Why do you use multiple browsers?

[JASpup]

Why do you use multiple browsers?

It seems normal, but I'm not sure motives. For me it is a lot to do with an obtuse sense of security. E.g., if sites can id your browser, maybe if you use a different one they'll think you're a different user.

I also fear sites' access to my config data. As a result I use one browser for shopping, another for politics, another for tech, etc., and each of these tend to have an associated webmail account (likely on the same service).

Is using multiple browsers this way a waste of energy?

[stevie pup]

I would say no, it isn't a waste of energy. I use the same browser, but on three different laptops, purely to give the trackers a hard time. But obviously that wouldn't be convenient for everyone, so using different browsers should suffice. That's across two puppies and one other Linux distro by the way.

[mikewalsh]

@JASpup :-

In my case, you know the answer to this one. I build/maintain so many browser packages for the community, I've got no end of them kicking around, all the time.....and I don't like getting 'stuck in a rut', anyway.

32 GB RAM permits running several 'portables' at once, especially if I'm "testing".

Mike.

[JASpup]

@mikewalsh I see, but is there a strategic reason for using many browsers besides supporting the community?

[mikewalsh]

@mikewalsh I see, but is there a strategic reason for using many browsers besides supporting the community?

@JASpup :-

No, no 'strategic' reason. Should there be..?

I'm one of these odd characters who is, for want of a better term, a "browser enthusiast". For me, this is ALL a hobby. Nothing I do here has any particular end-point in mind, and nowt is work-related. I don't HAVE to use a browser at all, if I'm honest.....but I enjoy playing around with them. I am, however, a perfectionist; if I'm going to use something, it has to work properly.

As far as building software for the community goes, my motto has ALWAYS been "Choice in everything". I've been around for enough years now to realise that no two people want to do things the same way..... Given the sheer number of permutations possible with all the different Linux desktops/WMs/FMs/terminals/apps, etc, you'd run out of people on the planet LONG before you exhausted all the different possible combos of those items....

Mike.

[geo_c]

@mikewalsh I see, but is there a strategic reason for using many browsers besides supporting the community?

They all have strengths and weaknesses, and for me the best way to find out what they are is to use every single one of them for a period of time. After trying all of @mikewalsh 's offerings, I'm beginning to settle on one particular browser. But if he adds another, like his recent addition of Quartz, I'm going to check it out just to see!

and btw: Quartz is pretty limited, and reminds me of Net-surf in terms of functionality.

[Grey]

Previously, I used a separate browser to shop on AliExpress and BangGood. But right now I am using linchrome for everything. Mainly because it works well with Vulkan and other hardware accelerations.

It is unlikely that the simultaneous use of a bunch of different browsers will protect against "dastardly" Russian-Chinese and "noble" American-English hackers.

It's not even about browsers. Users are always waiting for some kind of miracle from new browsers. In addition, these same users are becoming more and more impatient. As a result, the browser is not used for its intended purpose, but "who has the largest dick" "whose page is loaded half a second faster" is measured.

[snoring_cat]

Links for super fast and lightweight browsing on VERY slow computers
Dillo for reading man pages, markdown and some help files
Palemoon because it's there
libwebkit for some apps...if only it worked better
Vivaldi for full fledged daily browsing
Firefox to mess with trackers, web development, and if Vivaldi has problems.

Will probably remove Palemoon with just Firefox as an on-demand SFS.

[stevie pup]

"whose page is loaded half a second faster" is measured.

Sad, sorry reflection of modern society, but accurate non the less.

[Feek]

@JASpup

I use one browser - Firefox with 2 profiles. One profile is "normal", the other is strict to mitigate fingerprinting and IP leaks. If I open both of them and do different things in them it should work as two different browsers (one profile shouldn't know what is happening in the other).

I also use Firefox multi-account container (extention in Firefox). It should work this way:
"it separates website storage into tab-specific Containers. Cookies downloaded by one Container are not available to other Containers".

The advantage is that I don't need to have multiple browsers installed.
On the other hand, I didn't test the real efficiency of these solutions, I simply use them.

[Grey]

On the other hand, I didn't test the real efficiency of these solutions, I simply use them.

Just use, worry less, and sleep peacefully is the right approach. Because there are only two options. Use what you have or not use at all. The third option - to make your own browser - I do not consider, because all such attempts are based on the collective work of one of the well-known projects.

