I know that there is a long running thread on "Which is the Most Secure Web Browser?" I was going to post a reply on that thread but decided to start a new one , because this is not really about security of browsers , and I didn't want to take that thread "off-topic ". Some time ago , I was asked to look at " new " browsers and compile a list. Since it is already done, I thought I would share it on here in case it is of use / interest to other Wilders readers. On looking at the list again , I see that some are far from new ..... my apologies for including them .... I'm too busy / lazy to do an update ... I make no claims or recommendations whatsoever in respect of security or suitability . It is just a list , nothing more ; nearly all are based on core code from Chrome or Firefox. I have " road-tested " some of them , and I'm slowly working my way through the others. I have always kept a separate browser which I used only for banking , booking airline tickets and online shopping , etc. I am currently using "Iron" for this purpose , and I have to say that so far , I'm very impressed. I have hardened it a little , and I've noticed that occasionally the cookie settings are too strict to allow certain transactions to go through , but that is easily fixed by "White-listing" those sites. Anyway , for what it's worth , here's the list , in no particular order . All the info / comments are simply what I have been able to find from Google ( but via Ixquick ) , forums , and the developer's own websites . I'd very much like to read what opinions and experiences other people on Wilders have had ! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pale Moon - forked from Firefox claims to be:- " completely built from its own source " ( What ? - It's Firefox based !! ) http://www.palemoon.org/ focusing on efficiency and ease of use carefully selected features and optimizations". Yandex - Appears to be Russian built , based on the Chromium open-source code http://browser.yandex.com/ Features " auto security check" of sites and downloads Reported ( elsewhere ) to track and report back ALL sites visited Torch - again , Chromium based. http://torchbrowser.com/ Specializes in media downloading and has built-in media features, including a torrent engine and video grabber Big to install .... reports of being clunky /crash happy Cyberfox - another variant of Firefox https://8pecxstudios.com/cyberfox-web-browser very little info outside of the Australian developers website , they also make the free " GetHash" HashSum Tool Superbird - once again .very little info outside of developer's website no indication of developers nationality ( Could be Russian ? ) http://superbird-browser.com/about.php http://superbird-browser.com/sb_vs_gc.php claims to be "The Fastest " with emphasis on privacy and and also to be "NSA/Prism safe" JonDoFox - variant of Firefox ( JonDo are noted elsewhere - Secure Linux ? ) https://anonymous-proxy-servers.net/en/software_win.html Waterfox - claims to be " The fastest 64-bit variant of Firefox " essentially just that :- a 64-bit version of Firefox https://www.waterfoxproject.org/ ...... original version was written by a 16 year old !! BlackHawk - made by Netgate Technologies , Chrome based aka NoVirusThanks Company Srl , Slovakia based Co http://www.netgate.sk/blackhawk/ they also do a website virus checker :- http://www.urlvoid.com/scan/netgate.sk ... very similar site to VirusTotal Not well reviewed ... no real apparent advantages Unpopular for pushing sponsored sites ( eg dating !!! ? ) Srware Iron - Chromium based ( see above ) https://www.srware.net/en/index.php claims to eliminate usage tracking and other privacy-compromising issues built-in ad blocking , appears to be a German developer built from a combination of proprietary and free software Dooble - designed and implemented in order to improve privacy and usability. not much info .... described as " Linux friendly " , no other info Otter - Nothing on Wiki .... still in Beta ..looks vaguely interesting http://otter-browser.org/ Aviator - Not much info available https://www.whitehatsec.com/aviator/ Xerobank - looks like it may be defunct .... see here http://download.cnet.com/windows/xerobank/3260-20_4-6292461.html " It appears the author has abandoned this project! " aka - xB Browser , based on Firefox , plus Tor Generally bad rep. in various places .... based / hosted in Panama CoolNovo - Chrome variant , minimalist user interface. Sea Monkey - Mozilla based , all-in-one internet application suite Internet browser, email & newsgroup client with web feed reader, HTML editor, IRC chat Comodo Dragon - more info needed
You are missing opera classic and newer firefox (gecko) or chromium engine (cant remember which). There are also none of the trident based (IE) browsers
Thanks for the feedback trott3er .... Gecko was in my original list but I edited it out because it's not really a browser per se .... it's actually a rendering engine ( developed by Mozilla ) which is incorporated into various other browsers. As for Internet Explorer , I personally regard it as so poisonous , from a security point of view , that I never go near it ! Is that a form of prejudice ? .... HELL yes !
