Computer Support Network

Google’s Chrome internet browser has remained the high water mark for web browser security for four years but that legacy has finally been broken.  Chrome, which entered the browser marketplace back in 2008 quickly gained a name for itself for being the fastest web browser as well as functionally hacker proof.  Google has taken part in Pwn2Own—a security competition run by HP—for the last four years and matched Chrome against the likes of Safari, Internet Explorer and Firefox.  For four years Chrome remained the sole competitor un-hacked by the competitors.

This year however, Google let their pride get the best of them and offered a $60,000 prize for anyone who could crack their code.  A Russian college student stepped up to the challenge during the Google hosted Pwnium event.  Sergey Glazunov submitted a hack that completely bypassed the security measures built into the Chrome browser.  ZDNet reports that a previously undiscovered exploit was used to bypass its “sandbox”—a restriction designed to stop hackers from accessing the rest of a user’s computer even if they do compromise the browser. When asked about the exploit, Justin Schuh, a member of the Chrome security team, revealed that the exploit was specific to Chrome and bypassed the browser security sandbox entirely.  ”It didn’t break out of the sandbox [but] it avoided the sandbox,” Schuh said in an interview.

Google was left embarrassed a second time as a French security firm showed that they had their own hack to bypass the browser; a feat that was accomplished in only five minutes.

Google is already working on fixes for the exploits and expects to have the solutions released within days as part of Chromes automatic system updates.  Regardless, Google can no longer flaunt Chrome as the hack proof browser and reinforces the adage that there is no such thing as a truly secure security system.

- Richard Keene
IT Computer Support of New York
Design and Optimization Department

Google’s first attempt at a custom designed operating system and hardware to support it has caused a lot of chatter in the computer industry. Google Chrome was designed from the ground up as a mobile device OS with the plan to compete directly with Apple and Microsoft. For the last week we have had the opportunity to experience the Google Chromebook and our first impressions are that it lives up to much of the hype it has received in recent months. We have outlined the most interesting features and useful tips you will need to know if your next laptop purchase leads you in Google’s direction.

The Cloud:

This is the most unique aspect of Google’s Chromebook. The Chrome OS operates 100% on Google’s cloud network. This means that as soon as you power up the device, you will be prompted to log into your Gmail account. *It would be imperative to create one if you are not already a user*

Once signed in the desktop will open up to an interface window not unlike the Chrome internet browser. There is no traditional home screen, start menu, trash can, calculator or any of the other typical things users first see when they power up a laptop. Everything is on the cloud. Upon logging in you will be greeted to eight basic apps that come preinstalled and ready to use. They are; YouTube, Google docs, Calendar, Scratchpad, Gmail, Google talk (Google’s Skype equivalent), and the Web Store (to purchase more apps). The app store has an array of games, and task-related programs that allow you to do most of the things you are able to do on a traditional laptop. We were able to test out applications that let us type documents, use excel spreadsheets, do a PowerPoint, listen to music, and even edit photos. Many of these apps are free, however, some do require a purchase.

Security:

This is a major issue for consumers today. Different media sites have covered stories from several technology companies, including Google, about security breaches. The CR-48 Chromebook operates and stores all information on the cloud. The device hard drive is not accessible from a user standpoint and does not have the capacity for things like anti-virus or hard backups. In order to use the device you have to trust that Google will protect your data. Despite the very real threat of hackers early tests show that it would be extremely difficult to circumvent the Google Chrome OS. As we stated before, there is no hard drive, which means no backup and no data storage but also that it would not be possible to accidently download malware. To gain access a hacker would have to break into the cloud itself to retrieve your information. As of now, there is nothing like the Google Chromes OS, or even equivalent to it.

Wireless Linking, Costs, and Features:

Remember when we said the first thing you do when you power up the device is log into your Gmail account? Well, that is because all of your existing information will link with the Google Chrome browser’s applications. For instance, any documents you have in the Google Cloud will immediately transfer to your Google doc’s app that is already installed. Or if you write and save a document using Google docs, you will be able to access the same document on another computer, or vice versa. The same goes for the calendar and any of the other productivity applications contained on the device. The laptop does the work of data transfers for you and streamlines the experience.

The CR-48 Chromebook offers many of the features familiar to a laptop connoisseur as well as some new ones. The general look and feel as well as mouse input is very similar to the Mac book pro but the device has a custom keyboard layout. The caps lock button which is usually located under the tab key replaced by an hour glass. When you press this key, a new browser window will open up which takes time to get used to. The caps lock is instead restricted to the shift key, which is located below the hour glass key.

The cost of the Chromebook lineup is stellar, with the retail price of basic models as low as $350 and the high-end models top out around $500.00. What makes the price ever more of a bargain is it costs zero dollars to maintain. There are no software updates all thanks to the cloud, with all software upgrades handled by the Chrome OS. A hardware upgrade for any reason will just result in a brand new CR-48 shipped to you by Google.