[JASpup]

No, no 'strategic' reason. Should there be..?

In my opinion there shouldn't.

Extraneous browser 'enchancements' can be handled by old extensions.

So subtle one would wonder why anyone would bother with browser creation, the SlimJets of the world, except perhaps for a revenue channel for themselves. Is anyone really let down by Chromium or Firefox?

I want to understand browser security, why, a relevant WalMart ad shows up in my Facebook feed when I don't use Chromium to shop. What are these user browsing teeth they have? It seems the only knowing entity would be our ISP.

I'm getting good at creating start/end scripts for browsers that install/load them, extract the config files, run the browsers, and reverse all in two steps. But I'm not sure about my motives.

I like Chromium's less commerical performance, Vivaldi's style, Pale Moon's footprint, Brave's intelligent functionality, but maybe which one I use for security makes no difference whatsoever (apart from Brave's quality Tor function).

[JASpup]

They all have strengths and weaknesses, and for me the best way to find out what they are is to use every single one of them for a period of time.

I should be clear about my own inadequacy of only a very minor technical background.

I became a browser hound for security. When you're browsing and you get feedback that makes you think, "How on earth could they possibly know that?!' you start thinking of ways to circumvent their knowing for privacy.

Since all of this is back-end, only a technical user focused on security is going to know what's going on.

One thing that seems kind of obvious is all the local data that gets saved on our machines whilst browsing, and even though browsers apparently have access to other browsers' data, it seems like it would be less common than using the same browser.

Does Google really care how many G-mail accounts we have? Does it make any sense to use different browsers for them?

Is browsing security at the device level?

[JASpup]

It is unlikely that the simultaneous use of a bunch of different browsers will protect against "dastardly" Russian-Chinese and "noble" American-English hackers.

America is very aware of Eurasian hacks and ransomware. It's central to our politics. We're not virtuous, self-absorbed, less scientific on average, and with more resources that explains the direction of the hacking. I was hacked by China I suspect.

That's the kind of hacking our developers are thinking about.

The kind I'm thinking about is legitimized Western/U.S. privacy violations. What do Google, Facebook, and Microsoft know? What are they doing with our information?

If I'm not saving cookies/history and using different browsers for different functions, how could a social network know my browsing habits?

[JASpup]

Links for super fast and lightweight browsing on VERY slow computers
Dillo for reading man pages, markdown and some help files
Palemoon because it's there
libwebkit for some apps...if only it worked better
Vivaldi for full fledged daily browsing
Firefox to mess with trackers, web development, and if Vivaldi has problems.

Will probably remove Palemoon with just Firefox as an on-demand SFS.

That's what it's like.

Pale Moon is useful to me as a full-featured mid-weight so I expect to keep it around. I think 666 put Dillo on Fossa. If one browser was every browser Vivaldi would be tempting.

[JASpup]

Sounds intelligent I wonder the results of testing. I find 'strict' Firefox is good enough for most sites. If I felt comfortable using one browser it would be a radical time-saver.

I use one browser - Firefox with 2 profiles. One profile is "normal", the other is strict to mitigate fingerprinting and IP leaks. If I open both of them and do different things in them it should work as two different browsers (one profile shouldn't know what is happening in the other).

I also use Firefox multi-account container (extention in Firefox). It should work this way:
"it separates website storage into tab-specific Containers. Cookies downloaded by one Container are not available to other Containers".

The advantage is that I don't need to have multiple browsers installed.
On the other hand, I didn't test the real efficiency of these solutions, I simply use them.

[xenial]

I have tried several browsers but i do prefer zilla based browsers.
However the new firefox is rather aesthetically displeasing so i am using firefox 78 ESR as a main browser for youtube etc.

my preferred choice is palemoon browser as i like the look of the older firefox interface but palemoon struggles with a few sites plus it still allows a flash plugin to be used.

Different scenarios require different browsers but palemoon and firefox ESR fulfil all the requirements at this time.

[geo_c]

One thing that seems kind of obvious is all the local data that gets saved on our machines whilst browsing, and even though browsers apparently have access to other browsers' data, it seems like it would be less common than using the same browser.

Does Google really care how many G-mail accounts we have? Does it make any sense to use different browsers for them?

Is browsing security at the device level?

