Government issues warning for Mac and Windows Chrome browsers and Chromebooks, here's what you need to do

Windows users are equally at risk, with the same vulnerabilities affecting Chrome versions before 132.0.6834.110/111. Hackers can exploit these flaws by sending specially crafted requests, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system crashes, or unauthorised access to sensitive information. CERT-In emphasises that these vulnerabilities pose a significant threat to both individual users and organisations.

ChromeOS warning

ChromeOS, the operating system powering Chromebooks, is also under threat. Versions prior to 16093.68.0 (browser version 132.0.6834.94) are vulnerable to spoofing, cross-site scripting, and remote code execution. These flaws arise from stack buffer overflow, integer overflow, and out-of-bounds memory access. A remote attacker could exploit these weaknesses by executing a malicious webpage, potentially gaining access to sensitive data or bypassing security controls.

Affected devices

The vulnerabilities primarily impact desktops, laptops, and Chromebooks running outdated versions of Chrome or ChromeOS. Smartphone users are less affected, but CERT-In advises all users to stay vigilant.

Why you shouldn’t ignore this

Ignoring these warnings could lead to severe consequences, including data breaches, system instability, and unauthorised access to sensitive information. Hackers are actively exploiting such vulnerabilities, making timely updates crucial.

What you can do

To protect your devices, update Google Chrome and ChromeOS to the latest versions immediately. Visit the official Chrome Releases blog for detailed instructions. Regularly check for updates and enable automatic updates to ensure your system remains secure.