Google Chrome

Google Chrome is a web browser that is being developed by the company Google Inc. and is available since 2 September 2008. On 11 December 2008, the first final version was released. The central concept is the division of the browser in visual and separate process level browser tabs.

Google Chrome builds to version 27 on the HTML rendering engine WebKit to, since version 28, the WebKit cleavage flashing is used.

Google Chrome is an integral part of the Google Chrome OS, Google's Linux -based operating system for netbooks.

• 5.1 Initial release
• 5.2 pre-release versions
• 5.3 Revision history
• 5.4 Mobile Version

Generally

At the beginning there was the browser for Windows XP ( SP2 ) and Windows Vista and later Windows 7 Since December 2009, beta versions for Linux and Mac OS X have been available since version 5 (May 2010) there are stable versions of these operating systems.

On 7 February 2012, Google introduced the first ready on the version 16.0 based beta version of Chrome for Android to download. On June 28, a version for iOS devices followed.

Chromium

The majority of the source code of Google Chrome is provided by Google under the name Chromium under the BSD license as open source software project. Copying and modifying the binary version of Chrome itself prohibit the "Terms of Service " expressly.

Components of Google Chrome Not included in the Chromium project are:

• Brand features (name and logo)
• Package Management Google Update
• RLZ identifier
• Adobe Flash Player
• Integrated PDF viewer

Officially, the name Chromium refers exclusively to the software project, while the web browser named Chrome. However, there is on the Chromium code based browsers that are provided under the name Chromium. This is particularly the case in versions that are installed via the package manager of the Linux distributions.

Software

In Chrome, developed by Google and Opera Software's rendering engine is used blink. The JavaScript implementation V8 has been released as free software and comes from the Danish V8 team, support multi-core processors and a dynamic optimization process in which JavaScript objects are hidden to split classes expanded.

Also, the tabbed browsing has been developed from scratch. Unlike comparable browsers, in which all riders are parts of a single program is running, the tab in Chrome should be closed processes in itself and as such also in its own Task Manager controllable be (for performance reasons, however, share in the default configuration, small groups of riders a process ). By splitting into multiple processes is to avoid that a single rider, in which a computationally intensive process is running, the performance of the entire browser pulls affected. In addition, the processes of Reiter ( renderer processes ) are executed in a sandbox and thus have very limited opportunities to interact with other processes, file access is only via the main program ( browser process ) is possible. This is the majority of malicious code that takes advantage of the open sites of a vulnerability in the browser, impaired, to infect a computer. Pop -up window initially remain within the respective tab.

Using the freely available Google Safe Browsing API receives Chrome lists of dangerous websites. Chrome supports Google Gears API and in particular enables Gears multi-threaded applications. By means of the runtime environment Gears, Google Chrome server-based Web applications to run as a desktop application.

Architecture

Chrome consists of three parts. The browser itself is responsible for the control of the software, the renderer is implemented in the browser and provides a sub-process such as a rider; within the renderer is WebKit. Chrome is built component-based. The inter-process communication is message- oriented and uses channeling.

Speed

Google specifies a particular strength of the browser is its speed. In particular, V8, virtual runtime environment of JavaScript in Chrome, should excel at speed according to Google other implementations. So JavaScript running in Chrome on a test ( Peacekeeper benchmark) is about twice as fast as in Firefox 3.6 or about nine times as fast as the Internet Explorer 8 At very compute-intensive tests, these values ​​are exceeded. Google Chrome is therefore at least equal to Opera 10.5 and Safari 5

Stability

The developers strive through the multi- process architecture to a more stable run-time behavior. In this case, each new renderer (ie each new tab or each new page ) and every plugin can be started in their own processes. If there is a problem with a rider and the process ends, a " Sad Tab " or a " Sad plugin " is displayed instead of the contents.

If a rider or extensions use especially a lot of memory, processing power or network bandwidth or have simply hung up, the user can recognize this with the Task Manager and end the process of the rider or the extension individually. The Chrome Task Manager is accessible via the shortcut ⇧ Esc.

Security

In the so-called Pwn2Own event, participants will have the task to hack different computers, each with an installed browser; the winner is rewarded with the computer and a cash prize. Google Chrome has been increasing since 2009 part of the Pwn2Own event. 2011, there were 20,000 U.S. dollars as prize money for a successful hack, but no one has tried to Chrome. 2012 Google offered $ 60,000 for those who have created it to bypass the sandbox completely. Right at the start of the competition Sergey Glazunov was successful; Google could help close the gap within 24 hours.

The Federal Office for Security in Information Technology since February 2012 recommends the use of Google Chrome on computers with a Windows operating system on the grounds that the consistent implementation of the sandbox, the attack surface of the browser is significantly reduced.

Google is offering a reward for finding security-related bugs. This is from 1000 to 3133.7 U.S. dollars. The latter amount is leetspeak for " elite".

