Tag: Chrome

Google layoffs impact Android, Pixel, and Chrome teams in major restructuring

In a significant shake-up, Google announced layoffs affecting hundreds of employees in its Platforms and Devices division on April 11, 2025. This unit, responsible for Android software, Pixel smartphones, Chrome browsers, and hardware like Fitbit and Nest, is undergoing restructuring to streamline operations.

The layoffs follow a voluntary buyout program offered in January 2025, highlighting Google’s push for efficiency amid a competitive tech landscape.

Android team hit by Google’s workforce reduction

The Android ecosystem, powering billions of devices globally, wasn’t spared in Google’s latest cuts.

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According to The Information, the layoffs targeted roles within the Android software team, raising concerns about potential impacts on development and updates.

Google’s spokesperson stated that the changes aim to make the Android division more responsive, but employees fear the loss of talent could slow innovation in this critical platform.

Pixel Smartphone division sees layoff fallout

Google’s Pixel smartphones, lauded for their AI-driven features and camera prowess, also felt the sting of the layoffs.

The Pixel team, part of the broader hardware group, lost numerous staff members as Google seeks to optimize its operations. With the Pixel 9 series recently updated with Gemini AI capabilities.

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The Chrome browser team, another pillar of Google’s Platforms and Devices division, wasn’t immune to the layoffs.

Formed in 2024 under Senior Vice President Rick Osterloh, the division merged Chrome, Android, and hardware teams to foster AI integration. However, redundancies from the merger likely contributed to the job cuts, with Google aiming to sharpen its focus on high-priority projects like cloud computing and AI.

Why Google’s layoffs matter for Android, Pixel, and Chrome

These layoffs mark the latest in Google’s cost-cutting efforts, following 12,000 job reductions in 2023 and smaller cuts in 2024.

With a global headcount of around 180,000, Google insists the restructuring will enhance its ability to innovate in Android, Pixel, and Chrome.

Affected employees are receiving severance packages, and the company emphasized support for their transition. Still, a 2024 petition by over 1,250 Google workers flagged concerns about job security, reflecting broader unease.

Google’s moves mirror industry-wide trends, with firms like Meta and Microsoft also trimming staff to prioritize AI and automation.

For Google, the layoffs may signal a shift toward high-growth areas, but critics warn that cutting talent in Android, Pixel, and Chrome could dent morale and slow progress.

Supporters argue that a leaner structure will help Google compete with Apple and Samsung in smartphones and software.

As Google navigates this transition, the tech world is watching its Android, Pixel, and Chrome divisions closely. The layoffs underscore the challenge of balancing efficiency with innovation.

While Google doubles down on AI to power its ecosystem, the long-term impact on its flagship products remains uncertain. For now, the company is betting that a streamlined approach will strengthen its market position.

April 11, 2025
Chrome to enhance security with AI-driven scam detection

Google has updated its Chrome browser using artificial intelligence to improve online security.

This new feature, “Client Side Detection Brand and Intent for Scam Detection,” released December 20, leverages a Large Language Model (LLM) to analyse web pages directly on users’ devices.

Assessing sites’ intent and branding aims to identify potential scams before users interact with them.

Read also: Google Drive folders can now be summarised by Gemini AI

Enhancing security with AI

Google is proactively protecting people from advanced internet scams. The AI-driven function warns of scams like phoney urgency and questionable URLs.

The flag’s description in Chrome Canary states, “Enables on-device LLM output on pages to inquire for brand and intent of the page. “

This local analysis enhances security and alleviates privacy concerns associated with cloud-based solutions.

The initiative reflects a broader trend in tech: Companies like Microsoft are also implementing similar AI features in their browsers.

For instance, Microsoft Edge has introduced a “scareware blocker” that utilises machine learning to combat online fraud.

Such developments highlight the industry’s commitment to safeguarding users in an era where digital threats are ever-evolving.

