Google has fixed 13 vulnerabilities in Chrome versions 143.0.7499.40/41 for Windows and macOS and 143.0.7499.40 for Linux. According to Google, none of these vulnerabilities have been exploited for attacks in the wild. This major update brings Chrome up to version 143 and comes one week late with no reason given by Google for the delay. In the Chrome Releases blog post, Srinivas Sista lists the security vulnerabilities that have been fixed, all of which were reported to Google by external researchers. Google classifies four vulnerabilities as high risk, including a new incarnation of the type confusion issue in the JavaScript V8 engine (CVE-2025-13630). Three other vulnerabilities are classified as medium risk, the rest as low risk. What’s new in Chrome 143? Google is promoting Chrome’s new ability to read web text aloud. To do this, you have to first activate reading mode using the right-click menu and selecting “Open in reading mode,” which opens in a sidebar. At the top of that panel, you’ll now also see options for reading aloud: Play, Voice speed, Voice selection, and Voice highlight. Google is also integrating more “AI” features into Chrome. You can now access the so-called “AI Mode” of Google Search directly via the address bar and the New Tab page. Gemini in Chrome—the “AI” support that’s now baked into the browser—is designed to summarize text, explain concepts, and answer questions. Gemini in Chrome will initially be introduced for Windows and Mac users in the US who use English as their default language. Other languages are to come and will be added gradually. Security fixes in Chrome 143 On November 17th, Google released an emergency update to Chrome 142.0.7444.176 to close a zero-day vulnerability (CVE-2025-13223). On November 20th, Google delivered Chrome 143.0.7499.40/41 for Windows and macOS and 143.0.7499.34 for Android as an early stable update to 0.5 percent of existing Chrome users, but with a one-day delay likely due to the aftermath of the emergency update. Since then, the release blog and update channels have been quiet. According to schedule, the general release of Chrome 143 would have taken place on November 25th. However, Google did not release Chrome 143 until a week later on December 2nd. Google has not yet given a reason for this. It likely wasn’t due to serious problems with the version distributed with the Early Stable Update, as this is exactly the same version that was previously released to everyone. Chrome usually updates itself automatically when a new version is available. You can trigger the update check manually using the menu item Help > About Google Chrome. The Extended Stable Channel for Windows and macOS now contains Chromium version 142.0.7499.226. Google does not plan to release Chrome 144 until January 2026. Other Chromium-based browsers The makers of other Chromium-based browsers are now required to follow suit with updates. Microsoft Edge, Brave, and Vivaldi are currently at the security level following the emergency update a fortnight ago. Opera has temporarily reduced its backlog with browser version 124 based on Chromium version 140, which was released on October 13th. The developers have backported additional security patches, namely the fix for the zero-day vulnerability CVE-2025-13223, but overall haven’t come any closer to the desired parity with other manufacturers. Read...

They say you can’t go home again, and for the moment, it appears you can’t call home to your Google displays or speakers anymore either.  Google Home users on Reddit have been noticing that the “Call Home” button in the Google Home app, which lets you directly call your Google Nest Hub smart displays or Nest speakers from a smartphone, seems to have vanished.  I don’t see the Call Home button on the Google Home app either, and the sleuths at 9to5Google confirm that after “digging through the Home app, ‘Call Home’ has completely disappeared.”  Now, are we just talking a bug here or has the feature been intentionally pulled? We’ve reached out to Google to check.  Introduced back in 2019, Call Home may not have been Google Home’s most popular feature, but it was handy for those who used it. Basically, Call Home let you place video and audio calls to your Google speakers and displays directly from your phone, making for a one-touch way to check in on your homestead while you’re away.  Also out with the bathwater is the Broadcast button, which allowed users to broadcast announcements through your Google Home devices. As 9to5Google notes, you can still broadcast messages to Google speakers and displays by asking Gemini or Google Assistant.  The Google Home app just underwent a major Gemini for Home makeover, which saw a rejiggering of the bottom tabs and the addition of a Gemini-powered “Ask Home” chatbox, which essentially lets you talk to your smart home.  While Gemini for Home is replacing Google Assistant for smart home control, Google has promised that Gemini will still be able to tackle old Google Assistant chores, including the free ones that don’t require a paid subscription.  Still, many old Google Home features have been unceremoniously dropped during the long transition from Google Assistant to Gemini for Home, and it’s seems likely that Call Home is merely the latest.  Back in March, Google dropped seven smart home-oriented Google Assistant features, including Family Bell, which allowed users to create reminder bells for family events such as breakfast or dinner time.    Another 17 Google Assistant features were deprecated early last year, including music alarms, step-by-step recipes, and stopwatch management.  This news story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart speakers. Read...

