who/what to trust in 2022?

it’s hard…

“A February 2020 research report published by the School of Computer Science and Statistics at Trinity College Dublin tested six browsers and deemed Brave to be the most private of them, in terms of phoning home: “In the first (most private) group lies Brave, in the second Chrome, Firefox and Safari, and in the third (least private) group lie Edge and Yandex.”[108] (src)

“From a privacy perspective Microsoft Edge and Yandex are qualitatively different from the other browsers studied.”

Both send persistent identifiers that can be used to link requests (and associated IP address/location) to backend servers.”

Edge also sends the hardware UUID of the device to Microsoft and Yandex similarly transmits a hashed hardware identifier to back end servers.”

“As far as we can tell this behaviour cannot be disabled by users.”

“In addition to the search autocomplete functionality that shares details of web pages visited, both transmit web page information to servers that appear unrelated to search autocomplete.”

(src: arstechnica.com)

alternative Browsers for Mobile OS: Android

https://privacytests.org/android.html

https://privacytests.org/ios.html

  • https://github.com/bromite/bromite
    • “Bromite aims at providing a no-clutter browsing experience without privacy-invasive features and with the addition of a fast ad-blocking engine. Minimal UI changes are applied to help curbing the idea of “browser as an advertisement platform”.

alternative Browsers for Desktop OS:

update 2022-04

 

https://librewolf.net/docs/faq/

just for completion:

 

(currently best Browser in terms of privacy according to https://privacytests.org <- check em out they got a ton of alternative browsers also mobile)

(based on Google’s https://www.chromium.org/)

how to install for various GNU Linux distributions: https://brave.com/linux/

update 2020-10

(untested)

https://www.falkon.org/

Vivaldi is a freeware, cross-platform web browser developed by Vivaldi Technologies, a company founded by Opera Software co-founder and former CEO Jon Stephenson von Tetzchner and Tatsuki Tomita” <- if that is a good thing… probably not.

Given the Kremlin’s naming convention “Wagner” (the Russian mercenary group killing around the globe like Ukraine but also Africa).

Antonio Vivaldi would be (almost obviously) just another classic music composer in their naming scheme (correct if wrong!?).

“The browser was officially launched on April 12, 2016.[8][9] The browser is aimed at staunch technologists, heavy Internet users, and previous Opera web browser users disgruntled by Opera’s transition from the Presto layout engine to the Blink layout engine, which removed many popular features.[8][10] Vivaldi aims to revive the old, popular features of Opera 12.[11] The browser has gained popularity since the launch of its first technical preview.[12][13] The browser has 1 million users as of January 2017.[14]

the bigger problem with Opera might be this: the Russian Yandex SDK:

  • “A development kit for applications offered for free by Yandex, the Russian tech giant, collects information, which is then stored on Russian servers.”
  • “The proximity between the company and the Kremlin raises questions about the end use of this data.”
  • “Your personal data probably ends up on Russian servers.”
  • “On Tuesday, March 29, the British daily Financial Times revealed that tens of thousands of applications have been developed using software that retrieves users’ information.”
  • “The computer tool is provided by Yandex, a Russian search engine, Google’s main competitor in this country.”
  • “The recovered data is then stored in servers in Russia and Finland.”
  • “In the clutches of the Kremlin AppMetrica’s “open access” makes it one of the most used tools on the market: 36% of applications on Google Play go through this SDK and 11% on the App Store according to Appfigures.”
  • “Among the services offered are video games, messaging apps and virtual private networks (VPNs), designed to browse the web without being tracked.”
  • 7x VPN apps are offered specifically for the Ukrainian public, according to financial times.”
  • “In total, it would be applications installed hundreds of millions of times that would be affected.”
  • auto translated from (src: numerama.com)

(… Google & Apple would NEVER do such things…. NEVER (right? X-D))

# -> what are those files doing INSIDE tor-browser bundle folder #wtf?
./tor-browser_en-US/Browser/.config/vivaldi
./tor-browser_en-US/Browser/.cache/vivaldi
./tor-browser_en-US/Browser/.local/share/.vivaldi_reporting_data

/home/user/.cache/vivaldi
/home/user/.config/vivaldi
/home/user/.local/share/.vivaldi_reporting_data

{"description":"This file contains data used for counting users.
If you are worried about privacy implications,
please see https://help.vivaldi.com/article/how-we-count-our-users/",
"installation_time":"XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX","next_daily_ping":"XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX",
"next_monthly_ping":"XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX","next_semestrial_ping":"XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX",
"next_trimestrial_ping":"XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX",
"next_weekly_ping":"XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX",
"next_yearly_ping":"XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX",
"pings_since_last_month":0,"unique_user_id":"XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX"}

Arora

it’s always a good idea to try out alternatives. 🙂 Welcome to Arora: (under Debian-Gnome3)

arora alternative webKit based browser (similar to firefox)_1

is a lightweight, cross-platform, free and open-source web browser

Arora is available for Linux, OS X, Windows, FreeBSD, OS/2, Haiku,[6] and any other operating system supported by the Qt toolkit. Arora’s name is a palindrome.

