Google has released a new security update to fix a recently discovered issue zero day error in your Chrome browser.
As reported by beepcomputer, this is the fifth such vulnerability that has been exploited by hackers before being patched by the search giant since the beginning of this year. This new high severity defect (followed as CVE-2024-4671) is a use-after-free vulnerability in the Chrome Visuals component that handles the rendering and display of content in the Google browser.
in a advisory, the company explained that the vulnerability, which was discovered and reported by an anonymous researcher, has been exploited in attacks in the wild. However, Google did not provide any additional information, which will likely give Chrome users more time to patch their browsers.
Use defects after release They can be particularly dangerous as they can lead to data leaks, code execution, or crashes. Fortunately, Google patched this zero-day with Chrome version 124.0.6367.201/.202 for Mac and Windows, which should be available to download and install at the time of writing.
How to stay safe from browser-based attacks
Since so much of our work and daily lives take place within our browsers, it’s extremely important to keep Chrome up to date.
Google uses a color coded warning system to inform you that a new update is available for your browser. If you look at your profile picture, a bubble will appear next to it when there is an update and it will be green for an update from 2 days ago, orange for an update from 4 days ago, and red when an update was released at least a week ago .
If you don’t want to wait, you can also manually check if an update for Chrome is available by clicking the three-dot menu in the top right corner of your browser. From there, you must open Settings and then go to About Chrome. If an update is ready to install, Chrome will automatically start downloading it and it will be applied the next time you restart your browser.
As with the best phones, keeping your browser updated and running the latest software is the easiest way to avoid becoming a victim of cyber attacks. This is because cybercriminals love to take advantage of users who have not yet updated their browser.
In addition to keeping Chrome updated regularly, you should also consider using the the best antivirus software on your PC, the the best antivirus software for Mac on your Mac and one of the the best antivirus apps for Android on your Android smartphone. This way, no matter what threats you encounter online, your devices and data will be protected.
Google may patch many zero days in Chrome and its other products each year, but by doing so, the company is doing its part to keep its users safe from hackers. However, it is still up to you to install these updates in a timely manner.
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