Chrome To Patch Decades-Old ‘Browser History Sniffing’ Flaw That Let Sites Peek At Your History
Chrome is set to address a longstanding privacy issue known as browser history sniffing, which has existed for over 23 years. This flaw allowed websites to monitor users’ browsing histories by examining the colour values of links on a webpage to determine if they had been visited.
The upcoming Chrome 136 update, scheduled for release on April 23, 2025, aims to effectively counteract this form of attack, making it the first major browser to eliminate such vulnerabilities. Google intends to enhance users’ privacy by preventing this data leakage.
Key Points
- The browser history sniffing flaw has been a concern for more than two decades.
- It involved websites checking the colour of links to determine if users had visited those pages.
- Chrome 136 is anticipated to be released on April 23, 2025, to tackle this vulnerability.
- Previous mitigation attempts were ineffective, making this a crucial update for user privacy.
- Kyra Seevers, a Google engineer, highlighted the significance of this update in enhancing web security.
Why should I read this?
This article addresses a critical privacy flaw in one of the most widely used web browsers, highlighting significant steps taken to enhance user security. Understanding such vulnerabilities can inform users about their online safety and promote the importance of privacy in digital spaces.
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