The browser’s features include tabbed browsing, bookmarks, browsing history, smart location bar, OpenSearch, session management, privacy mode, a download manager, WebInspector, and AdBlock.[7]

For several months, Meyer discontinued development of Arora due to uncertainty about the strictures of non-compete clauses by his employer; finally in July 2011, he announced that he would no longer contribute to the project.[8] Another software developer, Bastien Pederencino forked Arora’s source code, and published a variant called zBrowser – renamed Zeromus Browser in February 2013. In May 2013, Pederencino published another variant called BlueLightCat. In February 2014, some new patches were released on Arora’s github project page, with some Linux distributions incorporating the changes in their individual versions of Arora packages in their repositories.[9]

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arora_(web_browser)

install

under Debian it’s easy as the usual:

apt-get update; # update apt package definitions
apt-get install arora; # install arora browser

Nice features:

  • fast, sleak, efficient, webkit without Google influenced Firefox (they get millions for making Google the default search engine…)
  • JavaScript and Images can be easily disabled
  • AdBlock INCLUDED 🙂
  • Nice Page-loading %percentage% view
  • Excellent https://startpage.com/ / https://ixquick.com/ integration 🙂
  • You can use all the Firefox-Hotkeys like Alt+D to select the Adress-Bar

I really love that loading %percentage display, that also shows you how big and bulky a website is: (maybe disable grafics or js) arora alternative webKit based browser (similar to firefox)_5 size of website

Nicely: Easy to disable image loading (speed up things) and javascript (security problem)

arora alternative webKit based browser (similar to firefox)_3

It has Adblock INCLUDED! 🙂 No extension needed! GOOD JOB!

arora alternative webKit based browser (similar to firefox)_2

Midori

Check out the FAQ.

Midori is a cross-platform GTK browser based on Webkit. It tracks the latest Webkit very closely, so you always have a fresh version. Midori is very lightweight and fast, but still has a lot of features. Midori is amazingly quick and can be useful for sites like Facebook which tend to slow down Firefox. Users concerned about privacy will be interested to know that Midori features Duck Duck Go as the default search engine, offers built-in ad blocking and good cookie control. An old version (0.4.3) is currently included with Ubuntu 13.10, so it is recommended that you install from the Midori PPA.

SETUP:

tested on debian:

apt-get update; apt-get install midori; # let's test this ;)

QupZilla

QupZilla is a fast Qt and Webkit based browser that is available for multiple operating systems. It features a reasonably simple interface that will seem familiar to new users. The browser is packed with options, but really offers nothing new or unique when compared to Firefox or Chromium. The QupZilla team has put together a really solid browser, but without offering something unique, I find myself asking “what’s the point?” Install Now

 

IceCat

icecat_browser_logo_gnuzilla_fsf

GNU IceCat, formerly known as GNU IceWeasel,[3] is a free software rebranding of the Mozilla Firefox web browser distributed by the GNU Project. It is compatible with Linux, Windows, Android and macOS.[4]

IceCat is released as a part of GNUzilla, GNU’s rebranding of a code base that used to be the Mozilla Application Suite. As an internet suite, GNUzilla also includes a mail & newsgroup program and an HTML composer.

Mozilla produces free and open-source software, but the binaries include trademarked artwork. The GNU Project attempts to keep IceCat in synchronization with upstream development of Firefox (long-term support versions) while removing all trademarked artwork and non-free add-ons. It also maintains a large list of free software plugins. In addition, it features a few security features not found in the mainline Firefox browser.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_IceCat

what is in the GNU Linux Debian (free) repo?

