Author Topic: Use this modified version of Chrome for more privacy (Read 34,951 times)

40hz · « **on:** September 24, 2008, 06:01 PM »

Once again Download Squad finds something useful:

From Downloadsquad: http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/09/24/iron-chrome-for-privacy-fanatics/

Quote

Iron: Chrome for privacy fanatics

Posted Sep 24th 2008 1:00PM by Christina Warren

If you want to use Google Chrome but are concerned or have questions about Google's policies for collecting usage data, you might want to give Iron a try.

Iron, developed by German software company SRWare is Chrome stripped of all the user ID information that gave the German government cause for concern.

I don't speak German, but the guys at the Incomplete-News Project have helpfully published an English translation. According to them, Iron is essentially the Chromium source code, with the following modifications:

* No unique user-ID
* No user-specific information is sent to Google
* No alternative error messages
* Crash information is not sent to Google
* No Google updater

sri · « **Reply #1 on:** September 24, 2008, 07:21 PM »

Check out UnChrome linked at http://www.gchromewiki.com/index.php?title=Main_Page#Tools.

icekin · « **Reply #2 on:** October 09, 2008, 12:51 AM »

As an alternative, use Chromium. Latest version found at the top. Doesn't even require installation, can just unzip and run. All of chrome's features present (including gears), except auto-update.

wreckedcarzz · « **Reply #3 on:** October 09, 2008, 12:57 AM »

Quote from: icekin on October 09, 2008, 12:51 AM

As an alternative, use Chromium. Latest version found at the top. Doesn't even require installation, can just unzip and run. All of chrome's features present (including gears), except auto-update.

Fixed link: http://build.chromium.org/buildbot/snapshots/chromium-rel-xp/?O=D

Ehtyar · « **Reply #4 on:** October 10, 2008, 04:57 AM »

Thanks guys, been looking for something like this.

Ehtyar.

kartal · « **Reply #5 on:** October 10, 2008, 05:06 AM »

Support real free software and use k-meleon

It is an awesome piece of browser with alot of features and it is not bloated like firefox.

Ehtyar · « **Reply #6 on:** October 10, 2008, 06:11 AM »

Quote from: kartal on October 10, 2008, 05:06 AM

Support real free software and use k-meleon It is an awesome piece of browser with alot of features and it is not bloated like firefox.

Not all of us have the luxury of ignoring the various engines that will attempt to render our pages. I don't know about you but I'd much rather test with Iron or Chromium than Chrome.
If you're going to contribute, please make your posts relevant or constructive.

Ehtyar.

Davidtheo · « **Reply #7 on:** October 10, 2008, 08:00 AM »

Great I'll try it out. I have been staying away from chrome because of Googles usage information collecting policies.

These links will take you directly to the download pages http://www.srware.net/software_srware_iron_download.php
http://build.chromium.org/buildbot/snapshots/chromium-rel-xp/?O=D

justice · « **Reply #8 on:** October 10, 2008, 10:18 AM »

Who do you trust more Google's Apps or some unknown volunteer's fork? Better stick with the official releases IMHO.

Lashiec · « **Reply #9 on:** October 10, 2008, 05:03 PM »

Quote from: justice on October 10, 2008, 10:18 AM

Who do you trust more Google's Apps or some unknown volunteer's fork? Better stick with the official releases IMHO.

Well...

So, how is the program so far? Any nasties in there? I mean, like random bugs, and rendering problems.

Deozaan · « **Reply #10 on:** October 10, 2008, 08:23 PM »

Am I the only one who still doesn't understand the point of Chrome (and these alternates) and promptly uninstalled it without looking back?

Ehtyar · « **Reply #11 on:** October 10, 2008, 11:44 PM »

Quote from: Deozaan on October 10, 2008, 08:23 PM

Am I the only one who still doesn't understand the point of Chrome (and these alternates) and promptly uninstalled it without looking back?

Certainly not. I move to establish the Tinfoil Hat Brigade (THB) to make Deo and I feel less alone!

Ehtyar.

Deozaan · « **Reply #12 on:** October 11, 2008, 12:43 AM »

It's not that I'm paranoid about what Google is doing with my data, or about the security of Chrome.

In my opinion, there is no need being filled by Chrome. Firefox works great most of the time, and when it doesn't, IE will do.

