Abrowser and privacy

5 replies [Last post]
proninyaroslav
Offline
Joined: 04/19/2018

Hi. I have a question about abrowser: has it removed the telemetry, data collection and Encrypted Media Extensions, as it is done in the waterfox browser?

loldier
Offline
Joined: 02/17/2016

I think it won’t initiate any connections without your approval.

The next most important component is Abrowser 59 (based on Mozilla Firefox), which is not only fully-featured and quite faster than before, it has also been audited and tweaked to maximize the user's privacy without compromising on usability. Abrowser will not start any network connections on its own (most popular web browsers connect for extension updates, telemetry, geolocation and other data-collection as soon as you open them, even if you haven't even typed an address yet!) and it has a list of easy to set, privacy-enhancing settings that the user can opt-in depending on their needs. As a companion to it, and based on Mozilla Thunderbird, the IceDove mail client is also fully updated and set up for privacy.

https://trisquel.info/en/trisquel-80-lts-flidas

chaosmonk

I am a member!

I am a translator!

Offline
Joined: 07/07/2017

There was a long thread here a while back in which someone used tcpdump to test many browsers for automatic connections. As I recall, all Firefox derivatives they tested, including Waterfox, made some automatic connections without user knowledge. At the time, I tested Abrowser and found the same thing. Shortly afterward, additional privacy features (the ones you see when you open a new tab) were added to Abrowser. I tested Abrowser again after the new features were added and found if you accept the default settings it does not make any automatic connections. Assuming nothing has changed with other browsers since then, Abrowser is the only Firefox derivative that does not by default make connections without user knowledge.

SuperTramp83

I am a translator!

Offline
Joined: 10/31/2014

Firefox by default is a mess privacy wise but it can be rather easily set to not make any automatic connection. I would be interested in a list of (all and each one of the) modifications made to Abrowser.

chaosmonk

I am a member!

I am a translator!

Offline
Joined: 07/07/2017

Attached are the default prefs.js for Abrowser and Firefox, and a comparison of the two via diff.

AttachmentSize
abrowser-prefs.js_.txt 4.08 KB
firefox-prefs.js_.txt 7.3 KB
abrowser-firefox.txt 5.74 KB
SuperTramp83

I am a translator!

Offline
Joined: 10/31/2014

Tx mate! :)