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[[File:Software_Chromium.png|thumb|right|The Chromium Icon]]


Chromium is a free and open source Web browser developed by Google and other contributors. It is known for its extremely fast JavaScript engine, multiprocess security model, and rapid development cycle.  
{{note|try to keep this page up-to-date by updating the status of the extensions and patches.}}
{{Browser Infobox
|name= Chromium
|image= [[file:Software_Chromium.png|64px]]
|type= Free
|layout= Blink
|website=https://www.chromium.org/Home/}}
'''Chromium''' is a free and open source Web browser developed by Google and other contributors. It is known for its ubiquitous JavaScript engine, excessive memory usage, multi-process security model, and rapid development cycle.  


When it was initially released, Chromium was vastly superior to the other major browsers in terms of performance, but this advantage gradually diminished in the years following its release as the other browsers caught up. Today, Chromium maintains an edge only in JavaScript performance and UI responsiveness.  
When it was initially released, Chromium was vastly superior to other major browsers in terms of performance, but this advantage gradually diminished in the years following its release as the other browsers caught up. Today, Chromium's major draw is [[JavaScript|being in absolutely everything]].  


Recently, Google forked the Apple-controlled Webkit project to give Chromium its own layout engine, Blink.
==Google Chrome==


== Google Chrome ==
[[File:Chrome.png|thumb|The Google Chrome icon|128x128px]]
 
[[File:Chrome.png|thumb|The Google Chrome icon]]


Google Chrome is a proprietary sister project of Chromium developed by Google.  
Google Chrome is a proprietary sister project of Chromium developed by Google.  


In addition to Chromium's usual set of features, it packages Google's 'Pepper' Flash plug-in, a Foxit-based in-line PDF reader, an automatic updater, and several controversial tracking capabilities. Due to the latter, it is commonly accused of being a [[botnet]] by the more security-conscious participants on /g/, [[Welcome to the Botnet|'''for good reason''']].
In addition to Chromium's usual set of features, it includes proprietary blobs full of DRM and advertising bloat. Because of this, it is often accused of being a [[botnet]] by the more security-conscious participants on /g/, [[Welcome to the Botnet|'''for good reason''']].


=== Official release channels ===
===Official release channels===


* Stable is targeted at most home and office users;
*[https://www.google.com/chrome/ Stable] is targeted at most home and office users
* Beta;
*[https://www.google.com/chrome/beta/ Beta], for those who want to try new features early.
* Dev;
*[https://www.google.com/chrome/canary/ Canary] is the bleeding-edge channel, intended for web developers. Instability and vulnerabilities are to be expected.
* Canary is a bleeding-edge channel. Instability and vulnerabilities are to be expected.


=== Tracking details ===
===Tracking details ===


Google Chrome's user tracking capabilities include, but are not necessarily limited to the following:
Google Chrome's user tracking capabilities include, but are [https://privacyworld.neocities.org/guides/chrome not necessarily limited] to the following:


* '''''Installation:''''' upon installation, Google Chrome sends a randomly generated token from the installer back to Google. This is used to measure the success rate of Chrome installations. This feature is non-optional.
*'''''Installation:''''' upon installation, Google Chrome sends a randomly generated token from the installer back to Google. This is used to measure the success rate of Chrome installations. This feature is non-optional.
* '''''RLZ identifier:''''' an encoded string that, according to Google, contains non-identifying bits of information about where Chrome was downloaded from and when it was installed. It is transmitted to Google upon the first launch, first use of the address bar, and first Google search query. The collected information is used to measure the success of promotional campaigns. This feature is non-optional, but Google does provide the necessary source code to decode the string.
* '''''RLZ identifier:''''' an encoded string that, according to Google, contains non-identifying bits of information about where Chrome was downloaded from and when it was installed. It is transmitted to Google upon the first launch, first use of the address bar, and first Google search query. The collected information is used to measure the success of promotional campaigns. This feature is non-optional, but Google does provide the necessary source code to decode the string.
* '''''ClientID:''''' a unique identifier coupled with user preferences, logs of usages metrics, and crashes. This feature is optional and disabled by default.
*'''''ClientID:''''' a unique identifier coupled with user preferences, logs of usages metrics, and crashes. This feature is optional and disabled by default.
* '''''OmniBox predictions:''''' any text typed into the address bar is sent to Google. This feature is optional, but enabled by default.
*'''''OmniBox predictions:''''' any text typed into the address bar is sent to Google. This feature is optional, but enabled by default.
* '''''Page-not-found web service:''''' upon receiving a server not found response, the query typed into the address bar is sent to Google. This feature is optional, but enabled by default.
*'''''Page-not-found web service:''''' upon receiving a server not found response, the query typed into the address bar is sent to Google. This feature is optional, but enabled by default.
* '''''Spell-checking web service:''''' any text typed is transmitted to Google. This feature is optional and disabled by default.
*'''''Spell-checking web service:''''' any text typed is transmitted to Google. This feature is optional and disabled by default.
* '''''Google update:''''' data concerning the user's Chrome usage, operating system details, and Chrome version is transmitted to Google periodically. This feature is non-optional.
*'''''Google update:''''' data concerning the user's Chrome usage, operating system details, and Chrome version is transmitted to Google periodically. This feature is non-optional.
 
