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Protecting Cookies with Device Bound Session Credentials
Chrome is rolling out Device Bound Session Credentials (DBSC) to combat session theft, a significant threat where malware steals session cookies. This new feature is now publicly available for Windows users on Chrome 146 and will soon expand to macOS. DBSC revolutionizes session security by cryptographically binding authentication sessions to a specific device, moving from reactive detection to proactive prevention. It utilizes hardware-backed security modules like TPMs and Secure Enclaves to generate unexportable public/private key pairs. Website servers can then verify Chrome's possession of the private key before issuing short-lived session cookies. This ensures that any stolen cookies, lacking the private key, become useless to attackers. DBSC is designed with user privacy as a core tenet, preventing cross-session correlation and avoiding device fingerprinting. The protocol was developed as an open web standard through W3C, with collaboration from Microsoft and industry partners. Origin Trials and engagements with platforms like Okta have helped refine its effectiveness for diverse web needs. Future development will focus on securing federated identity, enhancing registration capabilities, and exploring software-based keys for broader device support.