Google Chrome v77 Browser Breaks Netgear Router Logins

Anybody using the popular Google Chrome website browser, which since 10th September has been updated to its latest v77 release, should take note that if you own a Netgear and some other broadband routers then due to a bug you may be unable to login via the device’s web-based admin page (192.168.1.1).

Affected users will find that their login attempts simply redirect to a password recovery page or receive a 401 authorization error, even if your details are correct. Funnily enough Google has been aware of this bug since the earlier v77 beta release and they even fixed it back then (here), although while working on some HTTP auth changes the bug was accidentally reintroduced back into their “stable” branch.

The obvious workaround for this issue, until v78 or v79 are released, is to simply use a different browser to access your router (Edge, Firefox, Safari etc.). Alternatively you could launch Chrome, then past this into the address bar (without the speech-marks) “chrome://flags/#http-auth-committed-interstitials” and select ‘Disabled‘ (restart the browser after doing that).

The bug mostly impacts Netgear routers, as well as some re-branded but still Netgear based devices used by broadband ISPs, although similar issues have been spotted on a small number of other devices too. Most people rarely access their router’s admin page and so probably won’t have noticed.