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>Mappainter
m threw in ice cat in firefox fork examples since it's related to /g/'s interests. Important firefox forks should be listed and expanded upon; I wouldn't be able to write it though.
I added Badwolf to the list of browsers.
 
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Personal
A ''Web browser'' is a type of [[World Wide Web|Web client]] that enables a user to select, retrieve, and perceive resources on the Web. In particular, Web browsers provide a way for a user to view [[Hypertext|hypertext]] documents and follow the hyperlinks that connect them, [https://www.justice.gov/atr/us-v-microsoft-courts-findings-fact typically by moving the cursor over a link and depressing the mouse button.]
needs and viewing preferences vary wildly, so one should ideally test
several major web browsers before making a decision. No one choice is
going to be perfect for everyone.


__TOC__
==What does /g/ use?==


== [[Freedom|Free]] web browsers ==
* [https://github.com/ungoogled-software/ungoogled-chromium#downloads Ungoogled Chromium] - Chromium with better default settings. Not fully audited (needs explanation on why, some /g/entoomen please add).
* [https://thorium.rocks Thorium] - An optimized Chromium fork claiming to be the speediest web browser on Earth.
* [https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/ Firefox] and it's forks:
** [https://librewolf.net/ Librewolf] -  A community-driven fork of Firefox designed to increase protection against tracking and fingerprinting techniques, with a removal of all telemetry, data collection and annoyances, as well as disabling anti-freedom features like DRM. It comes with uBlock Origin as well as better default settings options (search engines and DNS providers for example). Librewold is licensed under the Mozilla Public License (MPL 2.0).
** [https://mullvad.net/browser Mullvad Browser] - A hardened Firefox fork similar to Librewolf made backed up by The Tor Project and the Mullvad VPN guys. It's licensed under the [[wikipedia:Mozilla_Public_License|Mozilla Public License]] (MPL 2.0).
** [https://thorium.rocks/mercury Mercury] - a optimized fork of Firefox made by the same people who made [https://thorium.rocks Thorium], a optimized fork of Chromium. Claiming an [https://thorium.rocks/mercury_performance 8-20% increase] in performance, Thorium, a 8-38% increase over vanilla Chromium.
* [https://www.palemoon.org/ Pale Moon] - Legacy Firefox being maintained by infamous furry known as [https://en.wikifur.com/wiki/Moonchild Moonchild]. It's frequently called "Pale Meme" by some users, due to some controversies regarding automatic updates and add-ons as there is a blacklist set by default. Palemoon doesn't support DNS over HTTPS like Firefox and most of its forks.


=== Mozilla Firefox and friends ===
==[[Freedom|Free]] web browsers==


[[File:Firefox.png|80px|thumb|right|Good ole Firefox]]
===Firefox spawned===
[[File:Palemoon.png|80px|thumb|right|Best Firefox fork{{CN}}]]


'''[[Firefox|Mozilla Firefox]]''' is a free and open source web browser
[[File:Firefox.png|80px|thumb|right|Good ole' Firefox]]
descended from the Netscape Communicator. It is known for its
[[File:Icecat.png|80px|thumb|right|The Best Firefox fork{{CN}}]]
championing of the open web during Internet Explorer's reign of terror
and its extensive customisability via add-ons and settings. Although
many other browsers now support third-party extensions, Firefox's
add-ons generally tend to be a cut above the rest.


Numerous forks and spin-offs of Firefox exist and are a common sight on
'''[[Firefox]]''' is a free and open source web browser descended from the Netscape Communicator. It is known for its championing of the open web during Internet Explorer's reign of terror and its extensive customisation capabilities via add-ons and settings. Nowadays, Mozilla spends more effort on [https://blog.mozilla.org/en/mozilla/introducing-mozilla-ai-investing-in-trustworthy-ai/ chasing industry trends] and [https://lunduke.locals.com/post/4387539/firefox-money-investigating-the-bizarre-finances-of-mozilla squandering donations] than maintaining the browser.  
/g/ and /tech/ given Firefox's perceived transition into a
Chrome-imitating memory whore, for example: [http://www.palemoon.org Pale
Moon], [http://www.gnu.org/software/gnuzilla/ Ice Cat], and [http://www.waterfoxproject.org/ Waterfox]. In addition,
Mozilla offers a [http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/developer/
developer edition] of Firefox, which most notably ditches the  
controversial "Australis" theme which ships with recent versions of
Firefox.