searching the (free) Debian 11 apt repository in 2022-05 gives:

su - root
apt update
apt-cache search browser|grep web
# gives:

amule-gnome-support - ed2k links handling support for GNOME web browsers
libjs-angularjs - lets you write client-side web applications as if you had a smarter browser
libapache2-mod-upload-progress - upload progress support for the Apache web server
elpa-atomic-chrome - edit a web-browser text entry area with Emacs
bluefish - advanced Gtk+ text editor for web and software development
webext-browserpass - web extension for the password manager pass
webext-bulk-media-downloader - Cross-browser extension to detect and download media resources
chrome-gnome-shell - GNOME Shell extensions integration for web browsers
chromium - web browser (https://www.chromium.org/Home/)
chromium-common - web browser - common resources used by the chromium packages
chromium-driver - web browser - WebDriver support
chromium-l10n - web browser - language packs
chromium-sandbox - web browser - setuid security sandbox for chromium
chromium-shell - web browser - minimal shell

cog - Single-window web browser based on WPE WebKit
dillo - Small and fast web browser
doc-central - web-based documentation browser
dpkg-www - Debian package management web interface
edbrowse - /bin/ed-alike webbrowser written in C
epiphany-browser - Intuitive GNOME web browser
epiphany-browser-data - Data files for the GNOME web browser
falkon - lightweight web browser based on Qt WebEngine

firefox-esr - Mozilla Firefox web browser - Extended Support Release (ESR)
# ... would actually manually download it, so the user get's the latest version
# including Mozilla's own in-firefox-update functionality (click on Help -> About Firefox)
# https://download-installer.cdn.mozilla.net/pub/firefox/releases/100.0/linux-x86_64/
fontcustom - custom icon webfonts from the comfort of the command line
webext-form-history-control - extension to manage form history
gambas3-gb-qt5-webkit - Gambas WebKit component
golang-github-toqueteos-webbrowser-dev - Convenient Web-browser controller library for Go
guacd - HTML5 web application for accessing remote desktops (proxy daemon)
libguac-client-rdp0 - HTML5 web application for accessing remote desktops (RDP support)
libguac-client-ssh0 - HTML5 web application for accessing remote desktops (SSH support)
libguac-client-telnet0 - HTML5 web application for accessing remote desktops (Telnet support)
libguac-client-vnc0 - HTML5 web application for accessing remote desktops (VNC support)
libguac19 - HTML5 web application for accessing remote desktops (library)
libghc-open-browser-dev - open a web browser from Haskell
libghc-open-browser-doc - open a web browser from Haskell; documentation
libghc-open-browser-prof - open a web browser from Haskell; profiling libraries
libghc-wai-handler-launch-dev - WAI handler for launching in a web browser

hoteldruid - web-based property management system for hotels or B&Bs

libhttpunit-java - automated web site testing toolkit

httrack - Copy websites to your computer (Offline browser)
proxytrack - Build HTTP Caches using archived websites copied by HTTrack
webhttrack - Copy websites to your computer, httrack with a Web interface

jdim - simple browser for "2ch-style" web forum sites
libjs-jquery-reflection - jQuery plugin to add reflection effects to images in webpages
node-webidl-conversions - web IDL type conversions on JavaScript values - Node.js library
jwchat - full featured, web-based Jabber chat client
webext-keepassxc-browser - Web browser extension to organize web site credentials in KeePassXC
konq-plugins - plugins for Konqueror, the KDE file/web/document browser
konqueror - advanced file manager, web browser and document viewer
ldap-account-manager - webfrontend for managing accounts in an LDAP directory
lektor - Python-based static website generator
libgtk3-webkit2-perl - WebKit2 bindings for Perl

libhtml-clean-perl - Cleans up HTML code for web browsers, not humans

libhttp-recorder-perl - Perl module to record interaction with websites

libjs-webrtc-adapter - shim to insulate apps from WebRTC quirks - browser library

node-webrtc-adapter - shim to insulate apps from WebRTC quirks - Node.js library

libjson-webtoken-perl - JSON Web Token (JWT) implementation

libphp-snoopy - Snoopy is a PHP class that simulates a web browser

libpod-webserver-perl - miniature web server for reading Pod in web browsers

libweasel-perl - PHP's Mink inspired multi-protocol web-testing library for Perl

libweb-id-perl - implementation of WebID (a.k.a. FOAF+SSL)

luakit - fast and small web browser extensible by Lua
lynx - classic non-graphical (text-mode) web browser
man2html - browse man pages in your web browser

midori - fast, lightweight graphical web browser
mongrel2-core - programming language agnostic web server (binaries)

mongrel2-run - programming language agnostic web server

libmono-webbrowser4.0-cil - Mono Web Browser library (for CLI 4.0)

netsurf-common - small web browser with CSS support common files
netsurf-fb - small web browser with CSS support for framebuffers
netsurf-gtk - small web browser with CSS support for GTK

nginx-core - nginx web/proxy server (standard version)
nginx-extras - nginx web/proxy server (extended version)
nginx-full - nginx web/proxy server (standard version with 3rd parties)