I added gecko in brackets as that is the engine firefox uses sorry for the confusion. Yes IE is a pain but you still get the odd bad site that doesnt work unless its IE.
Re BlackHawk. I used that in 2011 as my default for a couple of weeks. It was fast that's about all I remember about it.
I use this as my second browser, (nothing but the browser). I like it, but second only to Opera, 1) for its lack of configuration options, especially configurable Keyboard Shortcuts: 2) I can't force a link to open in a new Tab in the background (Opera = Ctrl + Shift+Click) 3) Closing the last tab closes the browser; Opera leaves a blank window ... and others. ---- rich
Comodo Icedragon, I believe its chrome based hzzps://www.comodo.com/home/browsers-toolbars/icedragon-browser.php
No TBB? I am disappointed. Comodo IceDragon is Gecko-based. Comodo Dragon is the Chrome derivative one.
I have used Waterfox and Iron in the past. I liked both but Iron could be a little buggy at times and Waterfox seemed like high maintenance after a while, although I think early teething problems were eventually ironed out. I'd argue that SeaMonkey was new or newish as it is essentially a continuation of the Mozilla Suite AFAIK. It utilises the same version of Gecko as Firefox. I've used it on and off since version 1.1.17 and the SeaMonkey developers do a superb job of keeping it up to date and compatible if you ask me. There are a couple of little bugs that ... er ... bug me though lol. Particularly the 'throbber' bug which frequently makes the throbber move as if the page is loading even when it has actually loaded. This isn't a biggie but it can make some extension icons (FlashGot especially) dance around on the add-on bar. This can make the icon difficult to click onto. I've been told by one of the SM developers that this is because of the Ajax scripting changing a lot on certain pages and they don't have the time or resources always to fix this on SM. On the plus side though, SM has some nice themes. I particularly like KaiRo's 'Early Blue'. SeaMonkey is an entire suite with a mail client (later developed as a stand alone app called Thunderbird) and a web page composer too. It is very customisable and a very good back up for Firefox. I still have it on my Win 7 machine. Although SeaMonkey is no longer offered in the Ubuntu Software Centre there are Linux versions.
Nothing is a configurable as Opera Presto. Seamonkey is good in its own right but is a really different browser.
K-Meleon is an extremely fast, customizable, lightweight web browser based on the Gecko layout engine developed by Mozilla which is also used by Firefox. K-Meleon is Free, Open Source software released under the GNU General Public License and is designed specifically for Microsoft Windows (Win32) operating systems. http://kmeleon.sourceforge.net/
well EPIC is the most secure browser as they even says NSA can not spy and no agency and no-one will spy and has safe proxy included with tons of other privacy protection. https://www.epicbrowser.com/
Most of the Chrome based browsers are always a few versions behind the Chrome stable version and have vulnerabilities that have been addressed in the latest stable version. Most of them just have extensions built in that you can't remove though they claim their adblocking or whatever is something special etc.
I currently use Pale Moon with a combo of Tor and JonDo settings mixed in. Use very few extensions and filter through proxy. Also use a more private search engine and avoid Google as much as possible.
Regarding Comodo Dragon, it usually lags a lot of versions behind Google's Chrome stable releases. However, I do like its ability to be able to delete browsing data upon exit and the suppress HTTP referer header setting is brought to the front in the settings UI, so you don't have to dig down through about:config hidden page. It also has the ability to use Comodo's Secure DNS from within the web browser, so you don't really have to change your preferred DNS address for the OS to use it. This begs a question, don't you think it'd make you distinguishable?
You mean as in browser fingerprinting. I use very few, but very common extensions and also randomizing of data to make it more difficult for tracking. AFAIK even with little or no useful browser info you can still be fingerprinted whenever your connected to the Internet.
Yes indeed. So I'll post this link again :- https://panopticlick.eff.org/ My point being that the more someone tries to hide , the more they put themselves on a theoretical list of " people who are made conspicuous by their clear intention to hide themselves ". Or to put it another way , " if you want to hide in a forest , make yourself look like one of the trees "
Yes but doesn't combining Tor and JonDo profiles to a non bundled browser make you even more unique? Please see my reply to Compu KTed.
Well according to Panopticlick I blend right in. If I was more unique wouldn't the numbers be much lower?