Earlier this week, Microsoft released optional Windows 11 update KB5070311, which brings several new features and improvements to the operating system, including File Explorer changes like “a more consistent dark mode experience.” Unfortunately, the update isn’t without issues. The new File Explorer dark mode, for example, has a bug that may cause headaches. Microsoft confirms the bug in the “Known issues in this update” section of the update’s support page: After installing KB5070311, you might experience issues when opening File Explorer in dark mode. The window might briefly display a blank white screen before loading files and folders. This can also occur when you: Navigate to or from Home or Gallery Create a new tab Turn the Details pane on or off Select More details while copying files In other words, after installing update KB5070311, you may experience brief white flashes or blinks in File Explorer when, for example, switching between folders or activating the Details pane. The problem applies to versions Windows 11 25H2 (Build 26200.7309) and Windows 11 24H2 (Build 26100.7309), and File Explorer only spazzes out while dark mode is activated. Microsoft says it’s aware of the issue and working on a fix. There’s no workaround at this time. Read...

Your home workstation setup needs an upgrade—but I’m not talking about a new laptop, a new monitor, or even a new chair. I’m talking about something most people don’t even consider: a new charging station that’s designed for modern users and devices. Anker’s 8-in-1 240W charging station is more useful than it seems at first glance, and now’s an excellent time to grab one because it’s on sale for $90 (31% off). View this Amazon deal You can think of this charging station as an evolved power strip with everything you need for a 2025 office. On the front face are two AC outlets with individual switches, which are great for your PC and monitor, for example. And then you have four USB-C ports along the bottom edge plus two USB-A ports along the side. That’s more than enough for powering and charging all your accessories and peripherals. This charging station puts out up to 240W of total USB charging, with the each USB-C maxing out at 140W and each USB-A at 12W. When multiple ports are used, the total 240W throughput gets split between the ports in use, but no worries—you’ll still get fast charging even so. The nifty digital display shows how much power is delivered to each port being used, by the way, in case you want to know exact details. The design of this charger is great, too. It’s flat and measures only 5.43 x 3.07 x 0.71 inches, so it’s easy to slip into a bag and take with you while traveling if needed. The 5-foot power cable is detachable, too. Lastly, it has some smart features you can take advantage of via the companion app, like scheduling times for when the charger should be on/off. It’s a great deal for just $90 right now, so snap up this 8-in-1 240W USB charging station while you can! It’s a brand-new low price for it, so you know you’re getting an actual deal worth jumping on. This uber-fast 8-device charging station has never been cheaperBuy now at Amazon Read...