=== Chromium ===
Numerous forks and spin-offs of Firefox exist and are a common sight on /g/ and /tech/ given Firefox's perceived transition into a Chrome-imitating memory whore, for example [http://www.palemoon.org Pale Moon], its sibling [https://www.basilisk-browser.org/ Basilisk], and [https://archive.is/z08C4 advertiser-sold] [http://ww.waterfoxproject.org/ Waterfox]. The most "free" fork would be '''[[IceCat|GNU Icecat]]''', a fully free, libre, open-source (FLOSS) fork of Firefox without its built-in DRM support and Firefox Hello. IceCat comes with LibreJS, an add-on which blocks out any non-free [[JavaScript]] on webpages.
===Chromium based===


[[File:Software_Chromium.png|80px|thumb|right|Google, (probably)
[[File:Software_Chromium.png|80px|thumb|right|Google, de-botneted (a lie)]]
de-botneted]]


'''[[Chromium]]''' is a free and open-source Web browser known for its  
'''[[Chromium]]''' is a free and open-source <strike>web browser</strike> botnet known for its extremely fast JavaScript execution and multiprocess security model. Upon release, Chromium was ahead of the competition by leaps and bounds in terms of raw performance. In the years that followed though, Firefox and Opera largely equalled and in some cases surpassed its performance advantage, although Chromium still tends to maintain a slight edge in UI responsiveness and JavaScript execution. While usually recommended for use, many users stay away from this browser as it has not been audited as much as Firefox has, and in protest of its (easy to disable) tracking features.
extremely fast JavaScript execution and multiprocess security model.  
Upon release, Chromium was ahead of the competition by leaps and bounds  
in terms of raw performance. In the years that followed though, Firefox  
and Opera largely equalled and in some cases surpassed its performance  
advantage, although Chromium still tends to maintain a slight edge in UI
responsiveness and JavaScript execution. While usually recommended for  
use, many users stay away from this browser as it has not been audited  
as much as Firefox has, and in protest of its (easy to disable) tracking
features.


== <span style="color:#ff0000">Non free</span> web browsers
If you're thinking of switching to Chromium (Google's open source version of Chrome) instead, think again. For some time, [https://archive.is/4VijY Chromium snuck in a binary blob for voice recognition whenever you started it up]. This has been [https://archive.is/2C86X removed] by the project maintainers, but it should raise some concern over what else could be lurking in the code.
==


[[File:Inori-tan.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Superior waifu browser not
If you want a completely botnet-free and telemetry-free browsing experience, this is what you do:
available on Freedom™ systems]]
# Get [https://ungoogled-software.github.io/ungoogled-chromium-binaries/ Ungoogled-Chromium] from your package manager.
# Go to ''chrome://flags'' and change the setting "Handling of Extension MIME Type Requests" to "Always prompt for install".
# Install [https://github.com/NeverDecaf/chromium-web-store/releases/tag/v1.5.3 chromium-web-store]
# Install [[Chromium#Recommended extensions|our recommended extensions]]
# ???
# PROFIT!!!


=== Google Chrome ===
==<span style="color:#ff0000">Non-free</span> web browsers==


'''[[Google Chrome]]''' is a <strike>[[botnet]]</strike> 
[[File:Inori-tan.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Superior waifu browser not available on Freedom™ systems]]
<strike>proprietary fork</strike> [[Welcome to the
Botnet|botnet]] of the free and open source Chromium project. While
effectively offering the same browsing experience as Chromium, it
integrates Google's "Pepper" Flash plugin, a Foxit-based PDF reader and
controversial user-tracking capabilities. If you value your privacy or
reputation on /g/ and /tech/, it's best to avoid this one.


