuts with: Ctrl + /
• Document creation: Shift + T creates a new Doc, Shift + S creates a new Sheet, and Shift + F creates a new Folder. If you're going to be using Google Drive for all your notes, homework, and random daydreaming stories throughout the year, create folders early and often to keep things organized.
• Rename items: Tapping N pops up the window to rename the currently selected item. Naming screenshots, other randomly named images and downloaded attachments will keep things better organized and easy to find in your Google Drive.
• Scroll up, down, left, and right with the j k h l keys if you don't want your fingers leaving the keyboard.

Google Docs keyboard shortcuts

• Clear formatting: Ctrl + \ will clear any weird formatting off of a website or app. On that note, remember that Ctrl + Shift + V is the shortcut for pasting text without formatting.
• Formatting lists: Ctrl + Shift + 7 will toggle on a numbered list or format highlighted text into a numbered list. Ctrl + Shift + 8 will do the same with a bulleted list.
• Word count: Ctrl + Shift + C will bring up the word count screen, showing how many pages, words, and characters are in a highlighted section and the full document, so you know how close you are to that 10,000-word essay your English teacher assigned.
• Voice typing: Ctrl + Shift + S will start voice typing, allowing you to dictate text to your document without having to type it all out.
• Jump to top or bottom: Ctrl + Search + left arrow will take you to the beginning of your document while Ctrl + Search + right arrow will go to the end.
• Insert links: Ctrl + K will open the insert link window in Google Docs, allowing you to create a new hyperlink for text or add a hyperlink to the text you had currently highlighted.

Files Shortcuts

The Files application on Chromebook is like a secret agent very few know about or discuss, but it does some pretty great things. Since it syncs with Google Drive, Chrome Web Store add-ons like OneDrive or Dropbox, and whatever extra cloud storage you may use, it comes in handy as it allows you to updates to those files right from your Chromebook. 

To further the convenience, using these keyboard shortcuts will speed up the process. 

• Folder creation: Ctrl + E creates a new folder.
• Rename items: Ctrl + Enter to rename the selected item. I find this goes quicker in Files than on the Google Drive site because you don't have to deal with pop-up windows or the window reloading after renaming a file. Ctrl + Enter, type in the new name, tap Enter, then arrow key over to the next item and repeat.
• Delete items: Alt + Backspace to delete an item from a folder. Items deleted from a Google Drive folder in the Files app still go to the Google Drive trash folder, so you can recover them within a number of days if you find you deleted something on accident.

These are just some of the relevant keyboard shortcuts for Chromebook users. Plenty more are available, and you can always display all the keyboard shortcuts for your Chromebook by simply hitting Ctrl + /. Then, a popup menu will appear with the entire list of Google Chromebook keyboard shortcuts you can use.

More from Laptop Mag

• Best laptops for college in 2024: Student laptops for every budget
• Best Chromebooks of 2024
• Your Chromebook comes with tons of free perks — here's how to redeem them

Chromebooks are the vegans of laptops. They're lean and light machines that are designed for users with simplistic, Google-based workflows: browsing Chrome, checking Gmail, exploring YouTube, and playing Android apps from Google Play.

However, in recent years, there's been a push to force-feed hearty, resource-intensive tasks (e.g., gaming) down ChromeOS' throat. Laptop manufacturers have been trying to make fetch happen with so-called "gaming Chromebooks." For example, I reviewed the world's first gaming Chromebook — the Acer Chromebook 516 GE — earlier this year.

However, "gaming Chromebook" is a bit of a misnomer. "Chromebook optimized for cloud-gaming services" would be a more fitting name; it's just a ChromeOS system that features the best specs for Nvidia GeForce Now and its ilk.

Now when it comes to running games natively on ChromeOS, and I'm talkin' intensive games (not the lil' Subway Surfer games you may like to play), Google has been working on it — and it's been struggling.

How it all began

We first knew about Google's ambitious plans to bring a native Steam client to Chromebooks in 2020 after an interview Android Police.

Last year, Google reiterated those plans at the Google for Games Developer Summit, adding that an alpha-quality version of Steam would be coming to Chrome OS. When the alpha version finally launched, Google announced that it could only support seven Chromebooks.

"Because many games have high performance demands, we’ve focused our efforts thus far on a set of devices where more games can run well," Google said. The search-engine tech giant says that Steam requires at least 8GB of RAM and a Core i5 processor.

Chromebook users who tested the alpha version, including Nathan Ingraham from Engadget, reported what we expected. Chrome OS handled older, lighter games (e.g., Half-Life 2 and Portal 2) with ease, however, triple-A games are too meaty for such vegan-esque machines. "[2018's God of War] was a totally unplayable slideshow. That's no surprise, though, as God of War calls for either Nvidia's GTX 960 or AMD's R9 290 graphics cards," Ingraham said, who played the title on an Asus Chromebook CX9.

Chromebooks have integrated GPUs that simply don't have adequate power to handle some of the best triple-A PC games. So the solution is, "Let's get some discrete GPUs inside some Chromebooks," right? Not to fast! Nvidia reportedly axed its not-yet-announced plans to bring its dedicated GPUs to Chromebooks.

"It seems like someone within Google or at the PC companies has decided that Chromebooks with dedicated GPUs aren't worth the effort," Ars Technica commented.

Let's dive into the other roadblocks Google has been facing with releasing a native Steam app on Chrome OS.

5 roadblocks to Steam on Chromebooks

It's 2023 and Steam still hasn't upgraded to a stable channel version for Chromebooks. It entered beta in November 2022, but since then, there hasn't been much progress.

On the plus side, Google has made some headway with bringing the Linux-based Steam app to Chrome OS because the operating system is based on Linux, too. However, Steam on ChromeOS is still running into a gaggle of issues. Let's talk about 'em.

1. ChromeOS' Steam app doesn't play nice with external monitors

Don't bother trying to hook up one of the best external monitors with your Chromebook to play games. Users have reported a drop in performance, cursor misalignment, steam notifications blocking one's view, incorrect aspect ratio, game crashing, rendering glitches, and more.

2. Some games only work with 16GB of RAM

If you want to try to play a memory-intensive game on a Chromebook with 8GB of RAM or less, you'll run into some issues. There are a great number games that will crash or perform terribly on such under-powered Chromebooks, so either get yourself a Chrome OS system with 16GB of memory or settle for less RAM-intensive titles.

3. Steam sometimes freezes if the Chromebook goes into sleep mode

Imagine taking a break to make yourself a sandwich before coming back to your Chromebook to wake it up. When you try to exit sleep mode, you notice that your game is no longer responding. Yikes! If you didn't save your game, that means you'll have some lost progress and you'll have to restart the Steam app and the game.

4. First few minutes of gameplay is poor

For some titles, users have reported poor gameplay within the first few minutes as the title renders shaders. However, after some time, the performance increases to a reasonable level. This has been particularly an issue with Grand Theft Auto V and Dota 2.

5. Games with anti-cheat do not work properly

Games with anti-cheat software often found in multiplayer games don't work properly on Steam for Chromebooks, including Elden Ring, Brawlhalla and Arma 3. Users are reporting launch fails, crashing, or hanging.

Bottom line

With Nvidia backing out of the Chromebook GPU game, Google's struggles with Steam seem insurmountable. However, as it stands now, it looks like you can still enjoy some light Chromebook gaming with Steam's casual games.

Just make sure you have a Chromebook with minimum of 16GB of RAM. And don't use an external display. Oh, and don't download games with anti-cheat software. And try to preventing your Chromebook from entering sleep mode. With these tips, you should be juuuust fine.