Source

Both the rendering engine, as well as the flasher V8 JavaScript implementation are written in C . There are build instructions and files as well as snapshots of Chromium for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X and Linux.

Criticism

Inspired by the press release of the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) has been criticized that would be sent when using Google Chrome too much data to Google. Also, the speaker of the BSI, Matthias Gaertner, expressed privacy concerns. When typing in the address bar ( " omnibox "), which is also the input field for search terms and web addresses, each character is transmitted unencrypted on the user selected search engine to allow completion suggestions. This behavior can be switched off, but by default.

Google leads in its privacy policy on a variety of information that are sent from Chrome to Google. Up to version 4.0, each installation was given a unique identification number that was sent during the installation, on first use and each time automatic update check with other basic information about the browser installation of Google. The identification number could be manually removed or suppressed via software enhancements. Since version 4.1, Google omitted the ID.

In many installations, the simultaneous Freeware download of Google Chrome is available with - the corresponding statement of intent ( input box ) crossed above as affirmative. Often deselecting this box is overlooked when downloading and Google Chrome is installed so unintentionally.

Versions

First release

As a first release a Windows version was released with version number 0.2 on 2 September 2008. The first stable version 1 was followed on 11 December 2008. Starting with version 4, the first came to Linux and Mac OS X executable version as a beta version out. With version 5, these were released in a stable version.

Up to Version 6 is a major new version was published regularly about every four months. In the summer of 2010, Google announced that from now on will be released every six weeks, a major release of Chrome. Since then, an approximately seven -week cycle was adhered. Through the regular appearance of the main versions are available between releases usually only a minor update to address severe security and stability issues.

Pre-releases

In addition to the stable releases, Google Chrome three different pre-release versions: Beta, Dev ( Developer) and Canary. The beta version includes all the new features and can be tested by anyone. The Chrome Dev version is primarily intended for users and programmers who want to test their software to the latest release. In contrast to the beta and dev versions of the Canary version is installed separately in addition to the other Google Chrome version. The Canary build is automatically generated from the latest version of the open source Chromium project and will therefore not be tested prior to release. The Canary version is almost a nightly build ( daily update). Google also blocked the ability to use the Canary build as the default browser. Currently, this version is available for Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac OS X.

Revision history

IOS version: new design and feature enhancements for iOS 7, improvements to the full screen mode, E -mails and cards automatically start Gmail or Google Maps ( if installed ), new settings interface, stability, bug fixes Android: further possibilities of gesture control

Mobile version

Since February 2012 Chrome is also available for Android. According to Google, the focus was on the development of the browser mainly on speed and security. In comparison with the desktop version of Chrome for Android has a redesigned view, are stacked one above the other in the tabs.

Since June 2012 Google Chrome is also available for iOS. Because Apple for iOS does not allow alternate browser engines, based HTML rendering engine and the JavaScript implementation on the iOS UIWebView component. Thus, Google's V8 JavaScript implementation is not available on this platform. According to Chrome developer Sundar Pichai, these concessions were necessary to make Chrome on iOS available. The app requires at least iOS 4.3 installed and will support both iPhone, iPod touch as well as the larger screen of the iPad. As in Chrome for Android, all bookmarks, open riders and passwords can be synchronized where users log in with a Google account with Chrome for iOS.

Users tracking

Chrome sends information about the use of the browser to Google, while most methods are optional, but some are not.

When installed

• Google Search
• The first time you use the browser or the address bar

The RLZ in the Google Search can be removed under Options → Manage search engines when a new Google search entry is created, where the RLZ - section is removed from the request pattern, and last deleted the old google search entry or is disabled. Likewise, the browser identity could be removed in the query or google.de replaced by google.com.

Dissemination

After Google Chrome had increasingly competes with the hitherto most used web browser Internet Explorer, succeeded him in May 2012, according to the statistics firm StatCounter Global first time to take the leading position worldwide. So Chrome reached in the week from 14 to 20 may provide a global market share of 32.8 percent, whereas the Internet Explorer was only 31.9 percent. Particularly in South America Google Chrome pleased with over 50 percent share of high popularity users. But in Europe, the browser was set, in which case the Firefox browser from Mozilla has the lead position. In North America, is still the Internet Explorer again, but loses also increasingly users.

Representative are the figures released by StatCounter not, however, as the company examines only the data associated with it companies. The same is true for the U.S. market research firm Net Applications, which greatly raised in April 2012 by StatCounter different figures and had the Internet Explorer with 54.09 percent still certifies a clear dominance. In the statistics of the Google Chrome browser stood at 18.85 percent still lagged behind at rank 3 Mozilla Firefox ( 20.20 percent ).

Spin-offs ( Forks )

As with the Chromium software base of the browser is open, based on spin-offs exist ( Forks ), disable the program parts or more Add: