Chrome's Background Apps always on

I don't know if this is a good thing or not?
Any ideas, opinions on the pros and cons of this feature?
It's now on by default.

I'm leaning towards shutting it off... I don't think it is going to impact anything negatively to have it off, and it could be a problem if left on.

With Background Apps, Google Chrome's Always On

 

If you don't have any extensions/ apps that make use of it you won't notice it anyways. It just allows for certain things to continue running in the background so your notifications will persist after exiting Chrome.

 

What about the security aspects of Background Apps always on?
We all hear so much about attack surfaces being increased.
To me, it looks like something else to exploit.

 

Yes, it could potentially increase the attack surface - it's one more program running and it's possibly connecting to the internet.

But all extensions and apps run in Chrome's sandbox.

 

Are they running in Chrome's sandbox when Chrome is closed?
This feature is for apps to run after Chrome closes.

 

I unchecked the option.
Chrome background apps won't be running after Chrome closes.
If I notice any difference, I'll post back.
I suspect that nothing will be discernible.

 

Yes, they continue to run the sandbox. I'm fairly certain of that.

 

Well that makes no sense.
The browser is closed but the sandbox continues to run? Huh?

 

The browser isn't closed - just the windows etc for websites. Extensions and apps built into the browser, which are always sandboxed, remain running exactly as they always have been - sandboxed.

 

No Chrome, no Google processes running on my computers when I close Chrome browser. This according to Process Explorer and Task Manager.

 

If you had an app that made use of background usage I would assume you'd see one in the task manager - you likely do not.

It just doesn't make sense for them to release them from the sandbox.