Latest news with #FamilySafety
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Yahoo
A second Windows 11 bug takes suspicious aim at Google Chrome — and the same Microsoft app is to blame
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Last Friday, we reported on an issue in Windows 11 where Google Chrome would simply refuse to launch. Chrome's support manager, Ellen T., confirmed that the team had investigated the problem and pinned it on Microsoft's Family Safety feature, but users were provided with a quick workaround instead of an official fix. The workaround? Either disable the 'Filter inappropriate websites' option under Family Safety or, oddly enough, rename the file to Microsoft still hasn't rolled out an official fix, but it has finally acknowledged the issue while confirming another bug impacting Chrome users, too. As reported by Neowin, Microsoft confirmed one more issue affecting Google Chrome users on Windows via a new Microsoft Learn entry. The entry was opened on Tuesday, June 24, and it hasn't been updated since. The new bug Microsoft has identified also has to do with the Family Safety feature that caused the issue we reported on earlier. However, instead of the feature causing Chrome to crash entirely, the feature just… doesn't work. The Redmond-based giant explains that the Web Content Filtering system relies on a block list to prevent browsers from accessing inappropriate search results and websites. Unless a browser version is added to the block list, it won't be, well, blocked — even if content filtering is turned on for the account. Something that, in the Microsoft Learn entry, the tech giant admitted to not having done with the latest version of Chrome and several other browsers. Due to this mistake on Microsoft's end, the browsers not added to the list might temporarily appear unblocked. Thankfully, Microsoft confirmed that it's currently working on updating the block list. The Redmond-based giant also touched on the issue we've already talked about in our previous article, which is causing Google Chrome and 'some browsers' to shut down unexpectedly. PCs with Parental Controls enabled typically receive a parental approval message: 'You'll need to ask to use this app.' Once a parent approves, the child gains access to the browser. However, this bug is causing the browser to shut down immediately without the prompt even appearing. Microsoft has pinpointed that this issue is only observed when the Activity reporting feature is disabled. The suggested workaround is to enable Activity reporting under Windows settings in Family Safety. Once the feature is enabled, parents will begin to receive approval requests as usual. The issues discussed above are affecting Windows 10 version 22H2 and Windows 11 versions 22H2, 23H2, and 24H2. Microsoft's confirmed that it's actively working on resolving both the above issues, and will update the support document when it has more information. What's great is that the tech giant has finally acknowledged the issue and provided a workaround to the Google Chrome crashing problem. Considering Microsoft has had quite the rocky history with Google Chrome, it's frankly a bit odd that both issues seem to primarily be affecting Chrome. Microsoft has a history of targeting Chrome (the world's most popular web browser) directly in various ways, including publishing a guide on 'how to uninstall Google Chrome,' displaying pop-up ads promoting Edge in the Chrome app, and interrupting users who search for Google Chrome using its Edge browser, just to name a few. Are both bugs genuine, or are they simply another attempt by Microsoft to push users toward Edge instead of Chrome? In this instance, I guess we'll never know. I quit Google Chrome after 15 years: Here's where I ended up and why Why I ditched Google Chrome for Microsoft Edge (and haven't looked back Microsoft doesn't want to tell you how to uninstall Microsoft Edge
Forbes
25-06-2025
- Forbes
Microsoft Is Blocking Google Chrome, Windows 11 Users Complain
Microsoft Family Safety on Windows 11 is blocking Google Chrome Update, June 25, 2025: This story, originally published on June 23, has been updated with further insight regarding the blocking of the Google Chrome web browser via the Microsoft Family Safety feature, as well as news of a Chrome security update that all Windows 11 users should ensure is installed and, importantly, activated. More often than not, if you see Windows and Google Chrome in the same headline, it's because a browser update to patch a security issue has been released. Thankfully, that's not the case here. However, when Microsoft, the world's most popular operating system vendor, appears to have blocked the world's most popular web browser, Chrome, that understandably becomes a cause for concern to some Windows 11 users. So, what is happening, and how can you address the issue if you are affected by it? I've been taking a detailed look to discover the truth behind the forum furore. Microsoft Family Safety Blocks Google Chrome On Windows 11, Users Complain Parental control software is designed to enable parents to protect their children from dangers, both perceived and very real, on the internet. Windows 