Help me decide on a browser please.

Right now I use google. Call me old fashion, but I believe in privacy. I want to set up another browser before March 1. Could you good people help me find a browser that is secure and private. My wife and I don't like browsers storing everything we do on the net. Forgive my ignorance. I got my first computer 6 years ago. If you could let me know which combination of browser, antispyware, and any other products I should use. I have heard about virtual ip addresses too. Any and all suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks in advance. Please don't get to complicated. Although I am intelligent, I am new to the internet world.

Happy 2012, Greenworld

 

Chrome can be plenty private.

Check these out:

HTTPS-Everywhere:
https://www.eff.org/files/https-everywhere-chrome-2012.2.9.crx


Adblock Plus with Do Not Track:
https://clients2.google.com/service...rect&x=id=cfhdojbkjhnklbpkdaibdccddilifddb&uc

ScriptNo:
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/oiigbmnaadbkfbmpbfijlflahbdbdgdf


Adblock Plus includes Do Not Track. HTTPS Everywhere will encrypt your websites. ScriptNo can block scripting and cookies.

You can also go to:
Wrench -> Settings -> Under The Hood

Disable anythign under "Privacy" that you like.

Then go to Content Settings and block 3rd party cookies.

 

I have heard that google's new policies were all about non-privacy. Can you explain why a google product would be different?

 

Oh by the way, I have an HP laptop, with windows 7. Should I get someone to build me a computer?

 

This explains the privacy policy specific to Chrome in depth:
http://www.google.ca/chrome/intl/en/privacy.html

But, essentially, there are some communications to Google (http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/google-chrome-communication/) that are all legitimage and can be disabled fairly easily.

Chrome also has a dedicated Privacy team (https://mikewest.org/2011/09/chrome-privacy) and it's based on the Open Source Chromium (all parts of Chrome that connect to the internet have their source code released), which means that anyone can audit the code to see if there's something suspicious going on.

 

Or I'm just well informed.

edit: ie: notice the sources for each statement including the in-depth privacy policy, an explanation of each connection made to Google's servers, and a comment from someone on Google's on Privacy Team.

 

This thread should get a response from every person using his choice of browser. I settled on Firefox many years ago after trying a number of other ones. It's the best for me. I also installed Chrome when it first came out and am enjoying watching it grow. I use it for a fail safe, if a website on FF won't load I try it on Chrome to see if it's the site or the browsers fault etc..
I am using 64bit WIN7 so just discovered Firefox's 64x version called Waterfox and switched to that. It's the same as the 32 bit FF only 64 bit and a little faster.

 

Here's my edit by the way:

Point out whatever flaws you like. I would love to hear why you think that Chrome is insecure or even why you think there are privacy issues with it.

 

Google's policy has always been about non-privacy. There's nothing "new" about it; they just spell it out for you in layman's terms.

My suggestion: Get the Firefox browser with Private Browsing mode enabled. It's user-friendly, and should suffice for your privacy needs.

 

ot posts removed

 

How does it play with regular FF extensions?

 

Any extension that doesn't load up binaries (java, flash) should work with Waterfox. Something like Norton Toolar would not since it's more than just javascript.

 

When extensions break just from one version of Firefox to another, I was curious as to how it's working for others.

 

No problem with the 8 extensions and theme I'm using.

 

Want some help in picking a browser based solely in the privacy aspect?

Read:
https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http://crypto.stanford.edu/~dabo/pubs/papers/privatebrowsing.pdf

Also read:
https://www.torproject.org/projects/torbrowser.html.en
https://www.torproject.org/download/download-easy.html.en
https://www.torproject.org/download/download-easy.html.en#warning
https://www.torproject.org/docs/faq.html.en

 

+1 to this. Everyone is freaking out about this but really it's always been this way. More people can understand it (and are actually reading it now). Not to mention the FUD being spread.

I recommend Chrome or Chromium (the Open Source version). I have used FireFox in the past but the memory hog it is has stopped me from using it for now.

With chrome/chromium all you have to do is change the shortcut to:

Code:

C:/Program Files/Google/Chrome/Chrome.exe --incognito

(The path may be wrong I haven't used windows in months)

This will force all new windows to be incognito and forget everything when you close them.

EDIT: Woot! 800 posts!! XD

 

Tracking sources

1. DNS server
Caches lookup requests and therefore holds a history. When you don't trust Chrome use your local ISP or Norton DNS

2. Search Engine & Start Page
Using IX Quick start page (see https://startpage.com/uk/protect-privacy.html ) and setting it as your default engine

3. Browser
Iron claims to be a privacy friendly browser, allthough Chromium forums claim this is hoax (see http://www.srware.net/en/software_srware_iron_chrome_vs_iron.php)

4. Browser settings
Cookies - only allow first party cookies to store data, deny third party cookies
Flash - deny flash to store local data
Set browser to delete history, local store data and cookies on exit (most browsers offer a -private or --inprivate mode which does not set cookies and logs history)

5. Extensions or plug-ins
There are several directed to tracking protection (IE has build in tracking protection which you can enable see http://ie.microsoft.com/testdrive/Browser/TrackingProtectionLists/), FF and Chrome have plug-ins like Do Not Track me Plus and Ghostery

On top of that Ad Block Plus extension (for Chrome and FF) also have the ability to block additional Ad-IP's

Enough options to increase privacy while browsing

 

A propos Ad Block Plus extension for Chrome, mentioned by Kees - I've tested it and I was surprised that for this single extension memory usage was about 95MB... wow that's a lot of resources.
As alternative for Adblock Plus extension for Chrome I can recommend Adfender.
Pros: it uses adblock lists, you can create your own adblocking list (adblock .txt lists are widely available, and resource usage is very low: memory (8-12MB) and cpu time as well.
Cons: if you created your own filter lists (like me) you have to block adfender in your firewall to stop updates (rewrite) of these lists. Also you have to remember to update manually (eg. in notepad) your lists since updates are disabled. I do this once per week/two weeks. It's enough.

 

waterfox is the best for anything non privacy related until we get a real native x64 built from mozilla ,for the rest use tor, and make sure you bring along alot of ram lols , my record was 7,5-8,5 gb with 430-520 tabs mixed from normal sites to flash aka youtube etc , yeah i tend to keep a couple tabs open once in a while lols

 

Run them out of hidden TrueCrypt containers....your own 'incognito' mode

PD