You can now head directly to Google Search — or Google Chrome, the preferred web browser of most — to find out whether a sentence is grammatically correct. Gone are the days of needing a dedicated tool to check a few odd-sounding sentences for a work presentation or a school paper.

For more advanced or continuous grammar checking, you might not want to delete your preferred grammar checker just yet. At the moment, Google Search can correct simple sentence grammar and it’s “only available in English.” This is yet another helpful way to use Google Chrome, and we’re here for it.

How to check your grammar via Google Search

Over time, it’s possible that this built-in tool could develop to tackle larger paragraphs, different languages, and more intricate grammar mistakes. For now, Google’s search engine can detect a few mistakes within one or two small sentences. 

You can use this built-in grammar checking tool through the Google Search app or the search bar in the Chrome web browser for desktop or mobile platforms. Follow these steps to start using this new tool. 

1. Access Google’s search bar. You can do this a few different ways: 

• Open the Google app. (If you don’t have it installed, you can download it here if you’re an iPhone user or here if you’re an Android user.)
• Open or download Google Chrome for desktop, or head to the Chrome mobile app (You can download it here for iPhones, and here for Android devices.)
• Open your preferred web browser and head to Google.com to use the search bar.

2. Type or copy/paste your sentence into the search bar, followed by “grammar check.” Google says that its grammar-checking tool “uses AI systems and might not be 100% accurate, especially with partial sentences,” so input a complete sentence for the best results. 

3. Check out your results. If the feature worked successfully, you should see Grammar Check at the top of the page with your sentence underneath. 

Detected mistakes are bolded and underlined so they’re easy to spot, and they’re automatically corrected beneath the Grammar Check title. Google Search can detect mistakes with spelling, verb tenses, apostrophes, commas, and even incorrectly used words, like “their,” “they’re,” and “there.” 

One thing Google Search won’t automatically correct is the controversial oxford comma, or serial comma. The search engine doesn’t add an oxford comma in lists of three, but it does add a comma to separate the first two entries. However, when you input a sentence with an oxford comma, Google Search recognizes it as grammatically correct. 

If something looks incorrect to you, you can click Feedback to the right of your sentence. You’ll be asked whether the answer seems unhelpful, not relevant, incorrect, or offensive, and you’ll have the option to type any specific comments. To prevent offensive answers, the grammar check tool won’t run if the content is in violation of Google Search’s overall policies. Dangerous, hateful, medical, or profanity-ridden content would be in violation. 

This helpful grammar-checking tool is the latest in a series of built-in Google Search utilities, joining handy tools like a speed test, color picker, and calculator. Google also recently released a new tool that helps you take better control of your online presence by removing unwanted information from Google Search and sending out alerts when new personal information is detected in searches. Slowly but surely, Google Search is becoming smarter and more useful. 

Ads have become synonymous with the internet. They’re hard to avoid these days. And while some can be helpful, others are intrusive, distracting, or even dangerous. Most users turn to browser extensions to block ads, but it's possible to achieve a similar effect without adding extensions to Google Chrome. Using built-in settings, you can minimize the impact of ads and enjoy a cleaner browsing experience.

In this guide, we will show you how to block ads in Google Chrome without using extensions. The process is straightforward and can be completed by users of all skill levels. By managing your browser settings, you'll be able to enjoy a smoother and more focused browsing experience without the need for additional software.

Follow these steps to block ads in Chrome without using extensions:

How to block ads in Chrome without using extensions

Step 1: Open Google Chrome: Launch the Google Chrome browser on your computer. 

Step 2: Access the Chrome menu: Click on the three-dot icon (⋮) located at the top-right corner of the browser window to open the Chrome menu.

Step 3: Navigate to Settings: Click on "Settings" from the dropdown menu to access Chrome's settings page. 

Step 4: Enter Privacy and Security: Scroll down the settings page and click on the "Privacy and security" option.

Step 5: Open Site Settings: On the Privacy and Security page, click on the "Site settings" option. 

Step 6: Find Intrusive Ads settings: In the Content section, scroll down until you find the "Additional content settings" option and click on it to reveal more settings.

Step 7: Block ads on intrusive sites: Click “Intrusive ads” and flip the toggle the switch next to "Ads are blocked on sites known to show intrusive or misleading ads" to enable ad blocking. 

Please note that this method will not block all ads, but it will significantly reduce the number of intrusive ads you encounter while browsing.

Bing Chat was previously available on Microsoft Edge only but that changes today as the ChatGPT-fuelled bot is being rolled out across Google Chrome and Safari.

Spotted by Windows Latest, this is a step in the right direction for Bing’s AI chatbot but in classic thirsty Microsoft fashion, there are some limitations in place to try and force you over to downloading Edge.

What’s the catch?

It’s not just one catch, there are three, and they all seem a lot like self inflicted damage to try and force users to make the jump over to Microsoft’s own browser:

• Text prompts are limited to 2,000 words, rather than the full 4,000 words that you get on Edge.
• The chatbot will reset after only five turns, instead of 30 on Edge.
• You will see a whole bunch of pop-ups that encourage you to download Edge.

In fact, this is part of a broader effort to bring people over to Microsoft’s side, as when you use Google’s Bard on Edge, you’ll get a prompt to compare your answer to Bing chat.

As for other updates being made to Bing Chat, you can now click on the top-right corner, hit Appearance > Dark or System Default and activate a dark mode for the chat window.

Outlook

It’s encouraging to see Bing Chat make its way out from the constraints of Edge, and into Chrome and Safari. But the limits in place are clearly Microsoft trying to give its own browser an edge (pardon the pun).

I can only assume that over time, this will change, and that we will see a wider rollout across other browsers too. But just like Microsoft finally relenting and making it easier to change default browsers, it will take some user pressure and time for the company to relent.

But for now, it’s good to see Bing Chat go the way of Google Bard, and start to become more widely available.

Shocker. The latest Windows 10 update is breaking PC games for people. Apparently, Windows 10 is causing lag and other performance issues. 

Let's get to the bottom of what's actually happening.

Is Windows 10 update causing PC gaming issues?

Windows update KB5028166 is apparently responsible for slowing down PCs.

On a Reddit Thread (via Windows Latest / Tech Radar), one user asked, "Did somebody experience after updating, game and apps became laggy?"

A string of comments replied and confirmed, one stating, "Yes! I can't do anything, it takes forever. Everything is slow." 

Another claimed that the latest update slowed down their PC, causing Chrome and other apps to take minutes to open. The user also complained about webpages being delayed or displaying a "page not responding" message.

One user in particular complained about Cyberpunk 2077, and how before the update it was running smoothly, but now it frequently stops to load and there are even some in-game icons missing.

Microsoft hasn't come forward with the issues relating to the KB5028166 update, but we do know that gamers aren't the only one experiencing the issue.

Apparently, enterprises have been experiencing network issues, specifically one that breaks the SMB Secure Channel communication between Synology Directory Server (SAMBA/AD) and Windows 10’s latest updates. In not so many words, their internet cuts out.

All we can recommend is that you don't update to Windows KB5028166. If you already have and are looking for a solution to your problems, you can either risk being a Windows insider and get a new update, or try to uninstall a Windows update.

To roll back the latest Windows 10 update to an earlier version, click on the Start button, then click the "Settings." Navigate to "Update & Security." From there, scroll down to "View update history" and click on it.  

A "View update history" window will show up, and you'll then be given the option to "Uninstall updates." Select KB5028166 and uninstall it. Problem solved, probably.