11 has this functionality built into the operating system, through a feature called Microsoft Family Safety. This gives parent the ability to create what can be considered a safe environment for their children to browse the web, and this is accomplished by the use of content filtering. But what if that content filtering seemingly goes rogue? Scroll down for the reason why I don't think that has happened in this case. The issue was first reported June 3 by Windows 11 users on Reddit, and the complaints have continued to come in across various forums ever since. The problem appears to have started following the Google Chrome update to version 137.0.7151.68/69, since when users have reported that the browser will close down and then not reopen again when the Microsoft Family Safety feature is used. There do not appear to be any similar issues being reported from those using Microsoft Edge and parental controls. While Google has published a support posting that acknowledges the problem, stating that it has 'investigated these reports and determined the cause of this behavior,' as being 'when Microsoft Family Safety is enabled,' Microsoft itself has made no public announcements. I have approached both Microsoft and Google for an official statement, and will update this article if any is forthcoming. Google Issues Workaround For Microsoft Family Safety Blocking Of Chrome Meanwhile, Google has suggested the following workaround, which some reports suggest is the same advice being given by Microsoft to users who sought support: Delving Deeper Into The Microsoft Blocking Of Google Chrome For Windows 11 Family Safety Users I am still waiting to hear from Microsoft, despite requesting a statement before this article was published. I do, however, think that there are plenty of clues as to what is going on behind this latest round of complaints from Windows 11 users regarding the blocking of Google Chrome. I previously mentioned that similar issues with the Edge browser have not been reported by users of the Microsoft Family Safety feature for Windows 11. I suspect this is key to understanding what is going on here. If you head, as I did, to Microsoft's dedicated Family Safety page, you will find a very brief, as in just two items, Frequently Asked Questions section at the very bottom. This FAQ actually states that the feature works by enabling web and search filters to filter out sites and search results that might be considered too mature when using the Microsoft Edge browser. And here comes the important bit: 'Other commonly used browsers will be blocked for this to work,' the FAQ confirms. If you are using Windows 11 and employing the default Microsoft Family Safety parental controls app, then I would suggest it's not that controversial that this would work with Microsoft's default browser, Edge. If other browsers can effectively allow users to bypass the parental control filtering, then it would be more controversial if Microsoft enabled that to happen, surely? All Microsoft Windows Users Should Update Google Chrome Now If you have been having problems with your Chrome web browser crashing and have opted to use the workaround as detailed earlier in this article instead of switching to Edge or another application, I'm afraid your work isn't finished yet. Although the initial issue with Microsoft Family Safety on Windows 11 appeared to occur after a Google Chrome security update, I recommend updating again. As soon as possible, in fact. Google has confirmed a total of 11 new security issues impacting users of the popular web browser client, including three that have been given Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures database entries and associated severity ratings. Although none of these are categorized as critical or high-rated, if successfully exploited they could enable an attacker to bypass content security policy and execute arbitrary code. Needless to say, you should update to the latest copy of Chrome for Windows, version 138.0.7204.49/50, as soon as possible. The Google Chrome update process actually happens automatically, but as Google has stated, the update itself will 'roll out over the coming days/weeks.' Personally, I would rather not wait days, let alone weeks, to fix multiple security vulnerabilities that could leave my Windows system open to attack. Fortunately, there's a workaround for this as well: kickstart the update into life manually. Head to the Help menu and select 'About Google Chrome.' This will check for and both download and install the update. You are not finished yet though, at least not if you want to be protected by the security patches that you have just installed. For this to happen, you must activate the update by restarting Chrome. Although there are those who might be worried that they will lose all the gazillion tabs that they have open in their browser, this isn't the case. Google makes it quite clear that, in ordinary circumstances, your tabs will simply reopen when the browser restarts, allowing you to continue where you left off. The important thing is that you keep your copy of Google Chrome updated, and by so doing, you will also be protecting your Microsoft Windows machine.
