Google has released Chrome 17 (17.0.963.46), which contains many security fixes and 3 new features. For the normal, regular, non-geeky users, two of the 3 are of interest.
The 3rd one, New Extensions APIs are of more interest to people who write extensions, rather than regular users. The 2 that are of interest are the Omnibox Prerendering and Download Scanning Protection.
Omnibox Prerendering in simple terms means that Google Chrome, when you start typing the URL, tries to guess the webpage you are likely to visit (based on your previous visits), fetches and loads/keeps it in the background. When you finish typing and hit enter, the page is thus presented to you quickly, sometimes instantly. It is supposed to work that way. Whether it would make any difference to a guy like me who prefers incognito mode and keeps clearing the cache, is doubtful.
OTOH, Download Scanning Protection is a definite thumbs up. When we attempt to download a file, Chrome will check the file against a ‘black-list’ of known bad files and scream a warning.
Additionally, from version 17, Chrome will also check the executable files which we want to download against a ‘white-list’.
Even better, if the executable is not found in the white-list, Chrome will check whether the site from where we attempt to download is a good site or a known malicious file host and warn. (BTW it must have been designed only to work with executables and not executables within an archive file like zip or rar. I just tested it by downloading a file from a known malicious site and no warning came up). Whatever, it sounds good.
Along with Chrome, the following software have new versions / updates.
Their current version numbers and download links (along with other software of interest) are listed at:
latest versions page
All Software are (C) and/or (R) of respective owners. Please also read the license page Those conditions apply in full.
The 3rd one, New Extensions APIs are of more interest to people who write extensions, rather than regular users. The 2 that are of interest are the Omnibox Prerendering and Download Scanning Protection.
Omnibox Prerendering in simple terms means that Google Chrome, when you start typing the URL, tries to guess the webpage you are likely to visit (based on your previous visits), fetches and loads/keeps it in the background. When you finish typing and hit enter, the page is thus presented to you quickly, sometimes instantly. It is supposed to work that way. Whether it would make any difference to a guy like me who prefers incognito mode and keeps clearing the cache, is doubtful.
OTOH, Download Scanning Protection is a definite thumbs up. When we attempt to download a file, Chrome will check the file against a ‘black-list’ of known bad files and scream a warning.
Additionally, from version 17, Chrome will also check the executable files which we want to download against a ‘white-list’.
Even better, if the executable is not found in the white-list, Chrome will check whether the site from where we attempt to download is a good site or a known malicious file host and warn. (BTW it must have been designed only to work with executables and not executables within an archive file like zip or rar. I just tested it by downloading a file from a known malicious site and no warning came up). Whatever, it sounds good.
Along with Chrome, the following software have new versions / updates.
Their current version numbers and download links (along with other software of interest) are listed at:
latest versions page
- Google Chrome (stable) - 17.0.963.46
- SpywareBlaster free - 4.6
- Kaspersky TDSSKiller - 2.7.10.0
- ReactOS - 0.3.14 alpha
All Software are (C) and/or (R) of respective owners. Please also read the license page Those conditions apply in full.
Thanks for letting me know about other good stuff!
ReplyDeleteGood write up...looks like your blog is getting popular. There is your first spam blog above. ROFL
ReplyDelete:-D
DeleteLooks like yes. In 3 years, the blog attracted 2 such spam posts (only). In last 2 months, there are 4 or 5 such.
LOL