Most websites make us jump through several hoops to access them. Though our browsers are equipped to take care of the auto-playing videos and other pop-ups, we still have to manually dismiss the pesky overlay asking if we’d like to subscribe to the website’s newsletter. With a few tweaks, though, you can automatically block email and newsletter banners too. 

The reason your browser’s pop-up blocker isn’t enough to kill newsletter overlays is that they’re programmed differently. They don’t launch a new window or take you away from the page you’re on like a pop-up. So you’ll need something else to deal with them and fortunately, whether you’re on your phone or computer, there are plenty of options. Here’s how to block email and newsletter prompts on your browser. 

Block newsletter pop-ups on Safari (Mac, iPhone) 

On an Apple device like a MacBook, an iPad, or an iPhone, your best defense against newsletter overlays is a Safari extension called Hush. 

At first glance, Hush may seem almost too basic to be effective. It’s small in size, has no menus for you to manage, and runs in the background with zero effect on your computer or phone’s performance. As the name suggests, Hush is designed to squash the endless nagging elements that ruin your internet experience, and that includes, of course, newsletter notices that block you from the rest of the website until you enter your email address or close them. 

As soon as you download Hush, it begins automatically obstructing a website’s ability to throw newsletter overlays at you. There’s no setup process, nor do you have to pay extra to enable any additional features. Plus, it’s open-source, which means there’s little risk of it spying on you or selling your browsing data. 

In addition to the newsletter and email banners, Hush prevents websites from deploying a host of other invasive activities. It can also save you the trouble of agreeing to those nagging cookie consent pop-ups by blocking them altogether and banning third-party trackers that websites use to secretly follow you across the web. 

Hush is free and you can download it on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac from the App Store. 

Block newsletter pop-ups on Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Mozilla Firefox (Mac, Windows PC) 

Hush is only available for Safari. If you’re on Google Chrome, or any Chromium browser like Microsoft Edge, or Mozilla Firefox, you can turn to an extension called PopUpOff to get rid of newsletter overlays. 

PopUpOff works similarly to Hush, in that it can automatically prevent websites from nagging you to subscribe to their newsletters. However, it’s a little more hands-on and offers you a bunch of options to control the experience. 

The tech newsletter overlays rely on often powers useful elements which you may not want to ban, like a sign-in form or navigation menus. To ensure your efforts to block newsletter banners don’t break the rest of a website, PopUpOff comes with three modes to choose from: 

• “Dormant” for sites you trust and don’t want to modify.
• “Moderate” for removing annoying prompts like newsletter forms without affecting any essential elements.
• “Aggressive” for especially invasive pages with one too many pop-ups.  

Like Hush, in the Moderate and Aggressive modes, PopUpOff also cuts down a handful of more nagging elements from websites such as cookie consent pop-ups. 

Once you download PopUpOff on your browser, it kicks off the Dormant function, which means it will only come into action when you ask it to. For the best results, switch the default mode to Moderate by right-clicking the PopUpOff icon at the top right corner, and heading into Options > Auto Mode. You can always exclude a website when PopUpOff causes it to behave erratically by clicking its icon and selecting “Dormant.” 

From the “Options” page, you can even set custom keyboard shortcuts for switching between the three modes, and customize how strict the “Moderate” mode is. In my experience, though, the default “Moderate” setting is plenty to ward off most newsletter banners without risking affecting a website’s layout. 

PopUpOff is not perfect for me, as it usually fails to do its job on at least one out of four websites. For those instances, I’d recommend pairing it up with another free extension called “Behind the Overlay,” which though doesn’t block newsletter banners, allows you to easily dismiss any overlay with a click or a dedicated keyboard shortcut. 

Use reading mode on an Android phone

We couldn’t find an extension tailored to prevent newsletter banners for Android phones. However, as an Android user, what I do now is take advantage of Google’s Reading Mode app to circumvent any prompts or pop-ups to read a website’s content. 

Reading Mode adds a permanent floating button to your screen that you can hit anytime to consume the article you’re trying to access in a distraction-free interface. You can even ask the app to dictate it and personalize the text’s font, color, background, and size. 

Once you download Reading Mode from the Play Store, all you have to do is grant it the necessary accessibility permission, and you’ll soon find a little hovering blue button on the edge of your screen. Whenever you come across an article you’d like to remove distractions from, just touch that button, and the app will launch it in reading mode. 

According to a quarterly threat insights report by HP Wolf Security, March of this year saw the hatching of a particularly nefarious plot to infect Google Chrome users with a third-party Chrome extension bizarrely named “Shampoo.”

Don’t worry though, the primary targets of this malware infestation are people who like to illegally stream or download movies and games online. So you’re probably fine, and there’s no need to concern yourself with such a problem.

... Yes, I’ll tell you how HP Wolf Security suggest to remove it later in the article.

Chrome Shampoo extension malware: What does it do? 

“Shampoo” is a variant of the browser hijacking ChromeLoader malware and an illegitimate Chrome extension that can’t be found on the Chrome Web Store. Instead, the software infects browsers by tricking users into running malicious code, triggering a series of further scripts to download the extension in the background. Once downloaded, the extension will load itself into a browser session and set up a number of failsafes to prevent its removal.

Once “Shampoo” is fully set up, your Chrome browser now becomes a de facto mining rig for its operators as the extension redirects search queries and injects adverts into the session – earning them money from the interactions in the process.

Chrome Shampoo extension malware: Am I infected? 

This particular piece of malware isn’t all that bothered about keeping a low profile, so finding out if you are currently infected is relatively straightforward.

Open your Chrome browser and click the puzzle piece icon next to the address bar. Once the Chrome extension menu bar opens, you can quickly give it a scan to see if you’re one of those affected.

Don’t see “Shampoo” in the list? Congratulations! You’re either an upstanding member of the internet community, or a very astute pirate – either way, keep it up! (Being very astute, that is. Piracy is bad, you wouldn’t steal a car, would you?)

If you do find the “Shampoo” extension in this list, well don’t you worry either. Click the three dots next to the extension and choose “Remove from Chrome.” As you’ll see, the malware-infused extension has now vanished, leaving you free from its interference. At least, that would be the case if it wasn’t for all of those failsafes it set up on install.

What you’re likely to notice, is that in a short amount of time the infected extension will return and get to business as usual. You didn’t really think it would be that easy did you?

Chrome Shampoo extension malware: How to remove it

Getting completely rid of the “Shampoo” extension requires a certain level of haste and familiarity with a number of vital Windows systems. You’ll need to act fast within a short window of opportunity and disable a number of persistence mechanisms before the malicious code loops and reinstalls the malware onto your machine.

According to HP Wolf Security, you’ll need to complete the following tasks (preferably after restarting your machine to temporarily disable the looping background script and buy yourself more time):

• Remove the “Shampoo” Chrome extension as we covered in the previous section.

• Disable any scheduled tasks in the Windows Task Scheduler prefixed with “chrome_”. Legitimate Chrome scheduled tasks are normally prefixed with “Google” so don’t worry about disabling anything essential.

• Delete the following registry key: “HKCU:\Software\Mirage Utilities\”.

• Remove any folders prefixed with “Chrome_” from the following directory: “C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Local”.

• Optional: It’s also generally recommended to perform a reset of your Chrome browser to its default settings after any infection. To do this, head to chrome://settings/reset in your Chrome browser and restore all settings to their original defaults.

A final piece of advice would be to install and perform a full scan with a reputable piece of anti malware software – such as Avast, MalwareBytes or Bitdefender.

Outlook

“Shampoo” might not be the first Chrome extension malware we’ve encountered, but it is the only other time outside of when people started pronouncing SOPA as a word that I’ve seen the idea of bathing and piracy brought so close together.

