Google has been diligently working on a groundbreaking project for years, aiming to disentangle the Chrome browser from its tight integration with Chrome OS. The fruits of this labor are about to be realized as the tech giant is gearing up to release a new standalone Linux-based browser called “Lacros.” This move is expected to revolutionize the way Chrome OS users interact with their browsers and could lead to improved security for older Chromebooks.
The current situation requires a full Chrome OS update to implement any changes to the browser, which has proven to be an inefficient process for issuing browser patches. To address this issue, Google has been on a quest for years to find a viable decoupling solution. Furthermore, older Chromebook models often lose access to system updates over time, leaving them potentially vulnerable to security threats. The introduction of Lacros could provide a remedy for this problem.
Although it is already possible to use Lacros, its integration has been less than seamless. Users have needed some technical know-how to get it up and running as it currently launches alongside the built-in Chrome browser. However, recent findings by About Chromebooks suggest that Lacros is on the cusp of becoming the default browser for Chromebooks, potentially replacing the current one altogether. This means that future Chromebook models would come equipped with Lacros as the default browser out of the box, allowing for independent browser-specific patches and updates without involving the entire operating system.