=== Opera ===
===Google Chrome===


'''[[Opera]]''' is one of the oldest web browsers that is still under
'''[[Google Chrome]]''' is a [[botnet|botneted version]] <strike>proprietary fork</strike> of the free and open source Chromium project. While effectively offering the same browsing experience as Chromium, it integrates Google's DRM and controversial user-tracking capabilities. If you value your privacy or reputation on /g/ and /tech/, it's best to avoid this one.
active development. Up to version 12.16, Opera was based on its in-house
Presto layout engine and characterised by its customisability,
innovation, broad out-of-the-box feature set (including a torrent
client, email, IRC and FTP support) and respect for web standards.  
Several now ubiquitous features like tabbed browsing and speed dial made
their débuts in Opera.


With the release of version 15, Opera development radically changed
===Vivaldi===
direction. Presto was discontinued in favour of Chromium's Blink layout
engine and numerous features were excised, with the email client
becoming a standalone program and GNU/Linux support and native 64-bit
builds both being suspended (although the former has made a recent
comeback). As a result, "Chropera" is often derided as a shadow of its
former self, and a small minority of /g/ and /tech/ users fervently
stick to the archaic old version.


=== Internet Explorer ===
[http://www.vivaldi.com/ Vivaldi] is made by the developers of Opera, who were apparently as frustrated with its change in direction as /g/ and /tech/, and attempts to bring back the feel and features of Opera 12.


'''Internet Explorer''' or is the default web browser in [[Microsoft]]'s
===Microsoft Edge===
Windows operating systems, and is based on Microsoft's Trident layout
engine. Before version 9, Internet Explorer was infamous for its myriad
security vulnerabilities, poor performance, disregard for most web
standards and perversion of the few that it bothered to acknowledge.
Since then, however, Microsoft has been actively developing Internet
Explorer into a tolerable web browser, and has even discontinued the
brand name to distance themselves from its notoriety.


=== Safari ===
'''Microsoft Edge''' is the default web browser in [[Microsoft]]'s Windows operating systems. It is another proprietary Chromium fork but instead of Google botnet, you get Microsoft botnet, which could be better. Can be uninstalled from Windows [https://github.com/he3als/EdgeRemover with a shell script].


'''Safari''' is the default web browser in [[Apple]]'s Mac OS X. It is
===Safari===
based on Apple's Webkit layout engine, a KHTML fork. Compared to
Chromium and Firefox, Safari has a slow development cycle and is lacking
in features.


== Obscure hipster browsers ==
'''Safari''' is the default web browser in [[Apple]]'s macOS. It is based on Apple's WebKit layout engine, a distant KHTML fork. Compared to Chromium and Firefox, Safari has a slower development cycle and smaller extension base, but offers a simple browsing experience out of the box.
==Obscure hipster browsers==
The chance that all websites will work with these browsers is low. Its just the way things are now.


=== Gecko ===
===Gecko===


* [http://kmeleon.sourceforge.net/ K-Meleon] is a free and open-source  
*[http://kmeleon.sourceforge.net/ K-Meleon] is a free and open-source Firefox-like browser for Windows. It uses the Gecko rendering engine just like Firefox, but sports a native Windows UI and is absurdly configurable. It also runs very, very well on Pentium M era hardware and below.
Firefox-like browser for Windows. It is old and unmaintained, but  
potentially useful if running older Windows operating systems.


* [http://www.seamonkey-project.org/ Seamonkey] is a continuation of the
*[https://librewolf.net/ LibreWolf] A hardened security-focused fork of Firefox with uBlock Origin preinstalled.
Mozilla suite. Unlike most modern web browsers, it is an Internet
suite, complete with bundled programs for email, IRC, and web design. It
is compatible with most Firefox add-ons.


