Google's latest Chrome release adds new features to help users avoid future hacking attempts.
The latest Chrome build, which came out in early September, features a new interface for its password generator, according to a post on Google+ by Francois Beaufort.
According to a report by CNET, Google has had the password generator feature integrated in Chrome since 2012. The updated Chrome Password Generation feature will have a new interface in Chrome Canary, along with the new auto-suggestion functionality added.
"Strong and Pronounceable" Password Suggestions
Beaufort's post gives instructions on how to enable the new password generator UI in Chrome Canary, and explains how it works. According to him, when a user visits a sign-up page and focuses the password field, "a nice overlay will suggest you a strong and pronounceable password that will be saved in your Chrome passwords." He also revealed on Google+ that this auto-suggestion feature "uses a C library that provides an implementation of FIPS 181 Automated Password Generator (APG)."
CNET's report relays Beaufort's instructions on activating the new password generator UI with auto-suggest. A person using Chrome Canary will need to enable the following flags:
- chrome://flags/#enable-password-generation
- chrome://flags/#enable-save-password-bubble
Once these flags are enabled, the user will be able to see the feature described above on every sign-up page visited using Chrome Canary.
Addition to Stable Chrome Builds Unsure
Yahoo! News UK points out that the addition of this feature is timely, given the recent security issues raised by the Apple iCloud celebrity account hacking. The incident, which leaked private and compromising photos of several high-profile female celebrities, had people talking about protecting their online accounts from similar attacks.
The security of the passwords provided by Chrome's updated password generation feature has yet to be tested, but according to CNET, the improvement of this tool may help the password generation industry more competitive. They named third party browser accessories like 1Password, LastPass, and RoboForm as some of the tools previously recommended by security experts, which Google will now be competing with their built-in feature.
Both CNET and Yahoo! News UK says that it is still unclear whether this feature will find its way to more stable versions of Chrome.
Join the Conversation