14 DAY TRIAL // The recent cyber attacks made against Google likely prompted the company to further increase its focus on security and now it seems that even the upcoming highly anticipated wonder known as the Chrome OS will come with advanced security features. Described by Will Drewry, a Google software security engineer, as a “hardened” operating system, the Chrome will provide defense against threats, as well as allow developers to experiment.
The Google Chrome OS is generally thought of as an upcoming operating system that will have netbooks running faster, safer and more efficiently. The OS has been in development for some time and netbook makers such as Acer and Samsung are already devising their respective devices.
Network World reports that the Chrome OS will reassure purchasers of Google Netbooks through the fact that the OS itself is an open source project that enables constant feedback from developers, as far as security design is concerned. All platforms will ship with the trusted platform module (TMP), an industry-standard hardware module based on an architecture from the industry forum Trusted Computing Group. In addition, all netbooks will boast a “trusted bootpath.”
In order to make sure that malware threats are kept to a minimum, the OS and the browser will monitor the condition of websites through sandbox and auto-updating features that will warn when users are about to access malware-infected websites. Of course, some of these specialized security features can be disabled. This is easily done through the press of a button located under the battery, which will activate the “developer mode.” When in this mode, developers will be able to experiment, although security risks will be higher.
The consumer-oriented version of the Google Chrome OS will debut later this year, along with the first netbooks running it. This version will be followed by an enterprise one in 2011.