I'm starting to feel that people are praising everything Google much like Apple fanatics do. When it comes to software, I don't really care about brand names. I'm not going to "buy" into it just because it's got the Google brand. Don't get me wrong, I have and use a lot of Google's products: Gmail, Gtalk, Picasa, Google Earth. But there are applications I don't have a use for, such as Google Desktop, Browser Toolbar, Chrome, etc. In short, if it's useful, I'll use it. If it's not, then it won't be on my PC for long.

Not only do I not have a use for Chrome, I fail to see why it even exists.

f0dder · « **Reply #13 on:** October 11, 2008, 12:49 AM »

As a end-user, I don't see the point of Chrome, and would've preferred if they spent the time and money helping the firefox developers instead.

But there's probably a lot of reasons for google doing this. gPhone might be one of them?

Edvard · « **Reply #14 on:** October 11, 2008, 12:57 AM »

Actually I found a kinda neat use for it...
You know the "make a web app look like a normal app" feature?
I used that for the web interfaces for Popfile and my router.

They look a little less cluttered and it behaves the same as in a browser, but really that's not a big deal at all.
Cute maybe, but necessary? Nah.

Ehtyar · « **Reply #15 on:** October 11, 2008, 02:05 AM »

Quote from: Edvard on October 11, 2008, 12:57 AM

Actually I found a kinda neat use for it...
You know the "make a web app look like a normal app" feature?
I used that for the web interfaces for Popfile and my router.

They look a little less cluttered and it behaves the same as in a browser, but really that's not a big deal at all.
Cute maybe, but necessary? Nah.

Which you have been able to with Prism since almost a year prior to Google releasing Chrome. Why does everyone get hot and bothered when Google release something "innovative", but when Firefox gets an upgrade all you hear are complaints?

Ehtyar.

kartal · « **Reply #16 on:** October 11, 2008, 03:23 AM »

Google always steals ideas and package them as a new products and the masses drool all over them.

Lashiec · « **Reply #17 on:** October 11, 2008, 10:42 AM »

Quote from: f0dder on October 11, 2008, 12:49 AM

But there's probably a lot of reasons for google doing this. gPhone might be one of them?

I don't think so, Android was in development prior Google wanted to do Chrome. Actually, the Android browser served as inspiration for Chrome development, if we consider some of the things Google people said. In any case, hiring key people from the Firefox project, and let them waste time doing nothing is not exactly very clever, so it also amazes me how could anyone could not predict this would happen sooner or later.

artkaye · « **Reply #18 on:** October 11, 2008, 07:50 PM »

I downloaded Chrome to find it out and after one try, out it went. I do not know why the Google people made it.

Some people may like it and like Deozaan, I find some Google products like Gmail very useful.

But my FF3 with the Aeon theme and the many wonderful extensions make it the very best for me. I'm just Fired for the Fox!!!

Dormouse · « **Reply #19 on:** November 11, 2008, 02:15 AM »

I've just tried Portable Iron & Chromium and then installed Chrome. All of them fired up for an instant and then went out again (I just get a flash of a window opening). Very strange. As if something on my system crashes them before they even start up. Not really a problem, I just thought I'd given it enough time for it to be safe to be curious.

ewemoa · « **Reply #20 on:** November 11, 2008, 05:08 AM »

Quote from: sri on September 24, 2008, 07:21 PM

Check out UnChrome linked at http://www.gchromewiki.com/index.php?title=Main_Page#Tools.

The other things on that page are interesting too. Thanks for posting this!

FWIW, Portable Iron seems to work ok for me so far -- will try to see how well it works out. Transferring settings from Portable Chrome seemed fairly straight-forward (fingers crossed that nothing broke).

(When is better cookie management coming...)

mahesh2k · « **Reply #21 on:** November 11, 2008, 01:37 PM »

One Question : In which Programming Language Chrome is Coded? I'm interested because it's having Smooth UI, Feel & Tabs compared to FF.

ewemoa · « **Reply #22 on:** November 11, 2008, 02:49 PM »

Isn't it C++?

http://groups.google.com/group/chromium-dev/web/building-with-vc-2005-express-edition

Ehtyar · « **Reply #23 on:** November 11, 2008, 07:25 PM »

It is cpp, though they're using the .cc extension.

Ehtyar.

f0dder · « **Reply #24 on:** November 11, 2008, 08:00 PM »

Quote from: Ehtyar on November 11, 2008, 07:25 PM

It is cpp, though they're using the .cc extension.

.cc is standard unix/gcc filetype for C++ files. Really wicked people depend on case-sensitivy and use ".C" for C++, other people believe in ".c++", others in ".cxx", and some people use ".hpp" or ".hxx" for C++ header files.

Personally, I stick to .h/.cpp