National Post
23-06-2025
- Politics
- National Post
Canada has offered 'almost nothing' to help, says B.C. professor trapped in Iran
A British Columbia professor who is trapped in Iran says he's been told by officials there's 'almost nothing' the Canadian government can do to help him and his family. Article content Simon Fraser University engineering Prof. Shervin Jannesar says in an email that communications are extremely limited and Canadian authorities don't seem to have a plan to deal with the situation. Article content Article content Jannesar's wife and two infant children had travelled to Iran before Israel launched strikes against the country, and he told his students that when the conflict began he had no choice but to join them. Article content Article content The United States joined the conflict over the weekend by bombing Iran's nuclear sites and with airspace now closed there's no way for the family to get out. Article content He says in an email written to The Canadian Press at 3:45 a.m. local time on Sunday during a brief window of internet access that communications are extremely limited and calls cannot be received from outside the country. Article content Jannesar says he managed to call a Canadian government emergency line but after hours of conversation was initially told to fill in an online form, despite the lack of internet connection. Article content 'Finally one of the agents kindly did it on phone for me. But after so many back and forth talks they told me that there is almost nothing they can do,' Jannesar said. Article content 'Their answer to my question of 'what service (do) you exactly provide in this emergency line?' was something in lines of: 'we are answering your questions! And calls! And if you were not a Canadian we were not answering your questions!' Article content Article content One of Jannesar's students shared a message from him last week describing the professor's situation in an online forum, before the U.S. attack. Article content Article content In that message to his class Jannesar said he was still trying to provide recorded lectures despite the war conditions. Article content 'As you can most likely hear in my lecture nine recording, it is literally like a war zone with explosions coming around every now and then,' he wrote, asking his students for help getting out word about his situation. Article content A spokesman for Simon Fraser University confirmed that one of its lecturers was stuck in Iran but said it could not provide a recording of the lecture described by Jannesar because access was limited to students. Article content Jannesar says in his email that the Canadian officials he spoke with 'were nice and respectful' and he did not want to be 'harsh' about them. Article content 'But there are actually no managerial plans behind it and (it's) not clear what they offer. It's not even clear in the wording of their emails that what they do they do or can do,' he said.
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Business Standard
23-06-2025
- Business Standard
Facing troubles with Google Chrome on Windows? Check reason and workaround
A newly introduced Microsoft's Family Safety tool is causing Google Chrome to crash on Windows, leaving users frustrated for more than two weeks. As reported by The Verge, the issue began in early June and either prevents Chrome from opening or causes it to crash immediately after launching. Cause of the issue According to a statement by Ellen T, Chrome support manager, the team has confirmed that Chrome is unable to run when Microsoft Family Safety is enabled. Other browsers, such as Firefox and Opera, remain unaffected. What is Microsoft Family Safety Microsoft Family Safety is a built-in Windows feature that enables parents to monitor and restrict device usage. It supports: Content filtering Screen time limits Cross-device syncing across Windows, Android and Xbox For example, time limits set for games like Fortnite on a PC also apply to other devices, preventing children from bypassing restrictions by switching platforms. Workarounds to fix Chrome Until Microsoft rolls out an official fix, users have discovered a few temporary solutions: Rename to Disable the 'filter inappropriate websites' setting in Family Safety No official fix yet Microsoft has not officially acknowledged the bug nor shared a timeline for resolution. A Chromium engineer noted that Microsoft has privately provided guidance to affected users, but this has not significantly alleviated the issue at scale. The situation has renewed concerns about Microsoft's past tactics to promote its Edge browser over Chrome. The company has previously used pop-ups, AI-driven search manipulation, and warning messages to deter users from switching browsers.
Tom's Guide
21-06-2025
- Tom's Guide
Windows parental controls are crashing Chrome — here's the workaround
Windows 11's Family Safety feature is supposed to block certain websites from children, but apparently it's also been causing issues with Google's Chrome browser, a (vastly more popular) competitor to Microsoft's own Edge. The problem first surfaced on Windows on June 3, per The Verge, when several users started noticing they couldn't open Chrome or their browser would crash randomly. Restarting their computer or reinstalling Chrome didn't fix the issue, and other browsers like Firefox and Opera appeared unaffected. On Monday, a Google spokesperson posted in the company's community forum that it had investigated these reports and found the issues were linked to Microsoft's new Windows Family Safety feature. This optional feature is primarily used by parents and schools to manage children's screen time, filter their web browsing, and monitor their online activity. Curiously, the bug has been going on for weeks now, and Microsoft still hasn't issued a patch. 'We've not heard anything from Microsoft about a fix being rolled out,' wrote a Chromium engineer in a bug tracking thread on June 10. 'They have provided guidance to users who contact them about how to get Chrome working again, but I wouldn't think that would have a large effect.' While this issue could be an innocent bug, Microsoft has a history of placing annoying hurdles between Edge and Chrome to entice users to stick with its browser. So anytime a technical snafu makes Chrome run worse on Windows PCs, Microsoft understandably gets some serious side eye. Thankfully, there seem to be two ways to get around this bug while we wait for Microsoft to issue a fix, and they're both fairly simple. The most straightforward is to turn off the "Filter Inappropriate Websites" setting. Head to the Family Safety mobile app or Family Safety web portal, select a user's account, and choose to disable "Filter inappropriate websites" under the Edge tab. However, that'll remove the guardrails on Chrome and let your child access any website, including the ones you were trying to block in the first place. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. If you want to keep the guardrails on and still use Chrome, some users reported that altering the name in your Chrome folder (to something like Chrome1, for example), got the browser to work again even with the Family Safety feature enabled.