== Notable forks ==
=== Comodo Dragon ===
 
[http://filehippo.com/download_comodo_dragon/ Comodo Dragon] is a proprietary fork of Chromium developed by Comodo. It generally lags a version behind ''Chrome stable''. Use at your own risk.
 
=== Iridium ===
 
[https://iridiumbrowser.de/ Iridium] is a FOSS fork of Chromium developed with security and privacy in mind. It generally uses the same Chromium version as ''Chrome stable''. For a list of differences between it and Chromium, see [https://github.com/iridium-browser/iridium-browser/wiki/Differences-between-Iridium-and-Chromium this].
 
=== Sleipnir ===
 
[http://www.fenrir-inc.com/us/sleipnir/ Sleipnir] is a proprietary, Windows/OSX exclusive fork whose sole purpose is to fix Chromium's broken font rendering.
 
== Extensions ==
 
=== Notable extensions ===
[[File:Apng.png|48px]] '''APNG'''
 
[https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/apng/ehkepjiconegkhpodgoaeamnpckdbblp?hl=en APNG] is for those who want to seek enlightenment to the open source masterrace animated PNG. Good for when you go to the [https://8ch.net/apng few corners of the web] that actually use these things.
 
[[File:Updater.png|48px]] '''Chromium Updater'''
 
[https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/chromium-updater/ccgjmadhdidfloacagcnnodbkedkjedg Chromium Updater] allows Windows and GNU/Linux users to conveniently identify, download, and install the latest Chromium build. It may not be as seamless or convenient as the automatic updates in Comodo Dragon and Google Chrome, but it does get the job done. Obviously, it should only be used with Chromium.
 
[[File:Editthiscookie.png|48px]] '''EditThisCookie'''
 
[https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/editthiscookie/fngmhnnpilhplaeedifhccceomclgfbg/related?hl=en EditThisCookie] is a great cookie manager for Chromium.
 
[[File:Httpseverywhere.png|48px]] '''HTTPS-Everywhere'''
 
[https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/https-everywhere/gcbommkclmclpchllfjekcdonpmejbdp HTTPS Everywhere] is maintained by the Electronic Frontier Foundation. It forces supported sites to prefer secure connections. This does occasionally cause problems, so the option to enable or disable the extension on a per-site basis is included.
 
[[File:Pdfjs.png|48px]] '''PDF Viewer'''
 
[https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/pdf-viewer/oemmndcbldboiebfnladdacbdfmadadm PDF Viewer] adds PDF.js, the free and open source HTML5 PDF reader found in Firefox and Chromium.
 
[[File:Stylish.png|48px]] '''Stylish'''
 
[https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/stylish/fjnbnpbmkenffdnngjfgmeleoegfcffe Stylish] allows the user to apply custom visual styles to Websites, internal browser pages, and more.
 
[[File:Tampermonkey.png|48px]] '''Tampermonkey'''
 
[https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/tampermonkey/dhdgffkkebhmkfjojejmpbldmpobfkfo Tampermonkey] adds a proper user script manager to Chromium. While it is certainly possible to install user scripts as Chromium extensions without this extension, it makes managing them much more convenient.
 