It's tricky. I'm not technically competent to actually know for certain what's the most trackable or the most secure browser. But my instinct from using them says:

• TOR browser is least trackable because of it's encryption

• LibreWolf adds less tracking information to the device than most browsers because it essentially runs in incognito mode all the time and doesn't save history. But it's mozilla addon compatibility casts doubt on it's 'phone-home to mozilla' status

• Ungoogled Chromium doesn't phone google information, and isn't able to utilize google addons unless set in developer mode and added with a special script, but it stores more local data unless set to run incognito, because the option to block cookies and delete on exit is more limited than LibreWolf

• Privacy Badger and uBlock or uMatrix should help with tracking. But who knows if third party add-ons are any more trustworthy?

• Never log into google or mozilla for anything if you want to stay relatively off the radar.

[JASpup]

I have tried several browsers but i do prefer zilla based browsers.
However the new firefox is rather aesthetically displeasing so i am using firefox 78 ESR as a main browser for youtube etc.

my preferred choice is palemoon browser as i like the look of the older firefox interface but palemoon struggles with a few sites plus it still allows a flash plugin to be used.

For the old Firefox interface I've been pleased with old Firefox itself, running 45 at oldest.

I just ran the latest 32-bit Pale Moon, but in a new pup so I need to see if it runs in Xenial. My favorite feature is no forced updates. There's only the tick box for search engines.

Pale Moon is the appropriate browser for Puppy and maybe installed again because it won't beg updating.

[JASpup]

• TOR browser is least trackable because of it's encryption

• LibreWolf adds less tracking information to the device than most browsers because it essentially runs in incognito mode all the time and doesn't save history. But it's mozilla addon compatibility casts doubt on it's 'phone-home to mozilla' status

• Ungoogled Chromium doesn't phone google information, and isn't able to utilize google addons unless set in developer mode and added with a special script, but it stores more local data unless set to run incognito, because the option to block cookies and delete on exit is more limited than LibreWolf

• Privacy Badger and uBlock or uMatrix should help with tracking. But who knows if third party add-ons are any more trustworthy?

• Never log into google or mozilla for anything if you want to stay relatively off the radar.

I was using Waterfox with my ISP (the account there) and a not too old version made their site seem buggy to where I sought technical support.

It couldn't possibly be the browser.

Alas a new Firefox fixed it.

Based on your recommendation I might try LibreWolf to replace Waterfox.

[backi]

AppImage of Librewolf .
(Tested for Fossa-Dog.....works):

Download:
https://gitlab.com/librewolf-community/ ... -/releases

[JASpup]

AppImage of Librewolf .
(Tested for Fossa-Dog.....works):

Download:
https://gitlab.com/librewolf-community/ ... -/releases

I haven't successfully used an AppImage.

Does os version matter?

Interestingly I cannot see this page in Pale Moon 29.4.1 or 27.6.1 but can in Iron 78.

[backi]

@JASpup

Does os version matter?

Not quite sure..... (maybe) ......just test it.
Regards!

P.S:
Download AppImage......make it "executable".....by right Mouse Click on it with Rox-Filer>Menu>Properties....make executable by checking "exec" Boxes>refresh.....
just (left) click your AppImage......should start (in my case Fossa-Dog64 it did).

[PuppyandCo]

I use Tor Browser as a fallback for Firefox

- they are nearly the same in how they work so I don't have to learn much new stuff
- Tor Browser is less "instally" and just runs out of whatever folder the files are sat in
- Tor Browser often continues working when Firefox breaks, whether it is bypassing some network issue or because it's not been broken by an update or plugin
- it's pretty small

[tallboy]

I have used Palemoon for years, but I have now switched to the absolutely fabulous Vivaldi! I still have the Palemoon, but because they did nothing to improve a situation with crashes when I scroll thumbnails of ads in our local list similar to Craigslist, despite several approaches in the forum, I tried Vivaldi. And I was instantly hooked! I keep the Palemoon for those few occasions where I want to have two browsers open, and I have made some desktop icons to websites that use Palemoon as the browser, and I am too lazy to recode, but Viavaldi is my main browser now. It is very safe, and they don't sell any info, like the others do, because they cannot see what you are doing, so they have no info to sell! Privacy is vital. I have the latest version of both, in my tahr64-6.0.6 and EasyPup_2.4.91

tallboy

[mikewalsh]

@tallboy :-

I have used Palemoon for years, but I have now switched to the absolutely fabulous Vivaldi! I still have the Palemoon, but because they did nothing to improve a situation with crashes when I scroll thumbnails of ads in our local list similar to Craigslist, despite several approaches in the forum, I tried Vivaldi. And I was instantly hooked! I keep the Palemoon for those few occasions where I want to have two browsers open, but Viavaldi is the main browser. I have the latest version of both in my tahr64-6.0.6.

