Latest Chrome update

  Memory Saver and tab group features in latest Chrome update by Google 

Google Chrome is getting new security and performance features. The latest version(M12) of the Google Chrome desktop web browser is now rolling out, and it comes with two critical new features that make the browser safer and smarter. The first relates to changes to Safety Check, which can now run automatically in the background. The second feature covers Memory Saver mode and new ways to see how much memory the feature is saving on your device. The updates begin rolling out this week.

Safety Check is Chrome’s security hub that checks for updates and compromised passwords and displays whether Safe Browsing is turned on. With the browser’s latest version, Safety Check becomes more proactive, running automatically in the background. The feature will provide alerts at the top of Chrome’s three-dot menu. Safety Check can also now revoke sites’ permissions to access things like location, microphone or camera if you haven’t visited them in a while. In addition, it highlights when sites you rarely engage with spam you with notifications, suggesting you turn them off.

Memory Saver mode, introduced in 2022 and rolled out to everyone early this year, frees memory from open tabs you aren’t using. When you hover over one while in Memory Saver mode, the tool shows more detail about the active tab’s usage. This includes how much memory you could potentially save by making it inactive. With the improved Safety Check feature, you can expect Chrome to alert you in the background if any of your passwords saved in the browser are compromised. It will also alert you if you're using a compromised extension, or if you're not using the most recent version of Chrome. You'll see all these alerts at the top of the three-dot menu in Chrome.

Google says it’s also now easier to specify sites you want Memory Saver always to keep active. After installing the update, you can check out the new options in the Performance section of Chrome’s settings. Screenshot from an upcoming version of Chrome with saved tab groups. Several tabs are open, and the user is saving them under the name. Finally, Chrome will soon let you save tab groups. For example, suppose you have a project with 25 opened tabs, but you need to step away or work on something else. Saved tab groups allow you to give them an appropriate name, shut them down and pick them up later where you left off.

When it comes to performance, meanwhile, you might remember Chrome's Memory Saver Mode that rolled out last year. Well, there are now some additional options to see how the feature is in action. Whenever Memory Saver is turned on, you can now hover over a tab to see the potential memory saved if that tab is inactive. Google has also tweaked Memory Saver itself so that you can more easily specify the sites you care about and keep them active. Google says Chrome’s security and performance updates will roll out this week. However, saved tab groups will launch “over the next few weeks.”

KEY POINTS

 Chrome's new Safety Check feature runs automatically in the background, alerting you if your passwords or extensions are compromised, or if you're using an outdated version.

 Safety Check can now revoke site permissions and flag excessive notifications from sites you don't visit, improving user control and reducing distractions.

 The Memory Saver mode has been enhanced, allowing users to see potential memory saved and easily specify which sites to keep active, improving performance and efficiency.