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Vulnerabilities in internet browsers aren’t uncommon. As a matter of fact, the majority of minor and major updates include patches, fixes and hardening tools of some sort. It’s just the nature of the beast.
As updates arrive, there are always those that are looking to exploit new and undiscovered flaws in the software. Thankfully, there are plenty of white-hatters out there that use their extensive skills for the power of good. Many of them are in the employ of companies just like Google and
One such threat has been identified by developers and Google has now confirmed that there is, in fact, a zer-day exploit in the wild that could affect users.
Before you let panic set in, the fix is quick and easy.
UPDATE YOUR BROWSER!
I get it. Many users have a computer at home that is simply a device they use to surf the web. Maybe you just dismissed that prompt to update Chrome thinking it’s not that big of a deal. Whether it’s endless scrolling of Facebook feeds, banking, watching cat videos or whatever, keeping your software up-to-date is more important than you can imagine.
This particular security flaw (CVE-2019-5786) can allow web applications potential access to locally stored files simply by opening a PDF file containing a malicious code. Granted, the odds you’ve stumbled upon this exploit are astronomical but it is serious enough for Google to publicly confirm that in not only exists but has been implemented, somewhere.
Lucky for us, Google has patched the leak and it is available for all versions of the browser including Chrome OS. Here’s how to make sure you’re up-to-date.
For desktops including Chrome OS, Mac, Windows
Click the hamburger (three horizontal lines) menu at the top left of the settings and select “About Chrome” or “About Chrome OS” at the bottom of the list.
On this screen, you can see which version of Chrome you are using. The most current version for Mac, Windows
For Chrome OS, the method is the same or you can find the settings in the system tray at the bottom right. Click the tray where the clock is located and select the gear icon at the top of that pop-up.
Chrome OS Stable should currently be on version 72.0.3626.122 and includes the patch for this security flaw.
Again, security patches are commonplace and rarely a reason for panic. Simply keep your software updated to the most recent version and practice safe browsing.
You can find more details about the update at the Chrome Release Blog.
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