Google has released a new security update to fix a recently discovered zero-day bug in the Chrome browser.

As reported by BleepingComputer, this is the 5th such vulnerability exploited by hackers since the beginning of the year before being patched by the search giant. The new high-severity flaw (tracked as CVE-2024-4671), after the use of Chrome's visual components that handle rendering and displaying content in Google's browsers,

In an advisory, the company explained that the vulnerability, which was discovered and reported by anonymous researchers, was being exploited in wild attacks. However, Google does not provide any additional information, so it may take Chrome users extra time to patch their browsers.

Use-after-free defects are particularly dangerous because they can lead to data leaks, code execution, and crashes. Fortunately, Google has patched this zero day with Chrome version 124.0.6367.201/.202 for Mac and Windows that should be able to download and install as of this writing.

Now, much of our work and everyday life is done within the browser, so it's very important to keep Chrome up to date.

Google uses a color-coded warning system to let you know that new updates are available in your browser. If you look at the profile picture, a bubble will appear next to it when there is an update, green for 2-day old updates, orange for 4-day old updates, and red if the update was released at least a week ago.

If you don't wait, you can also manually check if Chrome updates are available by clicking on the 3 dot menu in the upper right corner of your browser. From there, you need to open "Settings" and go to "About Chrome". If you are ready to install the update, Chrome will automatically start the download and apply it the next time you restart your browser.

Just like the best phones, keeping your browser up to date and running the latest software is the easiest way to avoid falling victim to cyber attacks. This is because cybercriminals love to prey on users who have not yet updated their browsers.

Besides keeping Chrome updated regularly, you should also consider using one of the best antivirus software on your PC, the best Mac antivirus software on your Mac, and the best Android antivirus app on your Android smartphone. This way, no matter what threats you encounter online, your device and data will be protected.

Google may patch many zero days each year in Chrome and other products, but in doing so, the company plays its part in keeping users safe from hackers. However, it is still up to you to install these updates in a timely manner.