Hi, Olaf. Long time no see..!

Just confirm that for me, willya? You have the latest 64-bit Vivaldi running in Tahrpup64?

I didn't think that was functionally possible. Tahrpup's libs'n'stuff are really 'long in the tooth' by now. How did you achieve it?

Mike.

[JASpup]

Tor Browser is great, slow as molasses but other than its purpose probably its best feature is the default configuration. The settings are what should be normal ootb. I've even figured out how to stop it from updating (normally you have to have a connection to open the browser. Before you can turn off updates it starts updating even in older versions with the "never" switch).

You're right it runs pretty much anywhere, as does Firefox.

It would be nice if we could use it with our clocks set.

My current favorite 64 browser is Brave and they jammed it with so many options, to use it I have to configure my crypto settings!

I guess this is why people create new browsers.

I use Tor Browser as a fallback for Firefox

- they are nearly the same in how they work so I don't have to learn much new stuff
- Tor Browser is less "instally" and just runs out of whatever folder the files are sat in
- Tor Browser often continues working when Firefox breaks, whether it is bypassing some network issue or because it's not been broken by an update or plugin
- it's pretty small

[JASpup]

I tried Vivaldi. And I was instantly hooked! I keep the Palemoon for those few occasions where I want to have two browsers open

Most broadly, I find browsing about the Chromium vs. Firefox base and UI/aesthetics. There Vivaldi wins Chromium but could use a Tor feature (like Brave). Anything leaned down like Pale Moon is going to be a browser to have on tap.

I think there's a Tor in Opera but unlike Tor Browser it no longer works in the last 32-bit versions.

Vivaldi is sharp.

[greengeek]

One of my main reasons for using multiple browsers is I often print webpages to pdf or to my printer and different browsers have different capabilities when it comes to capturing and formatting the printed output.

[tallboy]

Hi Mike.

Tahrpup's libs'n'stuff are really 'long in the tooth' by now.

That is a Palemoon problem, not a Vivaldi problem.

Vivaldi 4.2.2406.54 (Stable channel) stable (64-bit)
Command Line /usr/bin/vivaldi-stable --no-sandbox --enable-crashpad --flag-switches-begin --flag-switches-end --save-page-as-mhtml
Executable Path /opt/vivaldi/vivaldi
Profile Path /root/.config/vivaldi/Default

I actually told you all once before. I download distro.ibiblio.org/puppylinux/pet_packages-noarch/install-vivaldi-0.7-noarch.pet and install it. I then run install-vivaldi.sh in a terminal window (my tahr does not like the gui version, cannot remember why). It automatically downloads the latest Vivaldi amd64.deb version to /tmp/, from https://repo.vivaldi.com/stable/deb/pool/main/. As soon as it is downloaded, the program start making a Vivaldi .pet. That process takes a lot of time (a couple of minutes in my old PC).
In the meantime I delete or rename the old /opt/vavaldi/, save the preferences file from /root/.config/vivaldi/Default/, and delete the rest.
I then install the vivaldi .pet from /tmp, and after starting it, and shutting down again as soon it has made a new entry in /root/.config, I load my old preferences file into the new /root/.config/vivaldi/Default/, and restart Vivaldi. There are new functions in the new version, so the preferences file probably need modification, but reusing the old one save a little work. I have done the same in my EasyPup 2.4.91. I have never had a crash so far.
I have used this procedure for the latest 5-6 versions. Piece of cake, Mike!
I also use the same latest Vivaldi 4.2 in my Huawei Mate20Pro Android phone, you can download it directly from Vivaldi, without using the Google Play thing.
Oh, at first start of the 4.2 version, it complains about not being able to play html5 videos, but I have not bothered to look for - or compile, a recent Widevine version for tahr64. It may alternatively be my 22.000 entry /etc/hosts file that block something.
Vivaldi will not automatically update itself, or anything else.
BTW, the coders among you will love the new function Command Chain, where several internal commands can be connected.

tallboy