Nice

Connectivity Requirements:

This was the only disappointment we found in the CR-48. Because the laptop is cloud based you will need an internet connection at all times to operate it. Without a connection, it wouldn’t make any sense to even power it on. All the features that you typically wouldn’t need a connection to utilize are nonexistent on the Chromebook. Even if you want to use Google docs to write and save your speech on the plane or while waiting in the airport, you simply can’t. That being said, it would be very handy to invest in a connect card through your cell phone or internet provider so you can stay connected at all times.

A few Extras:

There were a few features we tested that didn’t quite warrant their own section that we would like to share.

How do you upload pictures? Visit the app store and download a photo app like Aviary Image Editor. It will allow you first upload your pictures via a URL, or an external file, and then edit those photos. Sharing them is simple using the social networking apps that are available for Twitter, and Facebook. What about instant messaging? There is an app for that! Download the Chrome version of Trillian which allows you to log into all you existing instant messenger screen names using aim, yahoo, windows messenger, and even Facebook chat! All using one app.

Closing:

The CR-48 Chrome Notebook is an interesting product that shows a lot of promise. For us, the most compelling reasons are security, and costs. This laptop is an amazing value for its advanced operating system and capabilities. Furthermore, the Google Chrome operating system shows a glimpse of the future when all data is trusted to the cloud. We would recommend that you use caution if you have limited connectivity as it is vital in getting the most out of this device. The device is only as good as your connection.

As a mobile device the CR-48 Chromebook comes recommend as a supplement device for business professionals but this should not be looked at as a replacement for more reliable systems, yet. For all other consumers such as students, and techy’s this is a revolutionary and cost effective device to lead you into the future. Join the cloud!

After all the other areas that the Search Engine giant has branched out into, it should not come as a surprise that Google will now focus on the development of its own operating system. Google, which has already changed the way many people think about computer applications hopes to accomplish the same at a much larger scale.

The new OS named Chrome, just like the companies web browser, is planned for release in 2010. What sets Chrome apart from Microsoft and Apple is that it will be available as a fully open source OS. What this means is that software developers will be able to access and edit the code that runs the system. The benefit of this is that intuitive programmers will be able to fix and address any problems that appear without the need of an official patch from the parent company. As an added bonus it will make feature addition not only easy but common. A great example of a similar application of this is the widespread and popular internet browser Firefox.

The open source nature of the OS has raised questions about the availability of the product. To date all Google applications have been offered as freeware. If this trend continues then there will finally be a multi-featured and highly supported free operating system for the masses, a viable threat to the Microsoft monopoly. With Chrome’s toted feature of fully integrated cloud computing the OS has the potential to change the way people view their operating system. Cloud Computing, which shifts the focus from singular computer systems to interconnected networks increase the resources and abilities of all connected systems. Just like Virtualization Cloud Computing is heralded as the future of business and personal computers.

However, despite the promises Chrome is not without blemish. Google’s own blog states that Chrome was designed first as a notebook OS. While this is great as far as resource management and mobile support is concerned, it means that the OS may not take advantage of many of the features users currently expect. The other problem is Google will now compete directly with Microsoft and so the importance of its first party applications will need to be as strong. While Google apps are nice supplements they currently fail when put to the test next to Microsoft Office. Without full support of dedicated business applications Chrome will find it difficult to set up a foothold in the business world. The final problem is that with a scheduled release of 2010, Microsoft has a long time to ensure that it remains on top.

Ultimately it’s too early to predict what will happen but the evolution of the OS market place is dependent on competition. Even though Apple has made great strides in recent years it still remains a 2nd run OS that is not taken seriously by the bulk of computer users. If Google Chrome can encourage further competition then perhaps we will see the market evolve instead of remaining on its current stagnant course.

- Richard Keene
IT Computer Support of New York
Design and Optimization Department

Chrome Beta 3 arrived recently to the fanfare of Google aficionados but few others. What is Chrome you might ask? Well for the uninitiated its Google’s news web foray; a proprietary internet browser that they had hoped would surpass IE and Firefox in user base. The promise behind Chrome stems primarily from its pedigree. The Google search engine took the world by storm and has grown to become an everyday household term. Google had hoped to do the same for web browsers.

So have they succeeded? Not quite. When the first Chrome Beta was released they held a respectable portion of the market share but since then users have actually dwindled. Currently Google Chrome has now settled into a holding pattern around 0.7 percent browser market share. The biggest problem facing Chrome is that there is already a competitor doing what they intend. Within the last five years, Firefox has quite literally taken the internet by storm.

As it stands now Chrome is the fastest browser on the market. Chrome is also secure, easy to use and attractive looking. But as for new killer features Chrome has very little to offer. Firefox already has the security, functionality, and higher degree of customization than any other browser on the marketplace. Also, looking at time frame, Firefox overtook Internet Explorer in functionality years ago but did not come close to matching its market share until quite recently. As a secure and reliable platform most people simply don’t see a reason to switch browsers. For this reason it is unlikely that Chrome will make any great leaps in its market share. It is not a bad product; just that for most users, there is no reason to upgrade from something that already works.

- Richard Keene
IT Computer Support of New York
Design and Optimization Department