Google Shares Dip Amid Chrome Installation Glitch

On March 26, Google experienced a notable issue with its Chrome browser installation program that drew widespread attention from tech enthusiasts and everyday users alike. The problem emerged when users attempting to install Chrome received an error message stating, "This app can't run on your PC". This incident was the result of a technical oversight, rather than any intentional interference from Microsoft.

The root cause of the issue lay in Google's accidental distribution of an installation package intended for ARM architecture systems to users with AMD and Intel systems. Typically, when users wish to install Chrome, they visit Google's official download page and click the "Download Chrome" button, triggering the download of the ChromeSetup.exe file.

Investigations revealed that the mistakenly distributed ChromeSetup.exe contained code related to "Montgomery Multiplication for ARMv8", a clear indication that the installation program was designed for ARM-based devices like those powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon processors instead of the common Intel or AMD x64 processor architectures. As a result, when users attempted to run this installation package on Intel or AMD devices, the system flagged compatibility issues and prompted with the aforementioned error message.

This event highlights potential vulnerabilities in software distribution protocols and serves as a reminder for developers to exercise heightened caution to avoid similar compatibility errors that could adversely impact user experience. Although Google has since corrected the oversight and restored functionality to the Chrome installation package, the incident stands as a significant lesson in software management.