Articles about Chrome

Google Chrome address bar – are you a top or a bottom?

Google Chrome address bar – are you a top or a bottom? Across all platforms, Google Chrome remains one of the most popular – if not the most popular – web browser. But while the desktop version of the software is versatile, customizable and flexible, the same cannot be said of the mobile apps. And this is why an announcement made by Google several weeks ago caused a flurry of excitement. On the face of things, the news that it would be possible to move the address bar from its familiar position at the top of the browser may not seem huge, but now that it is rolling out, it is becoming clear that it is actually pretty significant for Android users. You’d be forgiven for having forgotten about the announcement. Google said last month that the address bar was being made movable, but it is only now that the vast majority of people are starting to see this hitting their device At the time of the announcement last month, Google said: It's now possible to customize Chrome on Android by moving your address bar to the bottom of the screen. Depending on the size of your hand and your device, one address bar position may feel more comfortable than the other. We designed this update to give you the flexibility to choose your preferred location — so you can browse with more ease. If you’d like to move your address bar, long-press on it and select the "Move address bar to bottom" option. Or just navigate to the Settings menu and select “address bar” to choose your preferred spot. This feature will begin to appear on devices today and will be available to everyone in the coming weeks. Being able to have the address bar at the bottom of Chrome only really makes sense when using the browser in portrait mode, but some users may disagree. Whether or not you find this feature to be useful depends on a number of things. If you have a device with a very large screen, moving the address bar to the bottom of the screen is useful. The same is true for anyone with small hands. But how you use Chrome and how you browse the web need to be considered too. You might not make use of the address bar very often, so it may not really matter where it is located. If, however, you are someone who is constantly flicking between tabs or needs to type URLs frequently, having it within easier reach at the bottom is great. There are, of course, many other factors that may influence your decision about address bar placement. As it is so easy to move – just long-press and select Move address bar to the bottom/top – you can just experiment with positions to see what works best for you. So, the question remains: are you a top or a bottom?

Across all platforms, Google Chrome remains one of the most popular – if not the most popular – web browser. But while the desktop version of the software is versatile, customizable and flexible, the same cannot be said of the mobile apps.

And this is why an announcement made by Google several weeks ago caused a flurry of excitement. On the face of things, the news that it would be possible to move the address bar from its familiar position at the top of the browser may not seem huge, but now that it is rolling out, it is becoming clear that it is actually pretty significant for Android users.

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Google is using machine learning to help Android users avoid unwanted and dangerous notifications

Unwanted Chrome notifications

Notifications are part and parcel of life, being both useful and interesting. But they can also be problematic. Google is aware that the notifications generated by websites can be “spammy or even deceptive”.

The worst offenders can attempt to trick people into sharing personal information or downloading dangerous software. Google is using machine learning to fight back, launching warnings about warnings of unwanted notifications.

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Google warns DOJ breakup plan could destroy Android and Chrome -- plus hurt the US economy

Google is hitting back at the Department of Justice over a proposed plan that could force massive changes to how the company operates. The DOJ, which sued Google back in 2020 over search distribution practices, is now pushing for remedies that Google says go way too far -- and could end up hurting American consumers, innovation, and even national security!

In a new blog post, the search giant says the proposed changes are not only unnecessary but also dangerous. At the heart of the issue is how Google partners with phone makers and browsers to make its search engine the default. According to Google, people use its search because they want to -- not because they’re forced to. The company says blocking these deals would just make it harder for people to get to the services they prefer, with alternatives like Microsoft’s Bing being pushed on users instead.

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New partnership simplifies zero trust access for enterprises

Zero-Trust

The shift to hybrid working means that managing enterprise networks has become more complicated, but legacy remote access solutions fall short in meeting the needs of supporting both managed and unmanaged users and devices.

Unmanaged users don't want to install heavyweight clients designed for managed use, such as VPN or ZTNA clients. Plus, in the case of contractors or consultants who service multiple customers, it's just not possible or practical to install multiple clients.

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Microsoft lies to you if you ask how to uninstall Microsoft Edge

Uninstall Microsoft Edge

There are plenty of people who do not use Microsoft Edge -- it is a long way from being the most popular browser out there. And just like Internet Explorer before, there are also plenty of people who hate Edge so much that they want to uninstall it.

As there is no obvious way to do this if you take a look through the options in Windows, you might well search online for instructions. Search Bing (or the Start menu) for “how to uninstall Microsoft Edge” and there’s an entry at the top of the results that links to the office “Uninstall Microsoft Edge”. This really is an official Microsoft page, bearing the description: “Learn how to uninstall Microsoft Edge from your device”. But this is a blatant lie from Microsoft.