[[File:uBlock.png|48px]] '''uBlock Origin'''
 
[https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/ublock-origin/cjpalhdlnbpafiamejdnhcphjbkeiagm?hl=en uBlock Origin] is a lightweight and low-resource adblocker. Has many filter lists built in, with EasyList, Peter Lowe’s Ad server list, EasyPrivacy, and Malware domains enabled by default.
*Not to be confused with 'uBlock', an EXTREMELY outdated fork with some very slight changes to the UI.
*If you feel bad about blocking advertisements, make a deal with yourself: you'll stop blocking ads when major international internet companies stop [http://uk.businessinsider.com/yahoos-advertising-network-is-being-targeted-by-hackers-malwarebytes-says-2015-8?r=US&IR=T serving]  [https://blog.malwarebytes.org/malvertising-2/2015/08/large-malvertising-campaign-takes-on-yahoo/ malware].
 
[[File:uMatrix.png|48px]] '''uMatrix'''
 
[[File:matrix.png|thumb|uMatrix's fine-grained control]]
 
[https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/umatrix/ogfcmafjalglgifnmanfmnieipoejdcf?hl=en uMatrix], made by the creator of uBlock, is a high performance matrix-based firewall that supports hosts files, capable of blocking a myriad of objects, complete with per-hostname and global toggles, as well as plenty of privacy oriented features. Can be used with uBlock.
 


{{warning|It should be noted that while popular, the Hola VPN extension is a proven [[botnet]] (in the real, non-slang sense of the word), and should be avoided at all costs. See [http://adios-hola.org/ this site] for more information.}}
==Notable forks ==
===Thorium ===


== Tweaks and Fixes ==
[https://thorium.rocks/ Thorium] is a fork developed with speed in mind. It sees [https://thorium.rocks/performance performance improvements of 8%-38% over stock Chromium.]
=== Reducing RAM Usage ===
==== Enabling Process per Site ====
By default Chrom* heavily isolates each tab regardless of it's domain. While doing this arguably improves security by some extent, downside is that as number of tabs increase, the RAM bloat due to duplication reaches absurd levels. This can end up with Chrom* using >4.5GB of RAM on a machine with 8GB thus preventing other heavy programs from running at the same time.
This can be fixed by making Chrom* use one process per site/domain and not per tab. This greatly reduces RAM bloat while (probably) not sacrificing much from security. Use the following command-line argument:


{{ic|chromium --process-per-site}}
===Ungoogled Chromium ===


For more details go [https://www.chromium.org/developers/design-documents/process-models here].
[https://github.com/ungoogled-software/ungoogled-chromium ungoogled-chromium] is a fork built with privacy as a top priority, with Google's privacy invading aspects stripped out of the browser. It's free and open source, leveraging some patch sets from the the Iridium browser. The only real drawback is that you are limited to gimped Manifest V3 extensions, and thus can only install the "lite" version of uBlock Origin.


==== Suspending unneeded tabs ====
==Recommended extensions ==
If you have tabs sitting around that you don't really actively need, you can unload them using [https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/the-great-suspender/klbibkeccnjlkjkiokjodocebajanakg The Great Suspender].
===Adblocking, privacy, and security===
[[File:uBlock.png|48px]] '''uBlock Origin Lite'''


=== Fixing touchscreen on Linux ===
[https://github.com/uBlockOrigin/uBOL-home uBlock Origin Lite] is a lightweight and low-resource adblocker. Has many filter lists built in, with EasyList, Peter Lowe’s Ad server list, EasyPrivacy, and Malware domains enabled by default. It is, as the name implies, [https://github.com/uBlockOrigin/uBOL-home/wiki/Frequently-asked-questions-(FAQ)#filtering-capabilities-which-cant-be-ported-to-mv3 not as capable as the full version], and as such does not include cosmetic filtering or scriptlet injection. This should be used as your last line of defense against online advertisements. The full fat version of uBlock Origin, however. is still available for Firefox and it's derivatives.
If your device runs Linux and has a touchscreen, you probably noticed that, by default, Chrom* completely ignores touch events. To make Chrom* use your touchscreen, you first need to find your input device ID:


{{ic|xinput list}}
====Decentraleyes====
[https://decentraleyes.org/ Decentraleyes] prevents a lot of requests from reaching content delivery networks like Google Hosted Libraries, and serves local files to keep sites from breaking. Complements your existing content blockers and helps to prevent fingerprinting.