One of the things that I always carry in my bag or backpack is a power bank. You never know when you’re going to have to top off your phone to get it through the day! But here’s the cool part: technology has evolved in such a way that you don’t necessarily have to buy a power bank itself — you can get a different gadget with a completely different purpose that has a built-in power bank. Win-win! From electric hand warmers to portable fans to flashlights, I found several deeply useful tech products that will be helpful in everyday situations… and extra handy when your phone’s battery starts dying on you. Charging station with removable power bank, 10,000mAh Smtcsl A desk charging station can simplify your life by allowing you to charge your smartphone, earbuds, and Apple Watch all at once. The standout feature? The magnetic wireless charger for your phone is removable, so you can easily pop it out and take it on the go. With a 10,000mAh capacity, it provides roughly two full charges for your device. This charging station has a $60 MSRP, but we’ve seen it as low as $40. Buy now at Amazon Wall charger with power bank, 15,000mAh LOVELEDI Why bother getting both a power bank and a wall charger when you can just get this Loveledi two-in-one model? The power bank features foldable pins so you can plug it directly into an outlet and you can use the built-in cables to charge your gear. When you leave, the 15,000mAh capacity will definitely be helpful. This thing has an MSRP of $29, but you can often find it available on discount. Buy now at Amazon Portable handheld fan, 9,000mAh JISULIFE When you’re out and about during hot days, you can just use this portable fan to cool yourself down. And when your phone runs out of battery, you can use it as a power bank too. Now that’s versatility! With a 9,000mAh capacity, you get a full recharge of your phone and plenty left for other gadgets or a later top-off. Need more incentive to get one? The gadget is also a flashlight, jet pan, and air pump — phew! You can often find this device for about $75. Buy now at Amazon Rorry keychain power bank, 5,000mAh Rorry One thing everyone has on their keys is a keychain. Well, this one’s a tad more special because it’s also a 5,000mAh power bank with two built-in cables and a magnetic charging pad for your Apple Watch. It’s light, it’s compact, and it’s so useful to have around. It also comes in about a million colors so you can pick your favorite. It’s only going to cost you $30 to get one, which isn’t bad at all. Buy now at Amazon Ocoopa hand warmers, 10,000mAh Ocoopa Whether you’re considering getting some hand warmers because winter is coming or just because you always have cold hands, these Ocoopa rechargeable hand warmers should definitely be on your radar. They conveniently magnetize to each other when not in use, so you don’t lose them. Each of the two is also a 5,000mAh power bank that can recharge your phone on the go if you have a USB-C cable on hand. These versatile hand warmers have a $30 MSRP, but they’re often on sale. Buy now at Amazon Loop SK05 Pro LED flashlight, 8,000mAh Loop Having a flashlight in your bag can be super helpful, especially if you often have to walk in poorly lit areas. This Loop Gear SK05 Pro LED flashlight delivers over 4K lumens, brightening up the path ahead. It also doesn’t hurt that it’s easily rechargeable, so you don’t have to waste any batteries. Oh, and it also acts as a power bank with an 8,000mAh capacity which is useful if your phone is close to dying on you. It’s a bit pricey, though, dipping just under $100 when on sale. Buy now at Amazon Mosquito repeller device, 9,000mAh PathVenture If you’re like me and unknowingly walk around as a mosquito magnet all summer long, then you could probably use one of these portable repeller devices. Whether you take this with you on walks or even in your back yard, it will come in handy, heating up the repellent mats and protecting you from bites. It also has a 9,000mAh power bank inside and acts as a flashlight in emergency situations. That’s a well-spent $30. Buy now at Amazon Vanvale tactical flashlight, 9,600mAh Vanvale Obviously, it’s easy to turn a flashlight into a powerbank, but we really couldn’t ignore this massive tactical LED flashlight from the conversation. This thing can be super useful to have in your home and to take with you while camping, featuring 5 lighting modes. There’s enough power in this thing to recharge your phone at least once completely, so if you’re ever in need you can rely on it. Buy now at Amazon Warwolf portable air compressor, 10,000mAh Warwolf One thing you need to have in your care is a portable air compressor. This Warwolf is super useful because it will easily inflate your tires to the exact target value, automatically stopping when optimal tire pressure is achieved. It can be charged via USB port and you can use those same ports to charge your phone if you’re ever in need. This one will set you back about $50 if you get it on sale. Buy now at Amazon Read...