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AI-powered Chrome extensions are watching you…

It's not exactly Big Brother, but a new analysis of Chrome extensions from Incogni reveals that 67 percent collect user data, and 41 percent collect personally identifiable information (PII), including sensitive details like credit card numbers, passwords, and location data.

Extensions like Grammarly, which make writing almost anything effortless, or Vetted, which act as online shopping assistants, are quickly becoming essentials of everyday life. But because many users trust Google's ecosystem, they also assume that third-party extensions vetted through the Chrome Web Store are equally safe.

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Google reacts to DOJ’s ‘extreme proposal’ that it should sell Chrome

Google logo on phone in front of laptop

The US Department of Justice has put forward proposals designed to break Google’s monopoly over online searches. Included in the DOJ’s proposals is the recommendation that Google sell off its Chrome web browser.

Other proposals include putting blocks in place that would stop the tech giant from entering into contracts with companies that result in Google being the default search engine on various platforms. Google has lashed out at the proposals saying that they go too far and would cause harm to customers and innovation.

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Google has made it easier to boost the performance of Chrome

There are few web browsers that could be described as lightweight and speedy, and Chrome certainly has a lot to do to earn these labels. However, having already done quite a bit to improve the experience in its browser, Google has now further enhanced Chrome’s performance Controls.

Two key features -- Performance Detection and Memory Saver -- have been improved to reduce memory usage, accelerate browsing, and generally make Chrome feel less sluggish.

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New Chrome extension helps spot deepfakes

Deepfakes are becoming more of a problem and particularly around election times they can seek to influence voters views. They're also getting better so it can be hard to know if what you're watching or hearing is real or fake.

To combat this issue voice security company Hiya has launched a new plugin for the Chrome browser designed to identify video and audio deepfakes with up to 99 percent accuracy, by simply analyzing a few seconds of audio/voice.

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Malwarebytes Browser Guard gains new identity features

Browser Guard, the free browser extension from Malwarebytes, has added some new features aimed at enhancing users' privacy and protecting their identity online.

Users will now receive a pop-up alert if a website they visit was involved in a recent breach, offering the ability to click and scan their digital footprint to evaluate if private information was exposed.

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Google expands passkey support to desktop with Google Password Manager

Google has made a move toward a passwordless future by expanding its passkey support to desktop devices. Until now, passkeys could only be saved to Google Password Manager on Android devices, requiring users to scan a QR code from an Android phone to access them on other platforms. However, thanks to a new update, passkeys can now be saved and managed directly on desktop systems running Windows, macOS, and Linux. ChromeOS is also available for testing in the Beta channel.

Passkeys are designed to offer a more secure and user-friendly way of signing in to websites and apps by using biometric methods like fingerprints, facial recognition, or a screen lock instead of traditional passwords. This makes logging in as simple as unlocking your device.

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Google issues apology for Chrome flaw that broke its password manager

Chrome logo

Google has apologized for a Chrome problem that resulted in millions of users being unable to use the browser's password manger.

The issue meant that affected users were not able to access saved passwords for the majority of a day. In issuing its apology, Google explains that a faulty update for the M127 version of Chrome for Windows was to blame, noting that the problem hit users globally.

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Google issues urgent Chrome update to patch zero-day vulnerability

Chrome on macOS

Google has released an emergency security update for the Chrome browser for Windows, Mac, and Linux, and is urging all users of the browser to install it immediately.

The update is to fix CVE-2024-4671 which could allow remote access to data and Google confirms in Chrome's update notes that it is actively being exploited and therefore represents threat to your online security.

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Google agrees to delete user data it secretly collected from Incognito Mode browsing sessions

Google Chrome Incognito Mode

It has been known for some time that Chrome's Incognito Mode is nowhere near as private as many people still believe it to be. Despite assumptions made -- largely due to strong suggestions -- Google was able to collect private browsing data and has faced lawsuits as a result.

As part of a class action settlement, the company has agreed to delete "billions of data points" despite having previously said that this was not possible. The change of heart means that Google should be able to avoid a damages payout in the billions of dollars.

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Google restores Dark Mode support for websites in Chrome

Dark-Chrome

Google Chrome users may once again enforce dark mode support for web content in the web browser. The feature has been in the making for a long time. Sofia talked about it more than five years ago here on BetaNews.

While Google did add support for a dark Chrome interface in the past, it never rolled out the option to display darker versions of webpages.

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