Google has rolled out updated Chrome 66 for all platforms including Mac, Windows, Linux and Android. The latest web browser comes with several design tweaks, user-facing features and policy changes. The new changes in the Chrome 66 version include blocking the autoplay content, export password feature with which a user can download the saved passwords in the chrome and other security features have been included in this update. Here are all the latest changes:
AutoPlay Content
In January with Chrome 64 version, Google rolled out a feature that allowed users to mute audio on a site by site basis. The version 66 expands on this feature and this time around users will be able to automatically block autoplay content.
This means Chrome 66 will automatically block all those popup ads with sounds and other animations. The feature allows you to customise when media may autoplay based on:
Content is muted or does not feature audio
You have previously tapped or clicked on the site during the browsing session.
- On mobile – whether you have has added the site to a home screen.
- On the desktop – if you have frequently played media on the site.
The autoplay content, however, still plays but without the sound according to Techpp. The functionality is also not consistent across all websites, as the Chrome was unsuccessful to stop autoplay ads on YouTube and other sites.
Password Export
The Chrome 66 also brings in a new ‘Export Password’ feature. In “Manage Passwords” option, there is a new overflow icon just below the list of stored passcodes that reveals the “Export Passwords” option. You can directly go to Settings > Advanced > Passwords and forms > Manage passwords > Saved Passwords menu.
A prompt then appears asking users to confirm the download with their PC and also asks for them to enter their system credentials to proceed as the saved .csv file is in clear text.
Security Features
As for security feature, the Chrome 66 removes trust for Symantec certificates issued before 1 June 2016 following the company’s failure to follow industry security standards. Announced last September, now warnings will appear when visiting sites that have not transitioned to the new DigiCert Certificate Authority.??Furthermore, this version contains another mitigation technique for the Spectre CPU vulnerability. Google announced that it would conduct a small percentage trial with Chrome 66 for a feature dubbed “Site Isolation”. By enabling Site Isolation, pages from different websites run in different processes with each process blocked from receiving certain types of sensitive data from other sites.