Are you in the market for a reliable laptop that can handle all types of tasks, whether work-related or not, and you need it to be as versatile as possible? Then you can’t go wrong with this Lenovo Yoga 7i that’s only $650 at Best Buy right now. With this huge $400 discount, you’re getting a mid-tier performance machine at a near-budget price. It’s a great pick for anyone hunting for a solid post-Black-Friday deal. View this Best Buy deal The Lenovo Yoga 7i is an everyday laptop that features an Intel Core 7 Ultra 155U processor and 16GB of RAM, which is about the minimum we’d recommend for a modern Windows 11 laptop. It’s powerful enough to run all your daily apps and your dozens of browser tabs, plus the 1TB SSD offers plenty of storage space for all your data and ensures that your system and apps load in the blink of an eye. The coolest part about the Lenovo Yoga 7i rests in its name: it’s called “yoga” because of its 2-in-1 form factor, with a 360-degree hinge that lets the screen fold all the way back into tablet mode. The 16-inch 1920×1200 display is perfect for laptop use, but it’s also a touchscreen so you can use it with your finger or stylus for, say, reading documents. Or you can tent the laptop for comfortable Netflix and YouTube viewing. With most laptop deals now gone after Black Friday and Cyber Monday, it’s great to see the Lenovo Yoga 7i for $400 off at Best Buy. Hurry up and grab this deal before it also goes away! Save $400 on this tried-and-true Lenovo 2-in-1 productivity laptopBuy via Best Buy Read...

Using a virtual private network (VPN) is most commonly associated with protecting your privacy and staying safe on public Wi-Fi. But VPNs also provide an excellent solution for improving accessibility to the streaming services you already subscribe to, and Norton’s latest version is an effective, affordable way to augment your online streaming. There is a range of extras you can bundle in for just a few dollars more, too.  Unfortunately, the streaming experience isn’t consistent around the world. Different territories have access to different streaming services and different content on those services. That makes mainlining episodes of your favorite show every night a bit tricky when you’re travelling for work or vacation. Did you know you can use a VPN to keep watching your favorites, no matter where you are? Take your favorite shows away with youView Norton VPN Be where you want to be One of the neatest aspects of using a VPN is that you can decide where you appear to be. So if you’re holidaying in Europe, you can use a VPN like Norton’s to make it seem as if you’re in the US. So you can still get on to your favorite streaming platform and watch your favorite shows like normal. The same goes for new film releases you were excited for. No need to miss out if you’re out of the country. Just set your location back to home and whatever you could watch there, you can watch it wherever you are.  The IP masking effectively hides where you are, which is what makes VPNs so good for protecting your privacy, too. As far as whatever streaming service you’re watching is concerned, you’re located wherever the VPN says you are. You could be working on a remote research station in the Antarctic, dodging penguins and snow drifts, and still have access to all the latest releases from back home.  Additional security protection With the Norton VPN Standard package, you can get the full VPN functionality for the equivalent of just $3.33 a month for the first year thanks to a 50% off discount. That gets you protection and easier streaming on up to five different devices. Find a streaming service has clocked you’re using a VPN? There’s a built-in double VPN service with IP rotation to make your real location more difficult to detect.  For a handful of useful extras, the Norton VPN Plus package is at 54% off right now, with the equivalent of $4.17 a month for the first year. Along with the standard VPN features, you also get Norton’s effective Antivirus software, AI-powered scam-detection with its new Genie service, a secure password manager, and 10GB of encrypted cloud-backup service.  If you’re part of a larger family you want to protect, or you have a number of devices on which you want to use the VPN, the Norton VPN Ultimate package is equivalent to $5 per month for the first year, and gives you support for up to 10 simultaneous devices. It also has a selection of robust parental controls you can take advantage of, and with a handy device finder for all the kids’ smart gadgets and devices.  Whichever package is right for you, Norton the VPN is effective and easy to use. If you’re finding yourself frustrated by streaming roadblocks, particularly when travelling, a VPN like Norton’s might be the way to go. Take your favorite shows away with youView Norton VPN >> Read our Norton Security Buyer’s Guide Read...

