Software update are supposed to improve security or make things run a snatch suave or faster . However , a late change to Chrome on Android is causing some serious problem for both users and app developers .
detail in athread on the Chromium hemipteron tracker , the core issue stems from Chrome ’s WebView — which is what Android uses to return web varlet or onus cognitive content inside apps — being update to utilise a new location for store local Indian file without properly migrating over existing data . This means that after update to Chrome 79 for Android , when users or developers examine to open an app the bank on data stored topically on the equipment , none of their previous info would show up , which give hoi polloi the visual aspect that their information was lose .
Thankfully , previous data was not actually deleted , but because Chrome 79 for Android is pointing apps to depend for local data in the untimely location , apps that relied on WebView have no style of in good order accessing older information .
Photo: (Getty)
Unfortunately , the fix to all this wo n’t be easy . Even though Google is mindful of the issue and has it marked P0 ( the in high spirits antecedency - degree ) , no matter what Google does , some drug user data may get lost as Chrome 79 has reportedly tramp out to 50 percentage of Android user worldwide .
Right now , the two optionsdescribed by a member of the Chromiumteam are :
a ) go forward the migration , moving the missed files into their new locations.b ) revert the change by moving migrate files to their old locations .
We will permit you bang which of these two options have been select presently . In the meantime it would be effective to collect a leaning of affected software system , and details of whether any mitigation have been liberate to users , and in what versions so that we can test that the respin does n’t interact badly with the mitigation .
Rolling back to Chrome 78 would be the less destructive of the two , as it would save data spare before the tardy Chrome update , but that ’s at the disbursal of turn a loss any new local data point saved since Chrome 79 was installed .
On the other hand , option Bel presents a clean ( but potentially very painful ) bust from the previous version of Chrome by saving all novel data stored since the Chrome 79 update while ditching previously save local data .
Currently , it reckon like Google is lean towards the first choice , as that path helps preserve the volume of antecedently saved local data .
For anyone who has n’t updated to Chrome 79 yet , you ’re really belong to require to check your phone to foreclose your gadget from potentially car - updating to the latest version . As for everyone else , annoyingly , the only thing you may do is hold back around for Google to pick a plan of action and push out a mess .
But if you were inquire why certain Android apps seemed to have lost your data , at least now you know .
[ Update : 12/17 @ 5:30 necropsy ] Google has provided an official statement regarding the issues with the M7 update to Chrome and WebView on Android . agree to a Google representative :
“ The M79 update to Chrome and WebView on Android devices was debar after detecting an issue in WebView where some user ’ app datum was not visible within those apps . This app data was not lose and will be made visible in apps when we deliver an update this calendar week . We apologize for any inconvenience . ”
Contrary to former estimates that Chrome 79 has been advertize to 50 percentage of Android exploiter , Google says the M79 update to Chrome on Android was hold before reaching 15 percentage of user . Thankfully , it seems no further action will be need by developer to resolve problems refer to the bug , as Google will be pushing out the fixed adaptation of Chrome now to developers . For even more info , you may check out a new web log post from the Chrome squad regarding the M79 axial motion outhere .
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