Google just released the biggest security update in Chrome’s history — patching 429 vulnerabilities in one go. Around the same time, an AI-powered security research tool developed by Google DeepMind independently discovered 21 previously unknown security flaws inside FFmpeg, a popular open-source library that countless apps use to play and process video and audio files. All the discovered issues have been reported to the affected developers, and fixes are either already available or on the way.
Why does this matter to you? If you browse the web with Chrome and haven’t updated recently, your browser may be vulnerable to attacks that could let a bad actor access your device just by visiting a malicious webpage. The FFmpeg flaws are a reminder that the software quietly running inside your favourite media apps can also be a security risk — keeping your apps updated is just as important as keeping your browser updated.
How to check if you’re affected
Affected versions include all Chrome releases before the latest update (version 137 or higher). To check and update:
- Open Chrome and click the three dots (⋮) in the top-right corner.
- Go to Help → About Google Chrome.
- Chrome will check for updates automatically and install them. Restart when prompted.
For FFmpeg-based apps (video players, media editors, streaming apps), visit your device’s app store and install any pending updates.