Source: Android Central
What you need to know
- Chrome for Android version 77 enhances Site Isolation by automatically updating it for sites that require logins.
- Site Isolation keeps websites from talking to or sharing information with each other, preventing malicious websites from stealing your info.
- The downside to this more secure method of computing is that Chrome will now consume more RAM than before.
You might expect kids to play in a sandbox, but did you know that apps and websites can, too? A new Chrome for Android update is bringing about a new feature that places websites in their own sandbox and doesn't allow them to interact with each other. This behavior will be automatically activated on websites that request any kind of login to access and will be enabled on these websites going forward.
Chrome for Android version 77 adds this new feature for many users but, like most updates from Google, all users won't see it happen immediately. Given the drastic nature of the update, there's always a possibility that this could break functionality with websites that are intending to talk to one another, but shouldn't be a pronounced problem since this feature has been tested in Chrome Beta and Chrome Canary up until now.
Isolating sites in their own sandbox means that sites only have access to whatever information Chrome feeds them and cannot move outside of that context. This prevents malicious websites from taking over others, particularly from stealing login info or other sensitive data, as websites can no longer converse with each other and share information via your phone's web browser.
The side effect of this new behavior is that each website requires its own sandbox which, if you can imagine a bunch of actual sandboxes in someone's back yard, means they take up a lot more space on the phone. That means that Chrome's already meme-worthy RAM usage will be a bit higher than it has in the past, but it's all being done for the sake of secure computing. As such, this feature will only be automatically enabled on phones with more than 2GB of RAM.
If this feature sounds familiar, that's because it's already enabled on Chrome for Desktop and enables the feature by default for all websites. On the mobile version, this feature will only be automatically enabled for sites that require users to log into.
Need a break during quarantine? Why not try Stardew Valley?
Games like Stardew Valley can't cure quarantine fatigue, but they can help you feel in control and relaxed.
These are the best Android phones you can buy right now
There are so many great Android phones to buy, so it can be tough to know which one to get. These are the best of the best at each price point.
These are the best games available on the Oculus Quest 2
Oculus Quest 2 games are enhanced with the latest graphics and let you enjoy VR experiences untethered. But Oculus Store games can get expensive, so you don't want to waste your money. Here are the best games available in your favorite genres.
Time to dump Chrome: 8 alternative desktop web browsers
If you getting frustrated with the lack of privacy, slower speeds or difficulty using extensions in Chrome, it's time to switch to one of these web browsers.