Earlier this month, Google celebrated the 10th anniversary of its widely used web browser Chrome with the release of version 69 that introduced a bunch of design changes, new features and other tweaks. The update also included an updated password manager, a more accurate auto-fill feature, a bunch of developer-centric changes and a number of security improvements.
Now, according to a recent report from 9to5Google, the company has started rolling out a beta version of update 70 for Chrome on Android and Mac, which brings one of the most requested features to the browser. The Chrome 70 beta build enables support for fingerprint sensors on Android and Mac devices which will allow users to authenticate payments on websites using the fingerprint scanner. The fingerprint scanner will also come in use for 2-factor authentication on websites.
Along with the fingerprint support, update 70 beta for Chrome also includes a bunch of other minor changes. With the update, Chrome will no longer include the Android and iOS build number in the user-agent string identification that is visible to websites, which will definitely be beneficial for user privacy. The change will prevent exploit targeting, fingerprinting and other such cases of abuse.
Chrome 70 also continues the HTTPS adoption which was introduced in Chrome 69 and the browser will now show a ‘Not Secure’ warning and a red icon when users enter their passwords or other personal data on any HTTP page. In order to further ensure the user’s privacy, the browser will now exit full screen mode whenever dialog boxes, including file pickers and authentication/payments prompt, appear.
Other minor changes include Web Bluetooth support for Windows 10 devices, which will allow websites to communicate with nearby Bluetooth devices. This feature has already been available on Chrome for Android, Chrome OS, and macOS since update 56 was released. Finally, Chrome 70 will also allow developers to tinker with a new Shape Detection API which can be used to identify faces, barcodes and text in images through the web.
