Chrome, the now three-year-old web browser from Google, appears destined for domination with its rapidly expanding user base. Android phones are now selling at a faster rate than Apple iPhones. Much of this may be attributed to Google’s open attitude in Chrome and Android development. But there is a price to be paid for this flexibility.

Google’s open platform philosophy is generally a good thing. It creates a familiar environment for the people who expand existing functionality through the development of new applications and the customers who download and use those applications.

Modern web browsers offer enhanced computer security while conforming to the latest web standards. Microsoft decided to include mandatory updates to their popular web browser, Internet Explorer, as a part of their Windows Update for the month of January. Internet Explorer can now be updated at the same time as the Windows operating system.

After an intense backlash from major Internet companies such as Google and Wikipedia, as well as millions of grassroots supporters, legislators postponed voting on the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and PROTECT IP (PIPA) Act. However, they have not rejected the bills completely. Website developers and owners should remain wary of legislation like SOPA and PIPA. These bills are overly vague and place an undue burden on domestic Internet-related companies.

While planning a New Year’s Eve outing for my family, I recalled a conversation I had with my brother-in-law nearly two decades ago and came to an interesting realization: websites have made our lives considerably easier. Sure, everyone under the age of 21 knows this on some level, but when you take a moment to think about it, the very existence of websites effectively takes much of the hassle out of information gathering.