libjs-async - functions and patterns for asynchronous code - web browsers

node-babel-loader - babel module loader for webpack
node-coffee-loader - coffee loader module for webpack
node-compression-webpack-plugin - Prepare compressed versions of assets
node-copy-webpack-plugin - Copy files and directories in webpack
node-css-loader - css loader module for webpack
node-domain-browser - Node's domain module for the web browser
node-events - Node.js events module to embed by web packers
node-exports-loader - exports loader module for webpack
node-grunt-webpack - Use webpack with grunt
node-json-loader - json loader for webpack

fonts-katex - Fast math typesetting for the web (fonts)

katex - Fast math typesetting for the web (command line interface)
libjs-katex - Fast math typesetting for the web (for browsers)

node-less-loader - Less loader for webpack which compiles Less to CSS with webpack
node-loader-runner - Runs (webpack) loaders
libjs-lunr - simple full-text search - web browsers
node-raw-loader - raw loader module for webpack
node-stats-webpack-plugin - Write the stats of a build to a file
node-style-loader - style loader module for webpack
node-url-loader - url loader module for webpack
node-vue-style-loader - Vue.js style loader module for webpack

webpack - Packs CommonJs/AMD modules for the browser

node-webpack-sources - Source code handling classes for webpack

libjs-websocket - WebSocket implementation for NodeJS, standalone API for browser

node-websocket-stream - use websockets with the node streams API in browser and node

node-worker-loader - worker loader module for webpack

nut-cgi - network UPS tools - web interface

libjs-openlayers - JavaScript library for displaying map data in web browsers

pgn2web - convert PGN chess game files into webpages

php-horde-webmail - Horde Groupware Webmail Edition

phpliteadmin - web-based SQLite database admin tool

phpliteadmin-themes - web-based SQLite database admin tool - themes

piperka-client - Mobile oriented web comics reader client

webext-proxy-switcher - Modify Proxy Settings for your Browser

python3-pyqt5.qtwebkit - Python 3 bindings for Qt5's WebKit module

python3-pyqt5.qtwebkit-dbg - Python 3 bindings for Qt5's WebKit module (debug extensions)
python3-pyqt5.qtwebengine - Python 3 bindings for Qt5's WebEngine module
python3-pyqt5.qtwebengine-dbg - Python 3 bindings for Qt5's WebEngine module (debug extensions)
python3-mechanize - stateful programmatic web browsing
python3-webview - Build GUI for your Python program with JavaScript, HTML, and CSS
python3-w3lib - Collection of web-related functions (Python 3)
libqt5webengine-data - Web content engine library for Qt - Data
libqt5webengine5 - Web content engine library for Qt
libqt5webenginecore5 - Web content engine library for Qt - Core
libqt5webenginewidgets5 - Web content engine library for Qt - Widget
qml-module-qtwebengine - Qt WebEngine QML module
qtwebengine5-dev - Web content engine library for Qt - development files
qtwebengine5-examples - Qt WebEngine - Examples
qtwebengine5-private-dev - Web content engine library for Qt - private development files
libqt5webkit5 - Web content engine library for Qt
libqt5webkit5-dev - Web content engine library for Qt - development files
qml-module-qtwebkit - Qt WebKit QML module
libqt5webview5 - display web content in a QML application - Library
libqt5webview5-dev - display web content in a QML application - Development Files
qml-module-qtwebview - display web content in a QML application
qtwebview5-doc - display web content in a QML application - Documentation
qtwebview5-doc-html - display web content in a QML application - HTML Documentation
qtwebview5-examples - display web content in a QML application - Examples
qutebrowser-qtwebengine - QtWebEngine backend dependency package for qutebrowser
qutebrowser-qtwebkit - QtWebKit backend dependency package for qutebrowser

r-cran-plotly - create interactive web graphics via 'plotly.js' in GNU R

roundcube - skinnable AJAX based webmail solution for IMAP servers - metapackage
roundcube-core - skinnable AJAX based webmail solution for IMAP servers
roundcube-plugins - skinnable AJAX based webmail solution for IMAP servers - plugins
roundcube-plugins-extra - skinnable AJAX based webmail solution - extra plugins

ruby-faye - Simple pub/sub messaging for the web
ruby-webkit2-gtk - WebKitGTK+ bindings for the Ruby language
ruby-launchy-shim - helper class for launching a web browser
ruby-selenium-webdriver - Browser automation framework and ecosystem
ruby-turbolinks - following links in your Rails web application faster
ruby-web-console - Ruby on Rails debugger
ruby-webpack-rails - Webpack & Rails integration made easier

smb2www - SMB/CIFS network client with a web interface

sqwebmail-de - German translations for the SqWebMail webmail service

sugar-browse-activity - Sugar Learning Platform - web browsing activity

surf - Simple web browser by suckless community
Description: Simple web browser by suckless community
surf is a simple web browser based on WebKit/GTK+. It is able to display
websites and follow links. It supports the XEmbed protocol which makes it
possible to embed it in another application. Furthermore, one can point surf to
another URI by setting its XProperties.

