Google Speeds Up Internet Explorer

A new plug-in from Google called Chrome Frame, released on Tuesday, makes Internet Explorer 8 run 9.6 times faster, according to benchmark tests done by Computerworld.

According to the Computerworld article, Google released the plug-in so that IE users would see better performance when using an as-yet unreleased tool called Google Wave. The plug-in, which users can download here, installs a version of the Javascript engine and HTML 5 functionality from Google’s own browser, Chrome, inside IE (it doesn’t work with all web pages, however).

Microsoft has responded to this rather embarrassing blow by stating that the Google Chrome Frame introduces severe security issues. In an interview with ARS Technica, which has a skeptical take on that claim, a Microsoft spokesperson says:

“Given the security issues with plugins in general and Google Chrome in particular, Google Chrome Frame running as a plugin has doubled the attach area for malware and malicious scripts. This is not a risk we would recommend our friends and families take.”