Google just announced the launch of the version of your web browser Google Chrome 79, version that was released with bug fixes, but also with new features like built-in support for password verification, Real-time blacklists of malicious sites via the Safe Browsing API, availability of general predictive phishing protections and other features.
This new version of Google Chrome is already available for the different operating systems which are Windows, Mac OS and Linux. In the case of Linux, the binaries for the different distributions have already begun to arrive within their repositories.
What's new in Google Chrome 79?
In this new edition of the Google Chrome 79 web browser, a new "freeze tabs" function introduced in order to save memory resources, CPU and battery in computers. In other words, the functionality frees up the system's CPU and RAM resources for other tabs or other applications running locally.
Tabs kept in the background for more than 5 minutes will freeze and they will not be able to perform tasks. However, there is an exception for audio and video playback, as well as for recording. As per Google's description, the feature is not turned on by default, you need to do it yourself in settings.
Another novelty that stands out in this version are the improvements to password protection and against Google Chrome phishing. The extension Password Checkup is now integrated into the "Sync and Google Services" function and check if some of your passwords have not been disclosed to other online services.
Additionally, two other phishing protection services enhance safe browsing and warn you when passwords entered on malicious sites are changed. Once activated, the feature identifies your disclosed passwords online and offers to modify them.
On the other hand too we can find that Chrome has a security configuration known as the Safe Browsing API. With this tool, Chrome downloads a list of known bad sites every 30 minutes.
However, Google estimates that in recent months, malicious actors have changed sites and domains at a faster rate, taking advantage of this 30-minute delay. With the release of Chrome 79, Google believes Chrome will have a new option in the "Sync and Google Service" feature that will allow users to enable real-time bad site scanning.
Another change in Google Chrome 79 is that allows the browser to better focus on the profile you are using by adding a name next to the avatar. Aimed at devices shared with multiple users, Google wants to make sure you store the credentials in the correct Google account. This is a visual update and will not change your current sync settings.
We have also updated the appearance of the profile menu itself: it now makes it easier to change and makes it clear whether you are logged into Chrome or not, "said Google.
Last but not leastand an experimental function was added what is the function "Backspace cache". This function will allows you to create a special cache for the "back" and "next" buttons in Chrome.
If the user goes back or forward in their browsing history, the page is loaded from this cache, instead of being loaded from scratch. The Google Chrome developers have created this feature to improve page load times in Chrome, and users can now try it out.
This is just an overview of the most notable changes in this new version of Chrome. You can read more about the other new features added or removed from Chrome 79 in the Google Release Note.
How to install Google Chrome 79 on Linux?
If you are interested in being able to install this new version of this web browser and you still do not have it installed, you can download the installer that is offered in deb and rpm packages on its official website.