Privacytools.io: 🆕 Software Suggestion | Web browser overhaul.

[blacklight447-ptio]

Basic Information

After the removal of brave browser in pull request #1169, the team came to a conclusion that our current approach to browser recommendations is no longer enough. An example of this is that we still want to list a very good chromium based browser like Bromite, but cannot as its android only.

We agreed on overhauling the browser page, and splitting it into three sub sections: Desktop, Android, and IOS. the rationality behind this is that certain browsers can be better for certain platforms. our current approach makes us unable to list several good browser because we only make on universal recommendation for all platforms.

Another reason is that by recommending browser for each specific platform, we can link directly to the according download page and thereby enhance user convenience.

Before we can make a pull request though, we need to discuss options for each platform so we have a base list to work with and improve upon.

Another thing we need to discuss is what platforms desktop recommendations need to support, my vote goes to the three behemoths: Windows, Macos and Linux. in any case i compiled a list of browser i researched and deemed as fitting on our website, all of these are completely open for discussion.

Desktop:

-Firefox
-Tor browser
-research chromium based browsers for desktop TODO

Android:

-Tor browser for Android.
-Bromite
-Firefox (could also be firefox klar)

IOS:

(note that all browser on IOS use the safari engine because of apples policy)
-Firefox
-Onion browser
-Snowhaze (needs more research.)

[blacklight447-ptio]

While we are at it: my proposed change in #1212 about labeling the tweaks section as "advanced can also be discussed here as well. we may also want to research whether we want browser specific tweaks for other recommendations outside of Firefox as well.

[TNTBOMBOM]

our current approach to browser recommendations is no longer enough

What do you mean not enough? FF is available for all platforms so as Tor Browser (except Onion Browser called in IOS platforms)

in ticket #1169 said:

Honestly, I don't see any advantages to using Brave over either Firefox or Tor Browser for any conceivable use-case.

Totally agreed. Chromium by itself sucks, so anything based on something sucks its sucks.

[blacklight447-ptio]

If you read further into those discussion, you see that we discovered the the sandbox of Firefox is not on par to that of chromium's, and it doesn't have site isolation either. and on android, it is literately un-sandboxed. therefore there are certainly reasons to still listed chromium based browser alternatives for security purposes.

[JYNxYoshii]

The only immediate suggestion I could think of would be Iridium for a Chromium-based solution. Allegedly open-source, within 1 - 2 weeks of Chrome's update schedule. I'll have to try it myself, but it's about the only promising project that I've seen recently that uses Chromium.

[TNTBOMBOM]

therefore there are certainly reasons to still listed chromium based browser alternatives for security purposes.

can chromium avoid google shitty laws like this one:

https://alternativeto.net/news/2019/5/google-will-still-implement-limits-for-chrome-ad-blocking-extensions/

[blacklight447-ptio]

I went ahead and made a PR for this: #1256

[nitrohorse]

I'm not so sure about SnowHaze due to a couple of things:

• This project is currently not licensed.
• This is not our working repository and we only push versions to this repository that have made it through Apple's review process and will be released.
• Due to binding contracts, we are currently not allowed to publish the decrypted database [containing their list of "content blockers," "dangerous sites," "private sites," "popular sites"...]. We have added a test database which only contains a few entries for each category. This allows you to test the functionality of the database.

Also on first install you're prompted to subscribe to their VPN.

I think DuckDuckGo on the otherhand is a bit easier to put my confidence in.

• We already list them as a search provider
• DDG enumerates what ads and trackers where blocked (via their blocklist) so users can learn and see easily what's being blocked and why
• Allows users to can view the TLS cert which is neat (likely not useful for normal users).
• Integrates with https://tosdr.org to find any posted privacy practices for the visited site.
• Accessible button to clear all tabs and data across.

Also to note, Firefox Focus has the same "button to clear all tabs and data" but according to its readme:

Development of this project is not currently a high priority. Because of this, we cannot guarantee timely reviews or interactions on this repository. If you would like to contribute to one of our other iOS projects, we recommend checking out Firefox iOS. We greatly appreciate your interest in and contributions towards Focus and look forward to working with you on other projects!

So I think DDG is my preferred iOS browser choice alongside Firefox and Onion Browser.

[blacklight447-ptio]

After some thinking, i would consider that the following direction would be good: move Snowhaze to worth mentioning, and list DuckDuckGo as the third recommendation.

I would also like to include privacy browser as a worth mentioning in the android section, thoughts on this?

[Thorin-Oakenpants]

link for tor browser for android isn't set: edit: that's the Website link - it points to the current page

[blacklight447-ptio]

link for tor browser for android isn't set: edit: that's the Website link - it points to the current page

i believe its fixed now