More Updates For Chrome 24

The latest version of Google’s Chrome browser, complete with speed, security and stability improvements, is now available for download.

The Chrome team said it was excited to announce the promotion of Chrome 24 to the stable channel for Windows, Mac, Linux and Chrome Frame platforms.

The upgrade offers 24 new fixes for various security issues, as well as a number of speed improvements and new features such as MathML support and an updated version of Adobe’s Flash Player plugin.

In relation to the security solutions, 11 fixes were rated as high, eight medium and five were considered low risks.

Number crunchers are sure to appreciate the addition of MathML, also known as mathematical mark-up language, as this makes it easier for the browser to display mathematical equations.

Google’s technical program manager, Dharani Govindan, said: “With the Chrome Stable release, you’ll be booting up a faster browser. Feel free to kick back after the holidays and enjoy Chrome’s New Year freshness through automatic updates.”

In a bid to keep users updated with the latest stable versions, Chrome performs an auto-update every six weeks.

Faster speeds in 2013

According to an Octane JavaScript test run by Google in November, Chrome saw an overall improvement in its speed of more than 26 per cent during 2012. Google experts say it will continue to strive for even faster speeds this year.

A total of $6,000 was paid between security researchers for their work on three of the latest high security Chrome bugs. Two of the researchers were from Facebook and the other was from the Oulu University Secure Programming Group in Finland.

Back in 2010 Google’s Chromium open source project launched a vulnerability reward program, whereby web application security researchers reporting a wide range of bugs received cash rewards.

As a result Google has seen a sustained increase in the number of high quality reports from researchers and has introduced a Security Hall of Fame. One researcher has scooped more than $60,000 for his top-notch security work on Chrome.