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Are the Amazing New Changes in Chrome 142 Making Your Browsing Safer?
Google’s latest browser, Chrome 142, introduces significant changes to how it handles your security and data. Unlike initial impressions, this version includes 20 important security fixes, addressing several high-severity issues. The main updates focus on securing your local network and simplifying how your data syncs.
Better Protection for Your Home Network
Chrome 142 adds a new security step to protect your personal network devices, like your router or printer, from outside websites.
Previously, a public website could potentially send requests to devices connected to your private home network without your knowledge. This created a risk of unauthorized access or could allow a site to gather information about your network setup.
Now, Chrome will ask for your permission with a pop-up before any website can try to connect to a device on your local network. If you do not grant permission, the connection is blocked. This change helps defend against attacks and improves your privacy by preventing sites from scanning your network.
A New Way to Sync Your Data
The update also changes how Chrome Sync works on desktop computers. The feature is no longer a separate function but is now integrated directly with your Google Account sign-in for the browser.
Integrated Sync
When you sign into your Google Account within the Chrome browser, you can save and sync data like bookmarks, history, and passwords.
User Control
You still decide what information gets synced. You can manage these choices by visiting chrome://settings/syncSetup/advanced in your address bar and selecting “Customize Sync“.
Separate Sign-Ins
This change does not affect your ability to sign in to Google services like Gmail or Drive on the web. You can still use those websites without being signed into the Chrome browser itself.