Google releases Chrome 116, first version in new weekly patch cycle

Google has released Chrome 116. It contains some security updates, but what is particularly striking is that it is the first version of the browser for which Google follows a new update schedule for security updates. From now on, they will appear weekly for the browser.

Google has 116.0.5845.96 and 116.0.5845.96/.97 released for Windows, macOS and Linux. Being in that Fixed 26 bugs, including a use-after-free bug in the Offline functionality. Google has spent $30,000 in its bug bounty program for this. Furthermore, there are some functionalities added to the browser, which are especially interesting for developers. For example, there is a function to open picture-in-picture images directly as always-on-top and make it easier to debug missing style sheets.

Chrome 116 is especially unique because it is the first version of the browser where Google uses a new security release schedule. The company announced started doing that last week. From now on, Chrome will receive a weekly security update for the Stable Channel. Before that, the browser received a four-weekly milestone release and periodic security updates were added.

According to Google, there is often a long time between the moment a vulnerability is discovered in Chromium and the moment it is patched in a new version of the browser. Now that period is on average fifteen days, the company says. By shortening the release cycle, Google hopes that so-called n-days will be less effective. These are vulnerabilities for which the details are known, but for which the patch has not yet been rolled out or installed.