Google rolled out an updated version of its Chrome Web browser this week, fixing several high-risk vulnerabilities that could leave out-of-date browsers susceptible to attack.
Released on Tuesday (Dec. 13), Chrome 16 fixes 15 bugs, six of which Google, in a post on its Chrome blog, labeled high-risk, meaning a malicious party could gain unauthorized privileges on infected systems by spoofing the website address in the URL bar or via rigged PDF files.
Of the remaining bugs, seven were labeled medium-risk and two were classified as low-risk. As part the bug bounty-hunting program, Chrome paid outside researchers $6,000 for detecting and reporting eight of the flaws.
One of the most basic, but most important, ways to keep your computer free from viruses and malware is to run the most up-to-date version of your Web browser. In this case, if you use Chrome, click on the wrench icon in the top right corner of your browser, then select "About Google Chrome" to make sure you're running version 16.0.912.63.