Google has released version 129 of the Chrome browser, and it contains numerous new features. The focus this time is on the new certificate manager, a new way of dealing with the HTTP protocol and new tools for administrators. Security vulnerabilities have also been closed.

Nine vulnerabilities fixed

In addition to the usual performance improvements, Google has fixed a total of nine security gaps in the new Chrome version, of which at least one is considered to have a high risk potential and three are considered to have a medium risk potential. In addition, the developers have implemented a wide range of new features.

The new certificate manager for Windows and macOS

Chrome 129 introduces a new certificate manager that can be accessed via the security settings on Windows and macOS. This new manager replaces the previous certificate management and shows which certificates are classified by Chrome as trusted or untrusted. This includes both the contents of the Chrome Root Store and all certificates imported from the operating system. Users can access the certificate manager directly by entering chrome://certificate-manager in the address bar.

The new browser version also offers other security improvements. For example, Chrome will now use the Ask Before HTTP (ABH) function to instruct the user to first obtain consent before sending unsafe HTTP content. For this purpose, balanced mode is introduced as a new variant of ABH, which allows a compromise between enforcing and disabling ABH via the HttpsOnlyMode policy. This mode works like a strict ABH in most cases, but does not request consent if Chrome knows that an HTTPS connection is not possible. The new force_balanced_enabled policy can be used to enforce this behavior in the settings.

Users who use Chrome Enterprise Core and Workspace Enterprise Standard or Workspace Enterprise Plus can now also enable the Chrome Security Insights feature with the new version, which can be used to perform a security check of potentially risky browser activities and monitor for possible data loss.

New AI functions

The new Tab Compare function will be rolled out with Chrome 129, initially only in the USA. This is intended to present users with an AI-generated overview of products from multiple tabs bundled in one place. It is not yet known when or if the new function will also be available in Germany.

New features on iOS too

On iOS, users now have the option to delete the collected device data when they log out. This removes saved browser data from a managed account in an unmanaged browser on the device. A confirmation dialog indicates that the data will be deleted from the time of login. However, this time is only known if the user has logged in on Chrome 122 or higher; otherwise all data is deleted.

The deleted data includes:

Browsing history Cookies and website data Passwords Website settings Autofill Images and files in the cache

Tab groupings are now saved on iOS and are no longer deleted when the browser is closed. For users who sync their tabs across systems, the groupings are now also transferred so that the organization of the tabs is maintained on all devices.

Control over screenshots

The new screenshot protection gives administrators a new tool to prevent users from taking unauthorized screenshots or sharing web pages with sensitive data. However, this feature is only available to Chrome Enterprise Premium users and can be controlled via the same Chrome Enterprise policy EnterpriseRealTimeUrlCheckMode, which enables all URL lookups in real time.

Download now

Chrome 129 is now available for Windows in version 129.0.6668.58/.59 for Windows and macOS and 129.0.6668.58 for Linux. Android users should use version 129.0.6668.54 for the update. Google has not yet announced an update for iOS, but it should follow in the next few days as usual. The same applies to Chromium browsers such as Microsoft's Edge, which should also not be long in coming.

Since Google will distribute the new version in waves as usual, it will probably take some time until all users have received their notification for the update. Alternatively, the process can also be initiated manually via the settings.