Subj : New Google Chrome browser security plan slammed by experts To : All From : TechnologyDaily Date : Mon Jul 31 2023 15:00:04 New Google Chrome browser security plan slammed by experts Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2023 13:43:42 +0000 Description: Developers, including those behind other Chromium projects, are really not happy about Googles WEI API. FULL STORY ====================================================================== Google has received Internet-wide backlash for plans it has drawn up which consider the implementation of what it calls a Web Environment Integrity (WEI) API. The four authors behind the WEI explainer article explain how such an API would allow servers to evaluate the authenticity of the device in order to prevent some types of fraud, however comments on the GitHub page were largely negative. Among the many complaints , some users raised concerns about surveillance and discrimination, while others called for approval by regulatory bodies and indeed for Google to compare the preposition to the W3C code of Ethics. Google backlash To add insult to injury, Google is now facing criticism from rival browser makers, including some that use the Chromium foundations. Brave co-founder and CEO (and ex-Mozilla CEO) Brendan Eich pointed out on Twitter that the browser will not be shipping with support for Googles proposed API, comparing it to other junk that Google puts into Chromium which Brave disables. Read more > These are the best VPN tools to boost your privacy > Raising concerns over Google Authenticators new features > Google's new plan for the future of the web has a lot of people worried - here's why Firefox developer Brian Grinstead posted on a GitHub thread that Mozilla opposes this proposal, suggesting that other avenues for detecting fraud and invalid traffic should be explored. Vivaldi developer Julien Picalausa called the result of Googles developers work toxic and dangerous, but in a glimmer of hope, Picalausa suggests that the EU will almost certainly want to look into the effects of the WEI API should it be given the green flag by Google. So far, Apple and its workers have remained quiet on the matter. We gave the company the opportunity to share its thoughts on Googles plans, but no response has been received as yet. We also asked Google whether it had anything further to add beyond last weeks comment, when a company spokesperson told us that the program had been paused, and directed us in the face of early backlash to a response by the explainer articles author, which concluded: We welcome collaboration on a solution for scaled anti-abuse that respects user privacy, while maintaining the open nature of the web. Again, Google did not immediately respond to our request. Further updates will be posted here. Got your own concerns? Consider the best privacy tools and anonymous browsers ====================================================================== Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/new-google-chrome-browser-security-plan-slammed- by-experts --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 (Linux/64) * Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100) .