The Chromebook they are, with each passing day, even more useful devices. When using Chrome OS they are also one of the safest computers and easiest to update, but every rule has its exception. The last security patch It will erase all the data on your device, although it is optional.
Infineon TPM: the cause of the problem
What problem do Chromebooks have to need a security patch that wipes out all the data? It has recently been discovered a bug in the Infineon TPM firmware, whose chips power some Chromebook recent. TPM responds to the Trusted Platform Module, and is basically in charge of generating the cryptographic keys of the local data. Due to this security flaw, encrypted data could be accessed of a device, although everything varies depending on the version of the aforementioned firmware.
If you are looking for something Google that highlight their Chromebook It is for your safety. Although it has been determined that the security breach is not as serious as it sounds, the truth is that the number of potentially affected devices is large, so prevention is better than cure. because of that, Google has released an optional security update that, unlike the usual ones, erases all the data on the device. At the end of this text you will have the list of affected devices, so if you doubt which is your case, use Ctrl + F to find your terminal.
How to directly check if your Chromebook needs the security patch
If instead of looking at the list of devices you prefer to check directly on your device if it is possible that it is affected, do the following. Open a Chrome tab and enter in the address bar chrome: // system. Search with Ctrl + F for acronyms TPM and then click on the button Expand. The affected versions are listed below. If your Chromebook has one of them, you'd better update:
- 000000000000041f - 4.31
- 0000000000000420 – 4.32
- 0000000000000628 – 6.40
- 0000000000008520 – 133.32
And these are the safe versions:
- 0000000000000422 – 4.34
- 000000000000062b - 6.43
- 0000000000008521 – 133.33
Why is data erased with this security patch? Can I get everything back after updating?
Google has made this security update optional due to the working method of the TPM module. We are not talking about updating Chrome OS, but the firmware of the chips, so it is necessary to erase everything. And yes, you can get everything back after updating. The first of all would be to ensure that everything you want is synchronized, something that you can check by going to chrome: // settings / syncSetup. Select everything you want to sync and wait a bit to make sure everything stays in place. If you have local files, the best option is to temporarily move them to Drive, which is directly integrated into Chrome OS.
The only exception are Android applications, which you will not be able to sync. Due to how they work and they are not fully integrated, you will have to manually reinstall them after the reset is done. Do it by following our tutorial to activate Android apps on Chromebook.
Once all this is done, your device is ready to update. Tap on your profile photo in the lower right corner and then tap the Settings gear. This is the same as going to chrome: // settings. Scroll down to the end and click on Advanced settings. Look for the section power wash And enter. Make sure to check the box for Update firmware for additional security. And the process begins.
Your Chromebook will reboot and go back to being just out of the box. Use the account you synced everything with to log in and let the Chromebook connected to a Wi-Fi network work. After a few minutes, you will see how everything returns to its place. You can continue using your Chromebook being totally safe.
List of Potentially Affected Chromebooks Receiving the Security Patch
- asuka - Dell Chromebook 13 3380
- auron-paine - Acer Chromebook 11 (C740)
- auron-yuna - Acer Chromebook 15 (CB5-571)
- banjo - Acer Chromebook 15 (CB3-531)
- banon - Acer Chromebook 15 (CB3-532)
- buddy - Acer Chromebase 24
- candy - Dell Chromebook 11 (3120)
- caroline - Samsung Chromebook Pro
- cave - ASUS Chromebook Flip C302
- celes - Samsung Chromebook 3
- chell - HP Chromebook 13 G1
- clapper - Lenovo N20 Chromebook
- cyan - Acer Chromebook R11 (CB5-132T / C738T)
- daisy-skate - HP Chromebook 11 2000-2099 / HP Chromebook 11 G2