It’s always best to avoid sites of ill repute if you’re not protected by some sturdy antivirus software or too savvy with understanding what you might be downloading. Hopefully, if you’ve fallen victim to this campaign the information in this article will have helped you pry this pesky barnacle away from the hull of your favorite browser – and fingers crossed that should be the last of it.

Now go on, be off with you, you pirate rascal.

Google Chrome was recently updated with a new feature that is set to improve accessibility and assist users who often make typing mistakes. Now available on desktop versions of Google Chrome, users can begin typing into the Chrome website address bar and it will offer similar suggestions based on potential typos. 

While this may seem like a small addition (depending on how intensely it functions), it could be a vital one. Not only does it assist users who have trouble typing in the correct URLs, but it could also prevent users from being exposed to malware. 

Something as simple as typing in the wrong extension like ".com" or ".org" could send someone to a totally different website, and who knows what's on that website. Beyond just that, typos within the address itself could throw browsers into unfamiliar corners of the web.

Google's latest features

Google's website address bar autofill isn't the only new feature gracing the Google ecosystem, as every user can now see the wheelchair-accessible icon visible right on the front of a business in Google Maps.

According to Google, 40 million businesses around the world have wheelchair information available, making the application even more friendly to those who using even a stroller or suitcase. And of course, anyone can provide information on wheelchair accessibility through Google Maps.

Another accessibility feature brings updates to Live Captions, including a new captions box for Android tablets, Live Caption for calls allowing you to type back to the other user and it'll speak for you, and support for French, Italian and German on select Android devices.

Google has spoke about its AI initiative at length and how it could greatly improve accessibility, with AI able to provide alternative text that describes visual imagery. This feature is called Lookout and when a user asks questions about the image being shown to them, the language model can provide a description, which can especially assist the blind and low-vision community.

Gmail's latest feature is one we've all been waiting for: official email address domains will possess a blue checkmark (much like Twitter) to confirm their authenticity. While this isn't going to stop every scam from doing damage to helpless users, it could be a great blow against suspicious emails.

Google's initiative for a safer emailing space started in 2021 with the Brand Indicators for Message Identification (BIMI), which asked businesses to upload a profile picture depicting their brand logo. Now, those brands that underwent that extensive authentication process will begin to see a blue checkmark next to their name.

Gmail users won't have to take action to activate this feature, but admins of businesses can go to Google's Help Center to figure out how to begin the BIMI process. This process involves adopting DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication) and being issued a Certification Authority, with the two examples listed being Entrust or DigiCert.

Will Gmail's blue checkmarks be all that safe?

While the inclusion of this feature is undeniably positive, Google doesn't have the best reputation with cybersecurity. It's only been a couple of months since a fake version of Chat GPT made its way on the Google extension store and stole data from up to 9,000 downloaders. Just because Google is now verifying certain emails, are we certain that those with verification can't still be scammers?

Regardless of whether or not an email domain has a blue checkmark, we recommend exercising caution anyway. If Google can approve an extension on its official store that ends up stealing consumer's data, the company could potentially also verify an email address with suspicious intentions.

Google has released an emergency Chrome security update to address the first zero-day vulnerability exploited in attacks since the start of the year.

"Google is aware that an exploit for CVE-2023-2033 exists in the wild," the search giant said in a security advisory published on Friday.

As first reported by Bleeping Computer, the update is rolling out to all users in the Stable Desktop channel, and it will reach the entire user base over the coming days or weeks.

Chrome users should immediately upgrade to version 112.0.5615.121, as it addresses the CVE-2023-2033 vulnerability on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems.

How to get the update

This update is available right now, and you can check to see if you're up-to-date by going to the menu in your Chrome browser. Click on About Chrome.

Then it will take you to the About page and let you know if your Chrome browser is up to date. If not it will download the update and then indicate it needs a relaunch to be updated.

It only takes about 30 seconds, but please ensure that all the work you may be doing on other pages has been saved. I may have forgotten to do so and had to rewrite an entire article. 

Once that is all done, you can go about your regular browsing business. Thankfully this bug was reported by Clement Lecigne of Google's Threat Analysis Group and addressed quickly. This threat team is tasked with scouring Chrome to find and eradicate security threats in defense of Google users. 

Google's task force is constantly dealing with threats such as confusion flaws that allow attackers to crash browsers by exploiting flaws or weaknesses within its code. Thankfully, these hard-working folks are at it 24/7 to keep us and our data safe. 

Although Google caught this one rather quickly, they have not shared any further information regarding the incident yet beyond the fact that it was being actively exploited. Google said, "Access to bug details and links may be kept restricted until a majority of users are updated with a fix," I don't need to know; I am just happy they caught it. 

A big thank you goes out to Google's TAG team, hope you get to sit back and enjoy a cold one. 

Google is currently testing a redesign of the Chrome iOS app, and if the search-engine giant rolls out this new layout to users at large, we suspect that the critical response will be mixed — at best.

As How-To Geek pointed out, Google added a brand-spankin' new experimental feature flag to the popular browser's codebase, which could beget a new design change that makes Chrome more visually similar to Safari on iOS.

Google Chrome may look more like Safari

The words "#bottom-omnibox-steady-state," discovered within the browser's codebase, caught How-To Geek's attention. The term "bottom omnibox" reveals that Google may drop the address bar from the top of the screen to the bottom, mimicking the appearance of iOS-based Microsoft Edge, Safari, and other popular browsers.

Hawk-eyed observers also found a Chrome developer's comment within the code that explains that the address bar may temporarily return to the top of the screen when users tap on it or type in a URL. Another comment implies that iPhone users will have the option to roll back to the previous design if the revamped layout doesn't tickle their fancy.

Interestingly, seven years ago, Google experimented with a bottom address bar on the Android version of Chrome. As How-To Geek pointed out, it had several secret codenames, including Chrome Home, Chrome Duplex, and Chrome Duet. Although it went through several design tweaks, it never rolled out widely.

In the same way, this Chrome redesign for iOS devices that Google is working on may never see the light of day. Only time will tell.

Google announced today that newest Chrome update now lets MacBook owners squeeze out more productivity out of their browsing sessions. In other words, if you're a macOS user, you can surf the web for much longer than ever before. Say hello to more battery life!

Google tested the newly optimized Chrome on an 13-inch M2 MacBook Pro (2022); it discovered that the laptop endured a browsing session for 17 hours and a YouTube-watching marathon for 18 hours. Win!

How did Google improve macOS' battery life on Chrome?

Google tinkered with Chrome's under-the-hood operations to maximize browsing sessions on a single charge. Some of the tweaks and optimizations the search-engine giant made consist of the following:

• Fine tuning memory compression heuristics and garbage collection for iFrames. This begets lower energy consumption to reduce short-term memory usage.

• Improving the way Javascript timers are fired in Chrome to reduce the frequency in which the CPU wakes up. After all, Javascript timers are one of the greatest culprits of power consumption for web pages, so Google pulled out all the stops to ease its burden on the CPU.

• Streamlining structures of data. Google tracked down data structures in which "there were frequent accesses with the same key and optimized their access pattern," Chrome Software Developer François Doray said in a press release.

• Getting rid of unnecessary style, layout, paint, raster and GPU steps. Google used a bot on real-world sites to identify Document Object Model (DOM) pattern changes that add zero value to the pixels on the screen — and eliminated them to optimize Chrome's UI.

To squeeze out even more battery life out of your MacBook, you can take advantage of Chrome's Energy Saver mode, too. Although Google tested the new-and-improved Chrome on the M2 13-inch MacBook Pro, the company says that other Macs should see performance gains, too.