php-symfony-browser-kit - simulate the behavior of a web browser

hv3 - Lightweight web browser

webext-treestyletab - Show browser tabs like a tree

tt-rss - Tiny Tiny RSS - web-based news feed (RSS/Atom) aggregator
vdetelweb - Telnet and Web interface for VDE 2.x
libjs-webcomponentsjs-custom-element-v0 - CustomElements polyfill from the webcomponentsjs project

webdruid - Web server log file analysis tool

libwebkit2-sharp-4.0-cil - CLI bindings for WebKitGTK+ 4.0 using GObject Introspection
libwebkit2-sharp-4.0-cil-dev - CLI bindings for WebKitGTK+ 4.0 using GObject Introspection - development

python3-websocket - WebSocket client library - Python 3.x

gir1.2-webkit2-4.0 - Web content engine library for GTK - GObject introspection data
libwebkit2gtk-4.0-37 - Web content engine library for GTK
libwebkit2gtk-4.0-dev - Web content engine library for GTK - development files
libwebkit2gtk-4.0-doc - Web content engine library for GTK - documentation
webkit2gtk-driver - WebKitGTK WebDriver support

QupZilla 1.6.6 on Debian-Gnome3

qupzilla_screenshot_browser

qupzilla_screenshot_about

install

debian linux

apt-get update; # you know what this does
apt-get install qupzilla; # install qupzilla

Screenshots

Import Bookmarks.html

it’s nice that Arora and QupZilla (the naming is terrible 2 remember :-D) allow importing Firefox/Iceweasel exported bookmarks.html.

qupzilla_screenshot_toolbar_bookmarks

QupZilla even gets all the website Icons for you….

qupzilla_screenshot_preferences_bookmark_importer qupzilla_screenshot_preferences_bookmark_importer2

qupzilla_screenshot_preferences_extensions qupzilla_screenshot_preferences_javascript_options qupzilla_screenshot_preferences_privacy qupzilla_screenshot_preferences_appearance qupzilla_screenshot_preferences_downloads qupzilla_screenshot_preferences_browsing qupzilla_screenshot_preferences_browsing2 qupzilla_screenshot_preferences_tabs qupzilla_screenshot_preferences_appearance qupzilla_screenshot_preferences_bookmark_importer qupzilla_screenshot_preferences_adblock_settings

Web (Epiphany)

Web (formerly Epiphany) is the official web browser of the GNOME desktop. It is a very easy to use Webkit based browser with a simplistic user interface. In fact, Web is like the granddaddy of simple web browsers, delivering a simple user interface years before Chrome came on the scene. The browser is very speedy and polished, offering more features with each release. Web makes a great simple alternative to Firefox and Chrome. Install Now

 

Bash / Command Line Browsers 🙂

Elinks

Elinks is a text based browser similar to the classic Lynx browser. It launches inside a Terminal window and presents you with only the text of websites, no images, javascript, or Flash. This can be rather useful for website developers to test their sites, or for reading information on sites that are full of annoying javascript and Flash ads.

that’s what http://google.de looks like in elinks:

google.de in elinks

Source: https://www.starryhope.com/10-alternative-browsers-for-ubuntu-linux/

Links:

http://www.linuxuser.co.uk/reviews/arora-web-browser-review

Other alternative fast / lightweight browsers: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_lightweight_web_browsers

https://sourceforge.net/projects/zbrowser-linux/

https://sourceforge.net/projects/bluelightcat/

how to get (a bit) more privacy:

wie privatsphäre online verbessern mit tor und kostenloser vpn firmware für router / How to protect privacy online with tor and free vpn firmware for routers – how to setup tor node / Как защитить конфиденциальность онлайн с помощью tor и бесплатной прошивки vpn для роутеров – как настроить tor узел / Як захистити конфіденційність в Інтернеті за допомогою tor і безкоштовної прошивки VPN для маршрутизаторів – як налаштувати вузол tor / Cómo proteger la privacidad en línea con tor y firmware vpn gratuito para enrutadores: cómo configurar el nodo tor / Comment protéger la confidentialité en ligne avec tor et le firmware VPN gratuit pour routeurs – comment configurer le nœud tor / 如何使用路由器的tor和免费VPN固件在线保护隐私 – 如何设置tor节点

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