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Author Topic: the smallest fastest and easiest virtual machine for web browser only?  (Read 346 times)

compn

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With javascript being able to run linux in a web browser, crypto miners, untested and unscanned browser extensions, zero day attacks, web browsers themselves spying on you ( https://www.npr.org/...ement-search-history ) , scam websites... and the complete lack of the web browsers caring about security at all...

the only solution i can think of to stay safe online, is to keep my web browsers separate from my computer. with the virtual machine ability to stop them from using cpu when i dont want them ker-chunking in the background.

i see there is a virtual browser service - browserling.com/virtual-browser - but thats using a vm on someone elses computer! i doubt i would trust that very much!

there is even 'run a vm in your browser' https://github.com/l...m?tab=readme-ov-file but that vm is 600mb debian image.

theres kasm, but thats more for server/workstation vm streaming. howto video here https://www.youtube..../watch?v=TbtGd3lWc4M . it looks really neat but i dont have a home lab server running at the moment.

there is windows sandbox! wow microsoft realizes how bad windows security really is! oh wait its not available for windows home versions https://learn.micros...ion/windows-sandbox/ . but just like windows i wouldnt trust microsoft sandbox to properly and securely sandbox.

i know there are smaller vm that come with latest firefox or other web browsers ?

i guess the best search will be "tiny debian vm with browser" not "sandboxed browser vm"

compn

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this blog post explains how to make a tinycore 15 vm gui + web browser for 229mb https://enterprisead...mall-vm-for-testing/

this is probably the smallest we're going to see. unless theres some android vm w/ android browser or some specific browser vm somewhere that google wont let me find.
« Last Edit: November 18, 2025, 01:21 AM by compn »

4wd

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Given the numerous old Android devices lying around and your constraints, I'd be tempted to:
- use an Android device set up without a Google account,
- install F-Droid or Aurora for your app store,
- install a browser,
- install a VNC server, (e.g. droidVNC-NG), or similar remote access server, (there's also MS's Phone Link if you want to try it - there's a few videos on YT),
- connect from your computer.

About as separate as you can get  :D