Google admits there's "more work to be done," but it's one-step closer to making Chrome a power-efficient paradise.

On Windows 10 and 11 machines, Microsoft Edge is the default browser, and the Redmond, WA tech giant desperately wants users to refrain from downloading and switching their default browsers to Google Chrome. So much so that Neowin reported today that Microsoft's tactics are getting more aggressive. 

It was noticed that when attempting to download Chrome while using the default Edge browser, users get hit with two ad banners. The first banner is small, kind of like a small reminder that Edge uses the same technology as Chrome, and then it states you get the "added trust of Microsoft," which is A) very creepy and B) super clingy in a bad breakup kind of way. 

Sure, Google does some of the same by displaying banners that recommend using Google Chrome, but they're a little more passive-aggressive about it and try to make you feel that browsing with Google is empowering. 

Microsoft Edge won't let go

It used to be when you downloaded Google Chrome, during the initial setup, you just selected Chrome as your default browser, and that was it; you could move about your day. However, Microsoft has added life-draining steps that force you to pick the instances that Chrome will handle individually.

If you get an email with a PDF file and click on it, if you don't make Chrome your default for this action, the Edge browser will open and reveal the PDF for you instead of simply opening it in Chrome. So you now have to go into settings and pick one by one which browser will open PDFs SVGs, and so on. Who has time for this?

It's very intrusive, time-consuming, and annoying that Microsoft makes it difficult for users to use their chosen browser. When I tried using Google to download Firefox, no such drama or banner ads from Google popped up, begging me to stay, making me more inclined to do so. 

Nobody likes clingy, controlling, or manipulative, and that's how it feels when you choose not to use Microsoft Edge. 

"How to reopen closed tabs" is currently trending on Google Search, which tells me that many have endured the frustrating experience of a crashing browser that throws them off their workflows. Or perhaps they mindlessly exited a window that had a bunch of tabs they needed.

Whether a browser crash or inattentiveness is at fault for losing your various tabs, we've got a solution to this problem — and it's a lot easier than you may think.

How to reopen closed tabs on Google Chrome

In the event that a window with a bunch of important tabs gets shutdown, here's what you can do to recover them:

1. Open Google Chrome and click on the three-dot icon.

2. Click on History.

3. Google Chrome will show you the tab clusters that were shutdown during your last session. You can click on them to recover your closed tabs.

Note: If you want to reopen closed tabs on your Google Chrome mobile app, you'd have to go to the three-dot icon > Recent tabs.  

Google Chrome recently introduced a new search sidebar feature, making it easier for users to peruse the web for information. This novel perk allows users to perform a search and view the results in a separate sidebar (instead of launching a new tab).

When surfing Google for a website, we often go back and forth between websites and your search results. With Side Search, you can leave your search results open so you can find a website effortlessly. You can also use Side Search to continue searching for other websites while staying on your main search term.

Turning on Google's Side Search feature 

1. To open the advanced configuration page in Chrome, open the Chrome web browser and type "chrome://flags/" in the address bar, then press Enter.

2. In the "Search flags" box, type "side search." Look for the option "Side search" in the results. Side search should be the first result to appear on your screen. 

3. To activate and enable the new Side Search Panel in Chrome, select "Enabled" from the drop-down box for the "Side search" option. To disable the new Side Search Panel in Chrome, select "Disabled" from the drop-down box for the "Side search" option. 

4. When prompted, click on the "Relaunch now" button to restart Google Chrome. 

Besides your typical search terms, you can also use the search sidebar to search for specific words or phrases within a specific website by using the "site:" operator followed by the website's URL. For example, searching "site:www.example.com banana" will only return results for the word "banana" within the website www.example.com.

Google has listed its best Chrome extensions of 2022, praising a selection of browser extensions that aim to help users work faster, manage tabs, and even learn another language while watching movies and videos.

Some of Google's favorite Chrome extensions include Compose AI, which can autocomplete sentences in emails, Slack, and anywhere you type; SwiftRead, which helps you read three times faster; Workona Tab Manager, which keeps your tabs under control; and eJOY, an extension for English learners to watch YouTube videos or movies with dual subtitles.

There are plenty of handy extensions around, including this new Chrome extension can save you from tab hell once and for all. For Google's top picks, check out the Chrome extensions below.

Google's favorite Chrome extensions

Tango
For those looking to create useful how-to guides, Tango will automatically generate guides while you work. Just by hitting the capture button and walking through how to do a certain task, this Chrome extension will turn what you've done into a how-to guide that can be shared with others.

Tango on Chrome

SwiftRead
This reading extension for Chrome lets users read through news articles, emails, blog posts, and more post haste. It can speed up your reading up to three times faster, and all you have to do is copy the text you want to read and paste it into SwiftRead. It uses a visual technique called Rapid Serial Visual Presentation (RSVP), and if you want to check out how it works, give it a go.

SwiftRead on Chrome

Compose AI
It can be a pain to write long-winded emails or posts you've done many times before, so to put your browser to work instead, Compose AI will help automatically write for you — for free. Check it out and let the magic happen.

Compose AI on Chrome

Workona Tab Manager
We all know how a flurry of tabs on Chrome can make our browsers look like a complete mess, but Workona is here to keep your tabs under control. By working in the cloud, this extension can suspend tabs, rearrange tabs with drag and drop, and even search for tabs that got lost — all to organize your browser.

Workona Tab Manager on Chrome

CrxMouse Chrome Gestures
Your mouse can do so much more with this Chrome plugin installed. CrxMouse Chrome Gestures lets you customize your mouse gestures, including dragging the mouse to close a current tab, open a new window, scroll, refresh, and plenty more.

CrxMouse Chrome Gestures on Chrome

eJOY
Learning a new language is hard, but the eJOY extension makes learning English while watching your favorite shows on Netflix or YouTube videos even better by offering dual subtitles. It also lets you look up a word's meaning on video subtitles and webpages, and offers auto-pause mode, custom playback speed, and rewind to help learners grasp words they may have missed.

eJOY on Chrome

MyBib: Free Citation Generator
For students working on academic assignments and papers, this handy citation generator will automatically create APA style, MLA format, and Harvard referencing style citations for you. That takes a lot of work out of what you're working on.

MyBib: Free Citation Generator on Chrome

Google also recommends other Chrome extensions that can help specific needs. Check them out below: 

• LINER - Highlight and Search for New Reads
• VisBug
• Check US Visa Slots
• RoPro - Enhance Your Roblox Experience
• Equatio - Maths made digital

While I still use Google Chrome as my primary browser, there's no denying that it's a battery and RAM-devouring monster. Google claimed repeatedly that it is working to fix that in updates to little avail, but hope springs eternal and Chrome 108 once again seeks to solve this problem.

Why will this time be different? Well, rather than just under-the-hood updates that Google claims are addressing these problems, there are two new modes available in Chrome 108 that take each one head-on: Memory Saver and Energy Saver. 

Both features are rolling out globally over the next few weeks on Windows, macOS, and ChromeOS, but you can enable Energy Saver right now if you want to try it out early.

How to enable Google Energy Saver

If you love Google Chrome, but feel like it might be burning through your battery, the good news is that you can try this new mode right now. Google's Energy Saver will slow battery draw by reducing frame rates, graphics, and background activity. The net result may have Chrome feeling a little less smooth, but if that's a trade-off you are willing to make here's how to enable it right now (don't worry disabling it is just as easy if you change your mind).

