Google releases version 10 of Chrome browser

Google has released the final code for the 10th version of its Chrome browser, which currently has about 10 per cent of the global search market.

The browser uses Google's updated Crankshaft JavaScript engine which the company says is 66 per cent faster than previous builds.

Security has also been given a major boost with automatic disabling of outdated plug-ins, fully sandboxed Flash on Windows Vista systems and higher, as well as password synchronisation between browsers

"For those of you who save your passwords in the browser, you can now quickly log on to the web sites you frequent even when you switch computers, by simply synchronising those passwords across your computers," said the Chrome blog.

"You can also encrypt those passwords with your own secret passphrase for extra security."

The browser also includes features that have been available only to beta users, such as hardware-accelerated graphics and a new settings box which works on tabs rather than as a separate dialogue box.

The new release has also proved something of a payday for security researchers. The bugs fixed in the final release have seen Google pay out over $15,000 in finders fees, some researchers picking up multiple bug bounties.

"A few lower-severity issues were rewarded on account of being particularly interesting or clever," said Jason Kersey, programme manager for Chrome, in a blog post.

"And some rewards were issued at the $1,500 and $2,000 level, reflecting bug reports where the reporter also worked with Chromium developers to provide an accepted patch."

Google intends this to be the last numbered version of Chrome. The company is speeding up development of the browser, and will add new updates without changing version numbers.

The browser is available for Windows, Mac, Linux and Chrome Frame from the V3.co.uk download site.