Find the ID of "Virtual core pointer", let's take for example <code>id=2</code>. Now run Chrom* with the following argument:
====[[File:ClearURLs.png|48px]]ClearURLs====
[https://clearurls.xyz ClearURLs] is an extension that automatically removes tracking elements from URLs to help protect your privacy when interacting with the botnet.


{{ic|<nowiki>chromium --touch-devices=2</nowiki>}}
===Usability===
'''Dark Reader'''


If ID of "Virtual core pointer" doesn't work, try the ID of touchscreen device.
[https://darkreader.org/ Dark Reader] allows the user to apply an automatically generated dark theme to any website. Your mileage may vary.


===KDialog freezes===
'''Stylus'''
Launch with the following environment variable:


{{ic|<nowiki>NO_CHROME_KDE_FILE_DIALOG=1 chromium</nowiki>}}
[https://add0n.com/stylus.html Stylus] allows the user to apply custom visual styles to Websites, internal browser pages, and more.


=== Installing extensions ===
[[File:ViolentMonkey.png|48px]]'''Violentmonkey'''


...that require a Google account.  
[https://violentmonkey.github.io/ Violentmonkey] adds a proper user script manager to Chromium. While it is certainly possible to install user scripts as Chromium extensions without this extension, it makes managing them much more convenient.


Certain extensions demand that the user login to a Google account to install them from the Chrome Web Store, but a workaround exists. However, there is a weakness: the extension cannot be automatically updated.  
==Tweaks and Fixes ==
====Suspending unneeded tabs====
If you have tabs sitting around that you don't really actively need, you can unload them using [https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/12929150?hl=en Memory Saver] mode


# In this example, we will be using the Google Drive extension {{ic|<nowiki>https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/google-drive/apdfllckaahabafndbhieahigkjlhalf</nowiki>}});
===Installing extensions===
# Locate its ID: the apparent gibberish following the extension's name in the URL which, in our example, happens to be ''apdfllckaahabafndbhieahigkjlhalf'';
# Insert it in place of the bracketed statement in the following URL: {{ic|<nowiki>https://clients2.google.com/service/update2/crx?response=redirect&x=id%3D[Your ID Goes Here]%26uc</nowiki>}};
# In our example, the final URL is: {{ic|<nowiki>https://clients2.google.com/service/update2/crx?response=redirect&x=id%3Dapdfllckaahabafndbhieahigkjlhalf%26uc</nowiki>}};
# Now we must open it in a new tab and save the offered CRX file to a convenient location;
# Unfortunately, the file will not work for us as is, since we are not installing from the Chrome Web Store, so, to work around this problem, we must extract the contents of the CRX file to a folder with an archiver like 7zip;
# Now, we must enable 'developer mode' on the extensions page and load the folder as an unpacked extension.


Provided everything went according to plan, we should have have a working extension.
If you cannot install extensions with your version of Chromium, install [https://github.com/NeverDecaf/chromium-web-store this extension]


== External links ==
==External links ==


* [http://www.chromium.org/Home The Chromium Homepage]
*[https://www.google.com/chrome/ The Google Chrome Homepage]
* [https://www.google.com/chrome/ The Google Chrome Homepage]
*[http://www.chromestatus.com/features Chromium Status]
* [http://www.chromestatus.com/features Chromium Status]


[[Category:Browser|Chromium|Chrome]]
[[Category:Browser|Chromium|Chrome]]
[[Category:Software]]
[[Category:Software]]

Latest revision as of 21:46, 7 December 2024

Note: try to keep this page up-to-date by updating the status of the extensions and patches.
Chromium
Software Chromium.png
Type Free
Layout engine Blink
Website https://www.chromium.org/Home/

Chromium is a free and open source Web browser developed by Google and other contributors. It is known for its ubiquitous JavaScript engine, excessive memory usage, multi-process security model, and rapid development cycle.

