Google has released Chrome 157, and the numbers are large: 213 security issues fixed, including 7 rated Critical. The catch is that Chrome's automatic updater does not always deliver a release the moment it ships. Your browser may still be running an older build right now. This guide explains what the Chrome 157 security update covers, how to check your version, and how to install the fix yourself.
What the Chrome 157 Security Update Fixes
Chrome 157 addresses 213 security issues in a single release, with seven of them carrying Google's highest severity rating, Critical. Coverage of the release says the Critical flaws affect browser components including Dawn, ANGLE, WebGL and Prerender. Those are the parts of Chrome that handle graphics rendering and page preloading, which means they process content from websites you visit.
According to Google's release notes as cited in other coverage, the fixed builds are 157.0.8103.38 or 157.0.8103.39 on Windows and Mac, and 157.0.8103.38 on Linux and Android. If your version number is lower than those, you are not yet protected by this update.
For scale, the previous stable desktop update, Chrome 156 in late October, listed 52 security fixes. Chrome 157 is a much bigger batch. It is also in line with other recent releases: our earlier report on Chrome 153, which addressed 230 vulnerabilities and a zero-day, showed that large patch counts have become routine for Chrome.
How to Check Your Chrome Version
Chrome usually updates in the background, but it only applies the new version after a restart. A browser that has been open for days or weeks can be behind. To check:
- Open Chrome on your computer.
- Click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.
- Go to Help, then About Google Chrome. You can also type chrome://settings/help into the address bar.
- Read the version number shown on that page and compare it with the fixed builds above.
On that page, Chrome also checks for updates automatically. If it finds one, it starts downloading right away.
How to Force the Update Manually
If the About page shows an older version, or says an update is ready, finish the process by hand:
- Desktop (Windows, Mac, Linux): On the About Google Chrome page, wait for the download to complete, then click Relaunch. Save any open work first, since Chrome will restart. Chrome normally restores your tabs afterward.
- Android: Open the Google Play Store, search for Chrome, and tap Update if it is available.
- Linux: Chrome may also be updated through your system's package manager, depending on how you installed it.
After relaunching, return to the About page and confirm the version number now matches or exceeds the fixed build. If you still see an older number, check for updates again, since rollouts reach users in stages.
Why Browser Patches Matter for Your Privacy
It is tempting to think a VPN covers you while you browse. A VPN encrypts traffic between your device and the VPN server and can hide your IP address from the sites you visit. It does not change how your browser handles the code it receives. A vulnerability in a browser component is a flaw in the software on your device, and that is a separate problem from network privacy.
That distinction matters because your browser holds a lot: logged-in sessions, saved passwords, autofill data, cookies and browsing history. A serious flaw in a browser component could, in the wrong circumstances, put that data at risk regardless of what your network connection looks like. Critical ratings exist because these bugs can have the most severe consequences.
There is also a timing issue. Once a patch is public, the fixes can be studied, and the gap between release and installation is when users are most exposed. Our ThreatsDay roundup noting 370 Chrome bugs is another reminder of how steady the flow of browser fixes has been.
What This Means For You
You do not need to panic, but you should not wait. Chrome 157 is a large security release, and the automatic update may not have reached you yet, especially if you rarely close the browser. Checking takes under a minute. Treat a VPN as one layer of privacy protection, not a substitute for a patched browser. The two do different jobs, and you need both working.
If you use Chrome-based browsers other than Chrome itself, check their own update pages too, since they typically follow Chrome's release schedule. Their exact timing may differ, and the source material here covers only Chrome.
Quick Takeaways
- Open Help, then About Google Chrome, and confirm you are on version 157.0.8103.38 or later.
- Click Relaunch to finish the update; the patch does not apply until Chrome restarts.
- Update Chrome on Android through the Play Store.
- Restart your browser regularly so automatic updates actually take effect.
- Keep your VPN, but do not rely on it to cover for outdated software.
Check your version and install the Chrome 157 security update now. If you want to see how often these patches matter, read our earlier coverage of the V8 zero-day Chrome patched after live exploitation in September alongside our Chrome 153 report. Both show that a few minutes spent updating is one of the most effective privacy steps available.
