Google’s next-generation browser will prevent pages from automatically redirecting. Chrome 64, due in early 2018, also will prevent videos with sound from automatically playing, disable “play” and “pause” buttons that open a new window containing advertising and block transparent overlays that spawn pop-ups or tabs when users click anywhere on the page.
Google considers all of those tactics spam, which harms the user experience. Google is on a mission to rid the web of anything that stands between users and a pleasant interaction with the content they seek.
Not that the search giant accuses websites of doing anything wrong. According to Google, pages often unexpectedly redirect users because of third-party content embedded on the original page without the page owner’s knowledge. When Chrome blocks those hacks, users will receive notice a redirect was attempted.
Disallowing auto-play of videos with sound is a feature users have requested for some time. Nothing is more embarrassing than being outed by audio while surfing something you shouldn’t be surfing at work.
The current version of Chrome reportedly will begin disallowing transparent overlays and redirects-on-pause in January after an update to the browser’s popup-blocker component. Additional functionality is expected in Chrome 64.
Chrome 65, allegedly on the drawing table, will prevent links from both opening a new tab and redirecting the original page. That problem evidently arises from exploitation of a weak spot in Chrome’s current popup blocker.
