On November 3, Google released Chrome 157 for Windows, Mac and Linux, and the update is rolling out over the coming days and weeks. It brings Chrome to version 157.0.8103.38 or .39, depending on the system. Chrome for Android was also updated to 157.0.8103.38 and will reach Google Play over the coming days.
The release includes 213 security fixes. Google rates seven of them as Critical, its most serious category. One critical flaw affects Chrome for Android and involves ANGLE, the part of Chrome that translates graphics instructions. A specially built web page could potentially let an attacker run code outside the sandbox, which is the protective barrier that normally keeps websites from reaching the rest of the device.
Other fixes address memory problems in Prerender, a feature that loads pages in the background so they open faster, and in Dawn, which lets websites use a device's graphics hardware. Memory errors like these can cause crashes and, in some cases, let an attacker run their own code. Flaws of this kind are attractive to criminals because simply visiting a harmful or hacked website could be enough to cause damage.
Chrome usually updates itself, but computers can fall behind if the browser is never closed or if an extension interferes with the update. For a small office where staff keep dozens of tabs open for weeks, that can leave machines unprotected longer than expected.
What you should do
- Open Chrome's settings or Help menu, choose About Google Chrome, and click Relaunch if an update is waiting.
- Ask staff to fully close and reopen Chrome at least once a week so updates can install.
- Update Chrome on company and personal Android phones used for work through Google Play.
- Remove browser extensions that are no longer needed, since they can interfere with updates.
- Have Computech confirm that every office computer is running the latest Chrome version.
Computech prepares these summaries with AI assistance, based on public news reports. See the original report for full details.