When it was initially released, Chromium was vastly superior to other major browsers in terms of performance, but this advantage gradually diminished in the years following its release as the other browsers caught up. Today, Chromium's major draw is being in absolutely everything.

Google Chrome

The Google Chrome icon

Google Chrome is a proprietary sister project of Chromium developed by Google.

In addition to Chromium's usual set of features, it includes proprietary blobs full of DRM and advertising bloat. Because of this, it is often accused of being a botnet by the more security-conscious participants on /g/, for good reason.

Official release channels

  • Stable is targeted at most home and office users
  • Beta, for those who want to try new features early.
  • Canary is the bleeding-edge channel, intended for web developers. Instability and vulnerabilities are to be expected.

Tracking details

Google Chrome's user tracking capabilities include, but are not necessarily limited to the following:

  • Installation: upon installation, Google Chrome sends a randomly generated token from the installer back to Google. This is used to measure the success rate of Chrome installations. This feature is non-optional.
  • RLZ identifier: an encoded string that, according to Google, contains non-identifying bits of information about where Chrome was downloaded from and when it was installed. It is transmitted to Google upon the first launch, first use of the address bar, and first Google search query. The collected information is used to measure the success of promotional campaigns. This feature is non-optional, but Google does provide the necessary source code to decode the string.
  • ClientID: a unique identifier coupled with user preferences, logs of usages metrics, and crashes. This feature is optional and disabled by default.
  • OmniBox predictions: any text typed into the address bar is sent to Google. This feature is optional, but enabled by default.
  • Page-not-found web service: upon receiving a server not found response, the query typed into the address bar is sent to Google. This feature is optional, but enabled by default.
  • Spell-checking web service: any text typed is transmitted to Google. This feature is optional and disabled by default.
  • Google update: data concerning the user's Chrome usage, operating system details, and Chrome version is transmitted to Google periodically. This feature is non-optional.

Notable forks

Thorium

Thorium is a fork developed with speed in mind. It sees performance improvements of 8%-38% over stock Chromium.

Ungoogled Chromium

ungoogled-chromium is a fork built with privacy as a top priority, with Google's privacy invading aspects stripped out of the browser. It's free and open source, leveraging some patch sets from the the Iridium browser. The only real drawback is that you are limited to gimped Manifest V3 extensions, and thus can only install the "lite" version of uBlock Origin.

Recommended extensions

Adblocking, privacy, and security

UBlock.png uBlock Origin Lite

uBlock Origin Lite is a lightweight and low-resource adblocker. Has many filter lists built in, with EasyList, Peter Lowe’s Ad server list, EasyPrivacy, and Malware domains enabled by default. It is, as the name implies, not as capable as the full version, and as such does not include cosmetic filtering or scriptlet injection. This should be used as your last line of defense against online advertisements. The full fat version of uBlock Origin, however. is still available for Firefox and it's derivatives.

Decentraleyes

Decentraleyes prevents a lot of requests from reaching content delivery networks like Google Hosted Libraries, and serves local files to keep sites from breaking. Complements your existing content blockers and helps to prevent fingerprinting.

ClearURLs.pngClearURLs

ClearURLs is an extension that automatically removes tracking elements from URLs to help protect your privacy when interacting with the botnet.

Usability

Dark Reader

Dark Reader allows the user to apply an automatically generated dark theme to any website. Your mileage may vary.

Stylus

Stylus allows the user to apply custom visual styles to Websites, internal browser pages, and more.

ViolentMonkey.pngViolentmonkey

Violentmonkey adds a proper user script manager to Chromium. While it is certainly possible to install user scripts as Chromium extensions without this extension, it makes managing them much more convenient.

Tweaks and Fixes

Suspending unneeded tabs

If you have tabs sitting around that you don't really actively need, you can unload them using Memory Saver mode

Installing extensions

If you cannot install extensions with your version of Chromium, install this extension

External links

Retrieved from "https://igwiki.lyci.de/index.php?title=Chromium&oldid=22027"