Read also: The role of AI in advancing global innovation

A step towards safer browsing

Google’s founder, Larry Page, has long emphasised the importance of user safety and privacy. This new scam detection feature aligns with that vision, offering users a more secure browsing experience.

With billions of users relying on Chrome daily, the stakes are high. The feature is currently available in Chrome Canary, an experimental version allowing developers and tech enthusiasts to test new functionalities before public release.

We need tools like this to navigate the increasingly complex digital ecosystem. Users can enable the feature by accessing Chrome’s flags menu and searching for the scam detection option.

While still in its experimental phase, if successful, this technology could significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to online scams.

December 26, 2024
Google search now shows AI summaries

Google Search now shows AI summaries at the top. The significant generative AI upgrade presented at Google I/O 2024 leverages Gemini, Google’s counterpart to OpenAI’s ChatGPT, to improve search by extracting online knowledge to answer queries automatically.

Google continued its Search Generative Experience (SGE), an opt-in Google Search Labs project that began in May last year and expanded to over 120 countries and territories in November. Gemini-style natural language search replies are provided by SGE using many Google AI models.

For months, the search giant has offered AI Overviews as an opt-in for the AI-curious, but now hundreds of millions of U.S. users get them by default. Plans are underway to expand the functionality globally.

While there is no dedicated “off” button for Google’s AI Overviews, there are a few ways you can keep them from appearing in your search results.

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How Can I Turn Off Google’s AI Overviews?

The first choice is the easiest: Check out Google’s new Web tab. At the end of the list of tabs for News, Videos, Images, etc., click the “More” button. This will bring up a drop-down menu. Choose “Web” from the list that shows. This new Web filter eliminates AI highlights, ads, answer boxes, and other things that get in the way of your search results. That way, you’ll get a simple web page with no extras, AI or not.

Select the More tab

(Image: © Future)

Enter your search query into Google, then select the More tab next to Images, News, Videos, etc.

Select the Web search filter

(Image: © Future)

Click Web when the dropdown menu appears.

Below, I’ll describe a more advanced method that automatically sends searches to the Web tab. Setting up takes a minute or two, and you don’t have to use the Web tab when searching. Unfortunately, neither solution works for Chrome on Android or iOS. Firefox, a different mobile browser, works.

Visit search engine settings

(Image: © Future)

First, you’ll have to navigate to your search engine settings. To do that, click into your URL bar, enter “chrome://settings/searchEngines” and press return.

Click Add to the right of Site Search as you go down

(Image: © Future)

You’ll see several search engines pop up. Scroll down and click the Add button next to the heading Site Search.

Add a new search engine

(Image: © Future)

A prompt titled Add site search will appear once you click the Add button. Give this search engine a name, such as “Google (Web),” and enter Google under Shotcut. Then, under URL with %s in place of query, enter the following: {google:baseURL}/search?udm=14&q=%s

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Create it as your default search engine

(Image: © Future)

Once that’s created, scroll to your new search engine, click the hamburger icon, and select Make Default.

Now you know everything! If you make this one easy adjustment, all of your inquiries will be sent to the web search tab on Google.

May 20, 2024
Why Google needs to phase out Chrome’s third-party cookies

In an effort to allay consumer fears about their privacy, maintain ad revenue, and avoid resistance from UK regulators, the search engine giant Google has begun to restrict cross-site tracking.

The task of enhancing online privacy is a constant; that’s why Google is committed to strengthening Chrome’s security and giving users a greater say over their data. One way to do this is to restrict the ability to track your online movements across various platforms. As part of its Privacy Sandbox initiative, the search giant is working to remove all third-party cookies by the second half of 2024.

On Thursday, they made Tracking Protection available to 1% of the browser’s users. Google initially introduced Tracking Protection in December. By limiting website access to third-party cookies, Tracking Protection limits cross-site tracking. Two of Apple’s main competitors, Mozilla Firefox (2019) and Safari (2020), have already taken steps to restrict third-party cookies.

