Google suspends Chromebook auto-updates due to critical bug

Chromebooks work on the idea of putting your data and applications in the cloud (not the ones responsible for rain). Running Google’s Chrome operating system, these machines are ideal for those who live in developed countries where Internet connectivity is reliable and cheap.

According to Google, automatic (and mandatory) updates are an important aspect of Chromebooks, as it makes these machines less vulnerable to malware attacks compared to Windows-based devices. And, because updates are silent, users never have to worry about keeping their devices patched.

But the system is not fail proof. A bug found in some Chromebook models has prompted Google to pause these auto-updates.

Going by a post on the Chromium bug tracker, there’s a “critical bug in the firmware updater,” and as a precaution, updates have been put on hold. The Chrome team seems confident about squashing the bug in the next coming days. The list of models identified to be affected so far includes the Lenovo N22 11.6, Acer Chromebook R11, Sanance / Chromebook 14, ASUS Chromebook C300SA, and ThinkPad 11e Chromebook.

The world loves Google’s mobile operating system, but the same cannot be said about Chromebooks quite yet. In its five years of existence, the Chromebook platform has only made a significant impact in the educational market. Last year, Chromebooks accounted for just around 2.8 percent of total PC shipments.

But there are some good signs – Chromebooks recently outsold Apple’s popular Mac line for the first time. And with support for more than a million Android apps coming soon, Chrome OS may have another opportunity to break into the mainstream.