1. Open Google Chrome
2. Type chrome://flags in the URL bar
3. Type #battery in the "Search flags" bar
4. Click on the drop-down menu to the right of "Enable the battery saver mode feature in the settings" and select "Enabled."
5. Click the Relaunch button in the bottom-right corner of your browser

That's it, battery saver mode is up and running. If you find you don't like the result and want to switch back just follow the instructions above and switch the drop-down menu to "Disabled."

Google Memory Saver

Does your laptop have 8GB of RAM or less? Memory Saver may be a lifesaver for your Google Chrome usage. Google claims it will reduce memory usage by up to 30%, which will in turn keep Chrome running smoother. This mode is mirroring a feature that we have seen from a number of Chrome extensions in the past as it is simply freeing up memory used by inactive tabs and then reloads them as soon as you click on them again.

Unfortunately, this one isn't available as an experimental feature yet, so you'll either have to wait for Chrome 108 to land on your laptop or you can try one of the aforementioned Chrome extensions that does the same thing by installing Tab Suspender from the Chrome web store. Tab Suspender even has an auto-close tab function if you want to be more ruthless about it and just eliminate inactive tabs.

Wondering how to delete Google search history? You aren’t alone, our Google search histories have become almost sacred. For many, complete privacy is expected, though few realize just how much information they’re willingly handing over.

Your Google history can contain everything from your location information and medical conditions to other potentially embarrassing personal details like familial issues and debt relief. For me, I’m most concerned with all of the words I have to Google when writing to make sure I’m spelling them correctly (if my editors only knew).

Regardless of why you want to delete your Google search history, you should be planning to do it semi-regularly. There’s no reason to keep years of search data in a central location. It’s good practice, both for security and peace of mind, to delete these searches at periodic intervals.

It’s important to note that once you delete this, you can’t get it back. For a period of time after deleting you may notice that some of the personalized details that make Google search great are less than perfect. Luckily, it doesn’t take long to rebuild enough of a history to benefit from it without having a record of your entire digital life in there. 

How to delete your Google search history

Some Google Chrome users excessively rely on the browser's autofill function to the point where they often forget their credentials (guilty!). Fortunately, you can easily decrypt the passwords stored in Chrome by inputting your laptop's four-digit PIN (or your Google password if you're using a Chromebook). 

According to an experimental flag spotted last week, in addition to PIN numbers, Google will allow desktop users to verify their permission status by using biometric authentication. Following up on this cool new feature, Google will also deploy biometric authentication as a new security gatekeeper for filling out or revising form data, according to Chrome Unboxed. For example, before changing your credit card details, you'll be prompted to use your laptop's fingerprint reader.

Google to add biometric authentication options for accessing sensitive data

Fingerprint scanning isn't the only biometric authentication method that Google is green lighting. Face unlock is another security layer users can add. As mentioned, you'll have the option to use fingerprints or facial recognition to jog your memory about your saved passwords. You can also use biometric authentication to access sensitive information stored on Chrome, including autofill form data, credit card details, and more.

This feature will be optional. So if you prefer to input your laptop's PIN number, or you don't own a device that supports biometric authentication, you can continue to use your four-digit code to access your saved Chrome data.

However, if you wish to toggle this feature on, stumbling upon Google's virtual security gates should be much smoother. You can always forget your laptop PIN, but when it comes to your fingerprints and facial features, you'll always have them handy no matter what.

The new biometric authentication perk hasn't landed inside Chrome's stable or beta channels yet, but we'll let you know when it's officially available to the wider public. If you prefer not to store your credentials with Google at all then the best password managers also will often support entering credit card or other sensitive data and keep it behind a secure password or biometric authentication.

With Chrome's incognito mode, you can safely peruse the web without the fear of having all of your information saved to your computer. To help keep your history private on your laptop, smartphone or Chromebook, we've compiled two simple steps to teach you how to use incognito mode in Chrome.

Whatever the reason may be, we all visit websites on our laptop, tablet, or smartphone that we wouldn't necessarily want in our browser history. Sure, you can delete your browsing history to ensure that no one sees the sites you've visited. However, it's much easier to simply ensure that no traces of your browsing experience ever appear on your computer. 

Here's how to use incognito mode in Chrome:

Step 1: Open Chrome and click the three-dotted icon in the top right corner of the screen.

Step 2: Click New Incognito Window and start browsing. 

Alternatively, you can press Ctrl+ Shift + N to bring up a new tab in incognito mode without entering the Chrome settings menu.

Once Incognito mode is enabled, Chrome will not keep a record of the sites you've visited. However, any downloaded material and bookmarks will be saved. In those cases, you'll want to keep that stuff confined to your main browsing pages. Even though incognito windows will keep Chrome from saving information about your browsing history, keep in mind that it can't stop other programs from doing so. 

Just don't use the feature and expect it to keep your browsing history a secret from your office's IT department. 

Google Chrome’s autofill function is a helpful feature that has been around for as long as the browser itself. Most of the time it works perfectly, but there are other moments where it can be frustrating — such as randomly filling out boxes on sites you’ve never visited or saving incorrect details like past addresses and wrong passwords. To change this, you’ll need to clear your browser’s autofill data. 

Whenever you view a form using your Chrome browser, it intelligently detects what each field is for. This information automatically populates each field with the autofill data you previously saved. Beyond a single set of data, Chrome also lets you choose which data set it should use for your form — one for work, another for home, etc.

There are plenty of reasons why you’d want to clear your autofill data. Maybe it’s a typo in a saved phone number or an outdated address. Regardless of why you’d want to clear your autofill data, getting it done is as easy as clearing what you don’t want and repopulating it with what you do. 

How to Delete Your Chrome Browser’s Saved Autofill Data 

1. On the upper-right corner of your browser, click on the Chrome menu button (the three dots).

2. Go to History > Show Full History to open the History menu on your browser.

3. On the side navigation menu on the left, click on Clear browsing data. This action will open the Clear browsing data window. 

4. In the window above, go to the Advanced tab. This will show you the different categories of historical data stored in your browser. 

5. Deselect all the items except Autofill form data. 

6. Lastly, click on Clear data.

Google search is the easiest way to look up anything you're looking for, but you can also narrow down your search by looking up specific terms with quotes. Now, Google has made googling even better.

Using quotes on words or phrases when searching for something specific is a fantastic way to get the results you're after. Google search will show all the web pages that mention the word or phrase you're looking up. For example, go google "google search" with quotes, and Google will do the work.

Thanks to an update, this handy trick will also allow you to see where in the webpage the word or phrase is mentioned before even clicking on it. In Google's blog post, software engineer Yonghao Jin details how it works. 

"The snippets we display for search results (meaning the text you see describing web content) will be formed around where a quoted word or phrase occurs in a web document," Jin states. "That means you can more easily identify where to find them after you click the link and visit the content."

Now, you'll be able to see a bolded word or phrase in the snippet. It's a simple yet effective trick, making it easier to find exactly what you need and where it is on a specific webpage. However, this trick is currently only available on desktops, meaning you won't see bolded items when using quoted phrases on mobile devices. 

Quoted searches tips

While using quotes in Google searches can narrow down what you're searching for, there are still some limitations to know about. For instance, some web pages contain content that isn't visible, even though it can be seen when using Google search.

This is because some content will be hidden in the meta description or alt text when describing images, which means the word or phrase you're looking for won't be on the web page itself. As the post points out, Google may also see content that doesn’t initially load on a page when you go to it, like content rendered through JavaScript that only appears if you click to make it display.

Also, if you search for multiple quoted items, the snippet may only show one or two of them, especially if they are far apart from each other on the web page. Whatever word or quote is used the most, the snippet will show that instead.

Speaking of all things Google, check out how these private browsers might make you switch from Chrome. 