TL;DR: Get Microsoft Office Professional 2021 and Windows 11 Pro together for just $39.97 (MSRP: $418.99) for a limited time. If you’ve been putting off upgrading your PC, this bundle makes the decision easier than ever. For just $39.97, you can lock in a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Professional 2021 and Microsoft Windows 11 Pro — two tools that can completely change how your computer performs. Office Pro 2021 includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, OneNote, Publisher, and Access, all redesigned with modern features to help you create documents, crunch data, or put together presentations more efficiently. No subscription fees, no renewals. Pair that with Windows 11 Pro, Microsoft’s sleek, secure, and productivity-focused operating system. With features like snap layouts, enhanced security tools, and Copilot — the built-in AI assistant that helps draft emails, summarize content, or even generate quick code suggestions — it’s a serious upgrade for entrepreneurs, remote workers, and anyone trying to extend the life of their current machine. Pick up this Microsoft Office Professional 2021 and Microsoft Windows 11 Pro bundle while it’s just $39.97 (MSRP: $418.99) for a limited time. The Ultimate Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License + Windows 11 Pro BundleSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change. Read...

Norton has launched Neo, a free AI-native browser offering enhanced privacy and security against rising AI-driven online threats, now available worldwide. Read...

TechHive Editors Choice At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Surprisingly fast 4K with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos at a low price Great remote with customization potential Google Photos screensavers Cons Too much useless home-screen clutter Remote lacks dedicated fast-forward, rewind, and play/pause buttons No ethernet or USB-A ports Our Verdict Walmart’s $30 streaming box gives you more than the competition the likes of Amazon and Roku. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Walmart Onn 4K Plus Retailer Price Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best Prices Today: Check today’s prices Walmart has another winner on its hands with the Onn 4K Plus Streaming Device. For $30, you get a compact streaming box with 4K HDR, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos support. It’s a surprisingly speedy streaming player for the money, with a generous 16GB of storage for apps and its Google TV software is generally useful (at least when it’s not shoving banner ads in your face). Roku’s budget streamers (such as the $40 Streaming Stick Plus) have a slight edge in terms of ease-of-use, and Walmart’s own Onn 4K Pro has some additional features and is also worth considering. But if you want a sub-$50 streaming device that does pretty much everything well, the Onn 4K Plus is tough to beat. An unexpectedly speedy streamer Jared Newman / Foundry The Onn 4K Plus measures about an inch thick and is small enough to fit in one’s palm. It comes with a power adapter permanently attached to five-foot USB-C cable, and it uses HDMI to connect with your TV. (Roku, by contrast, no longer includes a wall charger with its budget streamers.) Walmart doesn’t publicize processor details, but the Onn 4K Plus reportedly uses a quad-core 2.5GHz Amlogic S905X5M chip. Surprisingly, benchmarks by AFTVNews have shown that it’s faster than Walmart’s $50 Onn 4K Pro, and is only slower than Amazon’s Fire TV Cube and Nvidia’s Shield TV devices. My own real-world testing bears this out. With both the Onn 4K Plus and Onn 4K Pro running side by side, the cheaper Plus was often a bit quicker at launching apps, and it was much smoother at speed-scrolling through the Pluto TV channel guides and Google TV’s Live menu. (The Onn 4K Plus was also noticeably faster at loading apps than the Roku Streaming Stick Plus.) That said, the pricier Onn 4K Pro has twice the RAM as the cheaper model—4GB versus 2GB—and that made a difference when switching between apps. After cycling through three or four apps, the Onn 4K Plus usually had to reload the next app from scratch, whereas the Onn 4K Pro would pick up where I’d left off. The Onn 4K Plus also has half the storage of its more expensive sibling—16GB versus 32GB—but that shouldn’t be an issue unless you’re installing a bunch of games on it. It’s still more generous than the 8GB on Amazon’s cheapest Fire TV Sticks. While we’re comparing, the Onn 4K Plus supports Bluetooth accessories (such as wireless earbuds) and Wi-Fi 6, but has no USB-A accessory port and no wired ethernet port. Those are exclusive to the Onn 4K Pro in Walmart’s lineup. It comes with a feature-rich remote Jared Newman / Foundry If you like a remote with a lot of buttons, the Onn 4K Plus is for you. Beyond the standard directional pad, home, and back buttons, the Plus’ remote has buttons for voice commands, quick