Chrome Has 327 Security Holes—Update Now

Google released an emergency security update for Chrome this week that patches 327 vulnerabilities. Some of these holes are serious enough that hackers could exploit them just by having you visit a malicious website. You do not need to wait for a scheduled update. Update your browser today.

What happened

Chrome's August update addresses a long list of security flaws that researchers have discovered. Among them are "zero-day" vulnerabilities. A zero-day is a flaw that cybersecurity experts know about but hackers may already be using in the wild. The company has not disclosed which specific vulnerabilities fall into that category, but the size of the update and the urgency of the language used make clear this is serious.

Why it matters

Your web browser is the door between you and the internet. When it has security holes, malicious websites can slip through and harm your computer or steal your data without you knowing anything is wrong. You do not have to click a suspicious link or download anything. Simply visiting a website could trigger an attack.

The good news is that Chrome is designed to update automatically in most cases. But automatic updates can take time to roll out to all users, and you can force the update to happen right now rather than wait.

What to do

Open Chrome on your computer or phone. Look for the three vertical dots (the menu button) in the top right corner. Tap or click it, then select "Help" or "Settings." Choose "About Chrome." Your browser will check for updates automatically and install them. If an update is available, Chrome will prompt you to relaunch the browser. Do it immediately.

You can also check manually by going to Chrome menu > Help > About Google Chrome. The browser will scan for updates right away.

After you update, your browser will be protected against the known vulnerabilities. Websites will not be able to use these particular holes to attack you. You will be able to browse with the confidence that comes from knowing your door is secure.