Google is on a mission to phase out third-party cookies once and for all with its Privacy Sandbox initiative, but only intends to disable them in the second half of 2024.

In an announcement, the search giant explained its aim to improve people's privacy by developing privacy-preserving alternatives to third-party cookies — an ongoing issue that tracks users' browsing activity for targeted ads. Google had put plans in place to ditch these cookies with a FLoC advertising tool last year, but that didn't go down too well.

With its new Privacy Sandbox initiative, Google is taking its time in its transition from third-party cookies. Currently, it is expanding the testing windows for its new privacy-focused APIs, which also aim to get rid of cross-site tracking identifiers or covert techniques, such as fingerprinting.

"The most consistent feedback we’ve received is the need for more time to evaluate and test the new Privacy Sandbox technologies before deprecating third-party cookies in Chrome," the post states. "This feedback aligns with our commitment to the CMA to ensure that the Privacy Sandbox provides effective, privacy-preserving technologies and the industry has sufficient time to adopt these new solutions."

While third-party cookies will still be on the loose In Chrome until the second half of 2024, Google wants its Privacy Sandbox APIs to be available for all by late 2023. Right now, however, developers can start testing the APIs, and users around the globe can get their hands on the tools starting this August. 

Cookie alternatives 

Earlier this year, Google introduced a new interest-based advertising tool to help phase out third-party cookies. Called "Topics", browsers will pick select topics based on your recent browsing history on the device you're using, delivering more general ads rather than specific ones. These topics could include anything from fitness to rock music. What's more, Topics are kept for only three weeks and old topics are then deleted.

"When you visit a participating site, Topics picks just three topics, one topic from each of the past three weeks, to share with the site and its advertising partners," the post explains.

Google wants to give users more control, which is why it will allow Chrome users to see and remove topics they don't want. More importantly, users will also be able to disable the feature completely.

Chrome is making tracks to give users their privacy, but these private browsers protect you from sneaky apps since they already block third-party trackers. If you are thinking of getting rid of any sort of tracking while online, find out how to turn off email tracking. 

As Google begins its march towards a passwordless future, passwords are still a necessary online security tool to block unwanted access to accounts. Now, the search giant wants to let users know how weak their login credentials are with a password strength indicator.

According to Chromium (via 9to5Google), Google Chrome is setting up a password strength indicator feature when typing a new password in during sign-up and when changing passwords.

While this tool isn't anything new, with websites and password managers like LastPass and 1Password already using the feature, it will be a handy built-in feature for users to find out if their password is strong enough. Especially seeing how it takes under 1 second for hackers to crack these passwords.

While the feature isn't available to the public yet, Leopeva64 on Twitter spotted a description of the password strength indicator. It's set to be available on Mac, Windows, ChromeOS, Linux, Fuchsia, and Lacros. Plus, the ability to enable the feature is already available on the Google Canary build.

Chrome finally having a built-in password strength indicator may not last too long, though. Google announced it will be expanding support for a common passwordless sign-in standard created by the FIDO Alliance and the World Wide Web Consortium. Apple and Microsoft will also be joining the transition from password-only authentication, as a way to protect against phishing attacks and malicious hacking methods. 

Google has been pushing for passwordless sign-ins for a while, including on Chromebooks. It's uncertain when we could see everyone transition to passwordless sign-ins, so it's a good idea to create a worthy password to ace any password strength indicator. 

How to create a strong password 

Passwords like "123456," "qwerty," or "name1990" don't cut it anymore. Hackers can use brute force attacks to easily break into accounts with weak passwords, so it’s a good idea to take these tips on board when you’re planning to create a password.

For instance, it's important to find a connection between your assortment of characters and something you care about, all so you can easily remember something that's otherwise hard to crack.

Instead of using something generic, take a quote or passage that’s memorable to you but completely random to others, then mix it up to your liking. For instance, take this famed quote from J. R. R. Tolkien:

“One ring to rule them all" -  J. R. R. Tolkien

Change “One” into numerical characters and take the first letters from each word and you’ll get this: “1rtrta-J.R.R.T”. Here, you have alphabetical characters, numerals, and symbols all wrapped up in a quote you’ll remember. This is just an example, but a password like this will be harder to bypass than a simple "!" thrown in.

For an easier way to handle all your password, check out our list of best password managers. 

An Intel graphics driver for certain 12th gen Intel CPUs using integrated GPUs is wreaking havoc on Chrome and Edge browsers, causing severe lag and even system freezing. This type of issue is frustrating with any laptop, but it's made all the worse by the fact that it's affecting Intel's latest CPUs. 

The issue is a graphics driver for Intel's integrated UHD Graphics 770, which is a bad look as many eagerly are awaiting the company's ARC discrete GPUs here in the US market. For its part, Intel acknowledges the issue stating, "Recent Intel UHD Graphics 770 Drivers for 12th Gen Intel Core™ Processors cause Edge* and Chrome* browsers to lag severely. The browsers behave like they are semi-frozen. Click response delay is 2 seconds, and scrolling is severely delayed and choppy." 

Intel points the finger at having too many tabs open at the same time while trying to scroll around and click on things. I don't know if anyone has told them, but that sounds like an accurate description of how people browse the internet on a daily basis. They also mention it has a connection to the use of mechanical hard drives, but that seems suspicious as most systems today are using SSDs. If you're not using an SSD in your system please check out our guide on how to pick out the best one for your laptop. 

Enough of this, lets fix it. 

According to Intel, this is the best resolution for the problem. 

1. Update the browser to the latest version.

2. Update Windows® to the latest version and run any pending updates.

3. Try a Clean Installation of Intel Graphics Drivers in Windows using the latest customized driver offered by the motherboard manufacturer (OEM) or using the Intel generic drivers available on our Download Center.

4. Disable Hardware Acceleration on the browser or switch from an HDD (mechanical Hard Disk Drive) to an SSD (Solid State Drive).

Final thoughts

We suggest defragmenting your hard drive as it may help, especially if you're still using a mechanical hard drive. However, before you go through all of this, make sure you own a system affected by the driver issue. Here is a list of laptops and desktops that use the Intel UHD Graphics 770 driver. 

Intel will probably have a better fix for this issue in a future update, but for now these are your best options for getting your Chromium-based browser back up to speed. And Intel better hop to it as the launch of the ARC GPUs will be soon upon us, and with the early reports sounding like they may not meet Intel's promised performance, issues like this could weaken consumers' faith in Intel's first discrete GPUs. 

Via Tom's Guide

Google announced it's bringing Enhanced Safe Browsing to iOS, meaning iPhone and iPad users will gain upgraded phishing and malware threat protection along with other handy cybersecurity tricks.  

Google's latest security update improves the browser's accuracy of threat assessments on Chrome for iOS. With Enhanced Safe Browsing turned on, the web browser will detect and notify users about malicious web pages by sending information about them to Google Safe Browsing to be checked. That's not all, as Chrome will also notify iPhone and iPad users if their username and password have been compromised due to a third-party data breach. 

• More: iPad vs. Chromebook: Which is better for work?

Google's Enhanced Safe Browsing has brought a number of security updates since launching with Chrome 83. Since its release, the feature has disabled plenty of malicious Chrome extensions (a claimed 81%) and warned users of downloaded files containing suspicious or risky data.

More features are arriving as well, including using the built-in Google Password Manager's Autofill that will create, store and fill in your passwords on any website. Users will need to set this up on their iPhone and iPad in device settings.

Interestingly, Google is also making it easier to start a fresh search and look for new content on the Chrome app for iOS. Recent tabs will be available in a new block under the search bar if users want to return to their past activity. What makes it interesting is that it will be coming to iOS first and Android later. 