settings, profile-switching, a link to Google’s live TV guide, a link to free videos, a channel flipper, and the obligatory paid-advertising shortcuts for various streaming services (YouTube, Netflix, Disney+, and Paramount). The remote can also control the power on your TV, and its volume buttons can control TVs, soundbars, and external A/V systems. Unlike Roku’s players, you’re not limited to HDMI-CEC control, either, as the remote can control sound systems over IR if that’s a necessity for your setup. Lastly, the remote has a programmable Star button in the top-right corner. You can use it to access smart home controls via a Google Home panel or set it to launch your favorite app. If that’s not customizable enough for you, third-party apps such as TVQuickActions let you remap the remote buttons to do whatever you want. I’ve used this to quickly access the full app list, map the Live button to Channels DVR, and reassign the pre-programmed app buttons. While Amazon’s Fire TV devices prevent such behavior, the Google TV platform Walmart uses is more permissive. And yet, a few things are missing: The remote’s buttons aren’t backlit like they are on the Onn 4K Pro remote, and there’s no “finder” function for playing a sound on the remote if it goes missing. The remote lacks dedicated fast-forward, rewind, and play/pause buttons as well—you must use the directional pad and select button instead—which may take adjustment if you’re coming from a Roku or Fire TV device. Google TV has too much clutter, but it’s still useful Jared Newman / Foundry Like Walmart’s other Onn streamers, the Onn 4K Plus runs on Android TV with a menu system known as Google TV. That means Google’s home screen will suggest things to watch based on your interests. The first three home-screen rows are pretty useful, with a row of recommendations followed by a list of your installed apps and a “Continue Watching” row. The latter pulls in movies and shows you’ve started watching on services such as Netflix, HBO Max, Apple TV, and Disney+, so you can quickly pick up where you left off. Jared Newman / Foundry Things get dicey, however, when you scroll down further, with sponsored content rows, lists of free content from Google, and on-demand movies to purchase. In the screenshot above, for instance, you can see how a large sponsored panel appears directly below the “Continue Watching” row. Google does let you customize what appears on the home screen to some extent, with a “Your services” menu where you can toggle recommendations for each streaming service. If you don’t subscribe to Peacock, for instance, you can hide its content from the home screen. Jared Newman / Foundry Still, certain things can’t be disabled, like the movie purchase row and recommendations from Google’s own free streaming services. That means you must wade through some noise just to get useful signal. More Google stuff Jared Newman / Foundry Because the Onn 4K Plus is a Google TV device, is has some other notable tie-ins to Google’s ecosystem. Most notably, the device’s Screensaver mode ties into Google Photos, letting you choose which albums to appear when the device is idle. By setting up live albums, you can turn your TV into a photo frame that’s always updating with new pictures, and it’s easy to get sucked into revisiting those memories. (Roku devices can show Google Photos albums as well, but the setup is clunkier.) The Onn 4K Plus also works as a Google Cast device, so you can stream video or music from Cast-supported apps on your phone and mirror the screen from an Android device or the Chrome browser. Jared Newman / Foundry Walmart’s streamer ties into Google’s smart home system as well. Using the Google Home panel in the quick settings menu, you can view connected cameras and adjust connected lights, thermostats, plugs, and other smart home devices, Should you buy the Walmart Onn 4K Plus? I’m an Apple TV guy, but the Walmart Onn 4K Plus is what I’d buy if I didn’t want to spend that much, especially for a secondary TV. It offers great performance, enough storage, and software that I generally find useful despite its ad-related annoyances. The Google Photos tie-in is a nice touch, as that’s where we store our family photos. There’s always a case for other streaming boxes. Roku’s latest Streaming Sticks are frequently on sale and provide a less chaotic (but increasingly frustrating) interface, and Amazon’s Fire TV streamers might appeal to folks who are all-in on Alexa. The Walmart Onn 4K Pro is also compelling for the extra bells and whistles, most notably its USB-A port and remote-finder function. But the Walmart Onn 4K Plus is what I’ll suggest for folks who want an inexpensive upgrade over an old streaming player or stodgy smart TV software, especially if they aren’t set on another platform, such as Roku. No other streamer offers more for less. This review is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best media streamers. Read...