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> every major browser silently installs itself into the startup process when you enable any browser push notification on Windows Don’t they already do that for

> every major browser silently installs itself into the startup process when you enable any browser push notification on Windows Don’t they already do that for automatic background updates anyway?

easton 4y ago
Yes, but usually they have a smaller updater instead of the entire browser always having to run in the background. Guessing that’s what OP is complaining about.
- zagrebian 4y ago
  The entire browser shouldn’t have to run in the background just to receive push messages. If a browser really does that, that’s pretty bad.
noirscape 4y ago
Firefox doesn't, they do this when you boot up the browser (always fun to boot up a computer that's been sitting unused for a few months and seeing the updater for a few seconds). Chrome iirc has two update mechanisms, the first being Google Update which is a different application that isn't as resource heavy (and is also used to update applications like Google Earth) and the second being similar to the Firefox update mechanism, but it instead happens in the background while you're using the browser (with an orange exclamation mark when the update is ready to be installed to inform you that the browser needs to be restarted). Safari updates always have been tied to updates to macOS/iOS, with all the benefits and issues that entails (no automatic updates whatsoever outside of OS updates).
- tsimionescu 4y ago
  The Chrome update detector mechanism also does another "fun" thing: it prevents use of your camera (and probably mic too) if it sees an update is available. But, obviously, it doesn't tell you that this is why your camera isn't working. So, if you are trying to join an interview or exam and your camera and/or mic aren't working, check if you happen to have a small orange excalamtion point somewhere in your Chrome UI, chances are that's the reason.
  - 14u2c 4y ago
    This is quite interesting actually. I wonder if Google has been burnt by a zero-day allowing audio / video extraction in the past.
  - cj 4y ago
    Not sure how widespread this is. I regularly screenshare with people and about 40% of the time the other person's Chrome browser has a big red or yellow Update Now button in the nav. No audio or video problems.
    - deleted 4y ago
      [deleted]
- scarface74 4y ago
  Safari updates are not tied to OS updates on the Mac

> every major browser silently installs itself into the startup process when you enable any browser push notification on Windows Don’t they already do that for automatic background updates anyway?

easton 4y ago

Yes, but usually they have a smaller updater instead of the entire browser always having to run in the background. Guessing that’s what OP is complaining about.

zagrebian 4y ago
The entire browser shouldn’t have to run in the background just to receive push messages. If a browser really does that, that’s pretty bad.

noirscape 4y ago

Firefox doesn't, they do this when you boot up the browser (always fun to boot up a computer that's been sitting unused for a few months and seeing the updater for a few seconds). Chrome iirc has two update mechanisms, the first being Google Update which is a different application that isn't as resource heavy (and is also used to update applications like Google Earth) and the second being similar to the Firefox update mechanism, but it instead happens in the background while you're using the browser (with an orange exclamation mark when the update is ready to be installed to inform you that the browser needs to be restarted). Safari updates always have been tied to updates to macOS/iOS, with all the benefits and issues that entails (no automatic updates whatsoever outside of OS updates).

tsimionescu 4y ago
The Chrome update detector mechanism also does another "fun" thing: it prevents use of your camera (and probably mic too) if it sees an update is available. But, obviously, it doesn't tell you that this is why your camera isn't working. So, if you are trying to join an interview or exam and your camera and/or mic aren't working, check if you happen to have a small orange excalamtion point somewhere in your Chrome UI, chances are that's the reason.
- 14u2c 4y ago
  This is quite interesting actually. I wonder if Google has been burnt by a zero-day allowing audio / video extraction in the past.
- cj 4y ago
  Not sure how widespread this is. I regularly screenshare with people and about 40% of the time the other person's Chrome browser has a big red or yellow Update Now button in the nav. No audio or video problems.
  - deleted 4y ago
    [deleted]
scarface74 4y ago
Safari updates are not tied to OS updates on the Mac