Google aims to address privacy concerns both consumers and regulators raise by implementing Tracking Protection and gradually eliminating third-party cookies. The company also hopes to maintain ad revenue and evade regulatory action from the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority.

Read also: Google adds passkeys to Chrome and Android

The aims of the Privacy Sandbox

New technology to protect your personal data is being developed in the Privacy Sandbox. It is important that users can relax and enjoy their apps and web browsing experiences without worrying about the collection or use of their personal information. The goal of the Privacy Sandbox technologies is to prevent covert tracking methods, such as fingerprinting, and render existing tracking mechanisms obsolete.

To allow creators and publishers to keep their content online free. Sites and apps provide information access for billions of people globally. In order to offer this complimentary tool without depending on invasive tracking, developers and publishers require privacy-preserving alternatives for their essential business requirements, such as providing relevant content and advertisements.

To develop new guidelines for online privacy in tandem with relevant businesses.

The internet is driving economic growth on a global scale and serving as a source of information. Google extends an invitation to all stakeholders in the industry, including publishers, developers, advertisers, and others, to join forces and help shape more robust online and Android privacy standards.

How to secure your Accounts against Chrome loader

The role of third-party cookies

A pop-up window informing you that the website uses cookies is something you might have encountered while browsing the web, which is not uncommon. Users frequently click “agree” without completely understanding the terms and conditions. It is possible that you have consented to the use of either first- or third-party cookies.

For almost 30 years, third-party cookies have been an integral aspect of the World Wide Web. Among the many uses for third-party cookies is the ability to provide users with more relevant advertisements based on their past actions while online.

Because tracking information is stored on the user’s computer, ads will continue to target them even if the session or browser is closed.

Furthermore, cookies can remember a user’s login information for a specific website, so they can quickly login without having to enter their email address and password every time.

There is little danger from third-party cookies. Neither cookies nor the viruses or malware they may contain are inherently harmful to your computer. But, cookies might seem like a privacy invasion to some people.

January 10, 2024
How to secure your Accounts against Chrome loader

There is new malware that targets Google Chrome that has made millions of users very scared.

This lousy software, called “ChromeLoader,” takes advantage of a significant flaw to steal private login tokens. It lets hackers enter your Google accounts and the vast amounts of data they hold without your permission.

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How it Works

ChromeLoader usually gets into your system by tricking you. It does this by coming bundled with pirated content or as legal software. Once loaded, it goes deep into Chrome’s data directory to find the login tokens you’ve saved there. By functioning as digital keys, these tokens allow you to access your Drive, Photos, Gmail, and other Google services without entering your password.

The Alarming Implications

With your login tokens, attackers can wreak havoc on your online life. They can:

Send and read emails: They can access your Gmail inbox and access your personal and business communications, exposing critical information or allowing phishing attacks on your contacts.

Steal your files: Your Google Drive becomes an open vault, exposing documents, photos, and other sensitive data to prying eyes.

Spy on your activity: ChromeLoader can track your browsing history, search queries, and even record your keystrokes, giving attackers a detailed picture of your online behaviour.

Hijack your accounts: By gaining access to your login credentials, attackers can take over your social media accounts, online banking platforms, and other critical services.

Protection from ChromeLoader and other threats:

Update Chrome regularly: Google actively patches vulnerabilities, so keeping your browser up-to-date is essential.

Beware of suspicious downloads: Only download software from trusted sources and avoid clicking on unknown links or attachments.

Enable two-factor authentication (2FA): This adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second verification code, even if someone has your password.

Use a reputable antivirus program: A robust antivirus program can detect and block malware before it infects your system.

Scan your system regularly: Scan your computer with a malware scanner to identify and remove potential threats.

Google Chrome now has memory and energy saving features

By taking these precautions, you may significantly lower your chance of ChromeLoader and other malware. Take precautions to protect your valuable data and accounts online. Be wary about providing third-party app access to your Google account.

January 7, 2024