Google has released an urgent update for its Chrome browser, fixing 83 issues including five rated as 'critical' - the highest severity level. The latest version, named 157.0.8103.78/.79, is now rolling out to all users and should be installed without delay.
The update follows a vital release pushed out by the US firm just last week. The flaws addressed in this new version could lead to users being targeted by cyber crooks, although it is currently not thought that any of the bugs have been used in the wild or given the dreaded 'zero-day' rating.
Critical flaws explained
Security experts at Malwarebytes are urging PC users to check for the update due to the serious nature of the flaws. All five critical vulnerabilities patched in this update are use-after-free flaws.
"A use-after-free (UAF) vulnerability happens when software accesses memory after it has released that memory for reuse. The consequences range from crashes and corrupted data to information leaks and, in some cases, execution of attacker-controlled code," Malwarebytes explained.
How to install the update
To get the latest version installed, users should head to About Chrome from the menu bar and see what software is installed. If a new version is available, it should be upgraded without delay. Chrome must also be restarted to install it.
Google confirmed the update in a statement: "This update includes 83 security fixes. The Stable channel has been updated to 157.0.8103.78/.79 for Windows and Mac and 157.0.8103.78 to Linux. We would like to thank all security researchers that worked with us during the development cycle to prevent security bugs from ever reaching the stable channel."
For users who do not see the changes immediately, Google says it will be rolling out to everyone in the coming days and weeks.