- daisy-spring - HP Chromebook 11 1100-1199 / HP Chromebook 11 G1
- edgar - Acer Chromebook 14 (CB3-431)
- elm - Acer Chromebook R13 (CB5-312T)
- fattening - ASI Chromebook
- fattening - Crambo Chromebook
- fat - CTL N6 Education Chromebook
- fattening - Education Chromebook
- fattening - eduGear Chromebook R
- fattening - Edxis Education Chromebook
- fattening - JP Sa Couto Chromebook
- fattening - Lenovo N21 Chromebook
- fattening - M&A Chromebook
- fattening - RGS Education Chromebook
- fattening - Senkatel C1101 Chromebook
- fattening - True IDC Chromebook
- fattening - Videonet Chromebook
- expresso - Bobicus Chromebook 11
- expresso - Consumer Chromebook
- expresso - Edxis Chromebook
- expresso - HEXA Chromebook Pi
- falco - HP Chromebook 14
- gandof - Toshiba Chromebook 2 (2015 Edition)
- glimmer - Lenovo ThinkPad 11e Chromebook
- gnawty - Acer Chromebook 11 (C730 / C730E)
- gnawty - Acer Chromebook 11 (C735)
- guado - ASUS Chromebox CN62
- hana - Lenovo N23 Yoga / Flex 11 Chromebook
- hana - Poin2 Chromebook 14heli - Haier Chromebook 11 G2
- kefka - Dell Chromebook 11 Model 3180
- kefka - Dell Chromebook 11 3189
- kevin - Samsung Chromebook Plus
- kip - HP Chromebook 11 2100-2199 / HP Chromebook 11 G3
- kip - HP Chromebook 11 2200-2299 / HP Chromebook 11 G4 / G4 EE
- kip - HP Chromebook 14 ak000-099 / HP Chromebook 14 G4
- lars - Acer Chromebook 11 (C771, C771T)
- lars - Acer Chromebook 14 for work (CP5-471)
- lion - Toshiba Chromebook
- link - Google Chromebook Pixel
- lulu - Dell Chromebook 13 7310
- mccloud - Acer Chromebox
- monroe - LG Chromebase 22CB25S
- monroe - LG Chromebase 22CV241
- ninja - AOPEN Chromebox Commercial
- nyan-big - Acer Chromebook 13 (CB5-311)
- nyan-blaze - HP Chromebook 14 x000-x999 / HP Chromebook 14 G3
- nyan-kitty - Acer Chromebase
- orc - Lenovo 100S Chromebook
- panther - ASUS Chromebox CN60
- peach-pi - Samsung Chromebook 2 13 ″
- peach-pit - Samsung Chromebook 2 11 ″
- peppy - Acer C720 Chromebook
- quawks - ASUS Chromebook C300
- reks - Lenovo N22 (Touch) Chromebook
- reks - Lenovo N23 Chromebook
- reks - Lenovo N23 Chromebook (Touch)
- reks - Lenovo N42 (Touch) Chromebook
- relm - Acer Chromebook 11 N7 (C731)
- relm - CTL NL61 Chromebook
- relm - Edxis Education Chromebook
- relm - HP Chromebook 11 G5 EE
- relm - Mecer V2 Chromebook
- rikku - Acer Chromebox CXI2
- samus - Google Chromebook Pixel (2015)
- sentry - Lenovo Thinkpad 13 Chromebook
- setzer - HP Chromebook 11 G5 / HP Chromebook 11-vxxx
- squawks - ASUS Chromebook C200
- sumo - AOpen Chromebase Commercial
- swanky - Toshiba Chromebook 2
- terra - ASUS Chromebook C202SA
- terra - ASUS Chromebook C300SA / C301SA
- tidus - Lenovo ThinkCentre Chromebox
- tricky - Dell Chromebox
- Ultima - Lenovo ThinkPad 11e Chromebook 3rd Gen (Yoga / Clamshell)
- veyron-fievel - AOpen Chromebox Mini
- veyron-jaq - Haier Chromebook 11
- veyron-jaq - Medion Akoya S2013veyron-jaq - True IDC Chromebook 11
- veyron-jaq - Xolo Chromebook
- veyron-jerry - CTL J2 / J4 Chromebook for Education
- veyron-jerry - eduGear Chromebook K Series
- veyron-jerry - Epik 11.6 ″ Chromebook ELB1101
- veyron-jerry - HiSense Chromebook 11
- veyron-jerry - Rocking Chromebook
- veyron-jerry - NComputing Chromebook CX100
- veyron-jerry - Poin2 Chromebook 11
- veyron-jerry - Positive Chromebook CH1190
- veyron-jerry - VideoNet Chromebook BL10
- veyron-mickey - ASUS Chromebit CS10
- veyron-mighty - Chromebook PCM-116E
- veyron-mighty - eduGear Chromebook M Series
- veyron-mighty - Haier Chromebook 11e
- veyron-mighty - Lumos Education Chromebook
- veyron-mighty - MEDION Chromebook S2015
- veyron-mighty - Nexian Chromebook 11.6-inch
- veyron-mighty - Prowise 11.6 ″ Entry Line Chromebook
- veyron-mighty - Sector 5 E1 Rugged Chromebook
- veyron-mighty - Viglen Chromebook 11
- veyron-minnie - ASUS Chromebook Flip C100PA
- veyron-speedy - ASUS Chromebook C201PA
- veyron-tiger - AOpen Chromebase Mini
- winky - Samsung Chromebook 2 11 - XE500C12
- wizpig - CTL J5 Chromebook
- wizpig - Edugear CMT Chromebook
- wizpig - Haier Convertible Chromebook 11 C
- wizpig - PCMerge Chromebook PCM-116T-432B
- wizpig - Prowise ProLine Chromebook
- wizpig - Viglen Chromebook 360
- wolf - Dell Chromebook 11
- zako - HP Chromebox CB1- (000-099) / HP Chromebox G1 / HP Chromebox for Meetings