The Chrome app on iOS is also bringing an updated language identification model to accurately figure out the language of the page you’re visiting, and whether it needs to be translated. Plus, Google will be rolling out Chrome Actions on iOS. This allows users to type in an action, such as "Clear Browsing Data" or "Open Incognito Tab," into the address bar to perform an action with ease.

Google continues its push toward better online security and is now introducing passwordless sign-ins, too. However, Apple is also onboard for a passwordless future, with its recently announced Passkeys that will help stop phishing attacks for good. If you're still looking for a safe place to store your passwords, check out the best password managers. 

As it stands, Google does a pretty good job of keeping pop-up windows under control in its Chrome browser. A sea of pop-up windows invading your traditional browsing experience usually indicates a problem: your default settings are in disarray.

Below we list a number of detailed methods for preventing pop-ups in Chrome, from running malware scans to creating an exception list. The easiest way to start, though, is by making sure you have the latest version of Chrome. Navigate to chrome://settings/help in your browser to check for any available updates, since newer builds have better pop-up blocking capabilities. 

Managing pop-up blocking in the Chrome browser begins with five basic actions: 

1. Navigate to chrome://settings/help.
2. Type 'pop' in the search bar.
3. Click Site Settings from the list below.
4. Scroll down and click Pop-ups and redirects.
5. Toggle the Don't allow sites to send pop-ups or use redirects option under default behavior.

Enable Google Chrome's pop-up blocking feature

1. Click on Chrome's menu icon in the upper-right corner of the browser, then select "Settings" from the list below

2. Type "pop" into the Search settings field.

3. Click "Site Settings."

4. Under Popups it should say Blocked. (If it says Allowed, click Pop-ups and redirects.) 

5. Toggle the "Don't allow sites to send pop-ups or use redirects" under default behavior.

Check your approved list of sites

1. Follow steps 1 through 4 above. 

2. Scroll down to Allow and click on the three dots icon.

3. Select Remove. 

4. Repeat steps 1 through 3 as necessary.

Scan for malware

1. Google search to find and install an antivirus program such as Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, because it's possible that pop-ups aren’t coming from websites you visit. They may be originating from annoying software that’s causing a bit of trouble on your system. Download your antivirus software of choice, and install it.

2. Run a full scan of your system – preferably in Safe Mode, if you can. If you don’t find anything, try another app or two just to be sure. (Avast is another good option.)

Uninstall odd software

1. Go to your Windows Control Panel (or Settings > Apps in Windows 10 and 11).

2. Select any suspicious programs to remove. Be on the lookout for anything that looks a little… odd: Perhaps an app that you accidentally installed as a package deal alongside an app that you actually wanted; a strange game-sounding program that somehow appeared out of nowhere; or anything that just doesn’t seem quite right. If you don’t recognize (or use) an app that you have installed, you might want to consider uninstalling it – it could be the source of your pop-up problems.

Note: If you have no idea whether an installed program is “good” or not, err on the side of keeping it, lest you accidentally remove something rather critical to Windows’ healthy operation).

Google Chrome browser tips

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Everyone has a favorite web page that they navigate to as soon as they open their web browser. Whether it's CNN, Gmail, or your most beloved tech site (ours), we all have that one page we consider more important than the rest. This is why you'll want to know how to create a shortcut to a website on your desktop, so you can find out what's happening in the world right away, not two minutes behind. 

Thankfully, Google Chrome makes it easy to drop clickable links onto your desktop, letting you jump to a web page in one click. Here's how to create desktop shortcuts for your favorite web pages using Chrome. 

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How to create a desktop shortcut with Google Chrome

1. Navigate to your favorite page and click the ••• icon in the upper-right corner of the screen.

2.  Select More tools.

3.  Select Create shortcut.

4. Edit the shortcut name.

5. Click Create. If you check Open as Window, the next time you open the link, it will open without an editable search bar.

Now you've got a desktop shortcut that takes you directly to Chrome!

Now that you've mastered this little trick, check out our guides for how to change your password in Windows 10 and how to password protect a folder in Windows 10. Burned out on Windows? Check out our guide to the best Chromebooks and how to use Chrome's Dark Mode.

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 Google Chrome’s autofill function is a helpful feature that has been around for as long as the browser itself. Most of the time it works perfectly, but there are other moments where it can be frustrating — such as randomly filling out boxes on sites you’ve never visited, or saving incorrect details like past addresses or wrong passwords. To change this, you’ll need to clear your browser’s autofill data, but before we tackle this, let’s first look into how Chrome’s autofill works.

Whenever you view a form using your Chrome browser, it intelligently detects what each field is for. This information automatically populates each field with the autofill data you previously saved. Beyond a single set of data, Chrome also lets you choose which data set it should use for your form — one for work, another for home, etc.

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How to delete Your Chrome browser’s saved autofill data 

There are plenty of reasons why you’d want to clear your autofill data. Maybe it’s a typo in a saved phone number or an outdated address. Regardless of why you’d want to clear your autofill data, getting it done is as easy as clearing what you don’t want and repopulating it with what you do.  

1.  On the upper-right corner of your browser, click on the Chrome menu button (the three dots) 

2. Go to History > Show Full History to open the History menu on your browser. 

3. On the side navigation menu on the left, click on Clear browsing data. This action will open the Clear browsing data window. 

4. In the window above, go to the Advanced tab. This will show you the different categories of historical data stored in your browser. 

5. Deselect all the items except Autofill form data. 

6. Lastly, click on Clear data. 

Microsoft is fed up with Windows users using the Edge as an on-ramp to download Google Chrome. After typing in "Chrome" into Edge's search engine, the following invasive message appears: "There's no need to download a new web browser." However, this must not be effective enough because the Redmond-based tech giant is ramping up efforts to deter users from downloading the Google web crawler.

Neowin spotted new, cheeky anti-Google pop-ups that aim to dissuade Edge users from jumping ship. One sassy message says, "This browser is so 2008! Do you know what's new? Microsoft Edge." Even though Edge may arguably be a better browser, out of sheer spite, I suspect many users will continue to download Chrome with an air of defiance. No one likes to be bossed around.

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Microsoft is determined to steal Google Chrome's loyal users

According to Staistica, as of September 2021, Google Chrome has the largest browser market share at 65%. Safari sits at a far second at 19%. Unfortunately for Edge, it is the fifth most used browser in the world, dominating only 4% of the market.

Fifth place is, of course, an unsatisfactory ranking for Microsoft, so the Redmond-based tech giant is concocting new ways to lure more users to Edge. As mentioned, one of those ways is issuing new messages to discourage users from migrating to Chrome. 

Some pop-ups are tame, simply informing users that Edge is built on the same framework as Chrome. For example, one message says, "Microsoft Edge runs on the same technology as Chrome, with the added trust of Microsoft." The last portion of that statement implies that the Redmond-based tech giant has more integrity than its rival.

Other messages have a sassy tone to them. The Verge spotted a pop up that said, "'I hate saving money,' said no one ever. Microsoft Edge is the best browser for online shopping." This statement alludes to the new shopping features Microsoft added on Edge, including a price comparison tool and price history tracker.

The Redmond-based tech giant already makes it difficult for Windows users to change their default browser and it's ousting apps that block Edge from auto-launching. Now, Microsoft is getting desperate and practically begging its users to stick around with pushy pop-ups.

Edge may be a better browser than Chrome, but it's human nature to be resistant to change and defiant, so we doubt this new gameplan will work. As Google continues to gain more ground in the browser market, we look forward to see what other wacky tactics the Redmond-based tech giant has up its sleeves.