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.