Google’s backtrack on its promise to kill tracking cookies last year created a huge furor. But all seems to have gone rather quiet since then. In the background, there are all kinds of standoffs as no one can agree on what should happen next. Meanwhile, Google has suddenly brought back digital fingerprinting for some added spice.

New rules have been announced for the Chrome Sync service, an element of Chrome that allows passwords and other data to be synchronised between users' devices. Google intends to limit this option to regularly updated Chrome versions and exclude the oldest computers.

A new policy for Chrome Sync will see Google disable the functionality if you haven't updated your browser recently enough.

Google is making a change to Chrome Sync that will affect users who haven't updated their browser in a while. Starting in early 2025, Chrome Sync will stop working on versions of Chrome that are more than four years old.

Chrome Sync is one of the best features of Google’s world-dominating web browser. The ability to switch between devices and maintain the same bookmarks, passwords, tabs, etc. is a godsend. Not to mention newer features like moving tabs between mobile and desktop.