Stefan Mileschin

Update or die

Google’s top security engineer has warned users to update their Chrome at once or see their entire systems hijacked.

Apparently a security hole in Chrome was found by hackers before Google had a chance to spot it. This means that the hackers had time to come up with all sorts of messy hacks.

The whole problem is a part the browser called FileReader, which lets software built into websites access data stored on a user's computer. Google has not released any further details on the bug, to avoid giving copycats information on how to find a workaround to their fix.

The fact that Google didn't detect the bug themselves meant that Chrome browsers were 'actively under attack' before a fix was released.

Delays like this give hackers a head start and leave users' systems vulnerable before an update is installed.

Experts say that the bug may have let hackers hijack computers remotely.

Google's lead security engineer Justin Schuh writing on Twitter, warned users: 'Seriously update your Chrome installs... like right this minute.'

Schuh added that unlike previous bugs found in Chrome which have targeted third-party software linked to the browser, this bug targeted Chrome code directly.

Chrome is the most commonly used web browser in the world, with more than two billion active users.

https://fudzilla.com/news/48301-fall-of-chrome