=== WebKit ===
*[http://www.seamonkey-project.org/ SeaMonkey] is a continuation of the Mozilla suite and descendant of Netscape Navigator. Unlike most modern web browsers, it is an Internet suite, completely bundled with an email client, newsreader, IRC, and web designer. Has old internet written all over it. It's the only functional choice on early to mid 2000's computers, as many Chromium based browsers won't work at all due to requiring an specific instruction set that older CPUs don't have. Could be worth considering on any extremely resource-deprived system, more-so than browsers like Pale Moon.


* [http://midori-browser.org/ Midori] is a lightweight web browser with a
===WebKit===
GTK+ interface. It is a component of the XFCE Goodies package.


* [http://rekonq.kde.org/ rekonq] is a lightweight web browser with a Qt
*[https://wiki.gnome.org/Apps/Web GNOME Web] is the GNOME Project's default browser.
interface. It is a core component of the K desktop environment.
*[https://hacktivis.me/projects/badwolf Badwolf] is a minimalist browser with a built-in Javascript-toggle and Images-toggle button.


* [http://otter-browser.org/ Otter Browser] is a project that aims to
*[http://www.fenrir-inc.com/us/sleipnir/ Sleipnir] is a proprietary <s>Japanese</s> weeaboo Chromium fork with a superior, proprietary font rendering engine. However, it is only available on OS X and Windows.
recreate and improve upon the features of classic Opera using the Qt5
toolkit. It is in development at the time of writing, and is thus
unsuited for general use.


* [http://www.vivaldi.com/ Vivaldi] is made by the developers of classic
*[https://github.com/KDE/falkon Falkon] (formerly [http://www.qupzilla.com/ QupZilla]) is similar to rekonq by being lightweight and using Qt except it has more features.
Opera, who were apparently as frustrated with its change in direction
as /g/ and /tech/, and attempts to reinvent it. It is still in early
development at the time of writing.


* [http://mason-larobina.github.io/luakit/ Luakit],
*[http://otter-browser.org/ Otter Browser] is a project that aims to recreate and improve upon the features of classic Opera using the Qt5 toolkit. It is in development at the time of writing, and is thus unsuited for general use.
[http://portix.bitbucket.org/dwb/ Dwb], [http://www.uzbl.org/ Uzbl] and  
[http://github.com/The-Compiler/qutebrowser QuteBrowser] are all
minimalistic browsers with a keyboard-driven, Vim-inspired interface.
Luakit is deprecated and most are based on archaic versions of WebKit.


* [http://surf.suckless.org/ Surf] is a browser developed according to
*[https://luakit.github.io/ Luakit], [http://www.uzbl.org/ Uzbl] and [http://qutebrowser.org/ qutebrowser] are all minimalistic browsers with a keyboard-driven, Vim-inspired interface. Most are based on archaic versions of WebKit, although qutebrowser uses QtWebEngine in more recent builds.
the [http://suckless.org/philosophy Suckless philosophy], which means
it's effectively a WebKit frontend.


=== KHTML ===
*[http://surf.suckless.org/ Surf] is a browser developed according to the [http://suckless.org/philosophy Suckless philosophy], which means it's effectively a WebKit frontend.


* [http://www.konqueror.org/ Konqueror] is a Web browser and file  
*[https://textbrowser.github.io/dooble/ Dooble] is a web browser focused on security and privacy with many integrated features like support for advanced options and cookie management, Gopher support, a FTP browser, a file manager, a download manager, and many others.
manager that was once a core component of the K desktop environment.
Webkit and Blink are both descendants of its KHTML layout engine.


=== Terminal ===
===KHTML===


* [http://links.twibright.com/ Links] is a text-based browser that can
*[http://www.konqueror.org/ Konqueror] is a Web browser and file manager that was once a core component of the K desktop environment. Webkit and Blink are both descendants of its KHTML layout engine.
display images.


* [http://w3m.sourceforge.net/ w3m] is another text-based browser that
===Terminal===
can display images.


* [http://www.elinks.cz/ ELinks] is a text-based based web browser that  
*[http://links.twibright.com/ Links] is a text-based browser that can display images.
runs from the terminal.


* [http://lynx.isc.org/ Lynx] is the oldest web browser still under
*[http://w3m.sourceforge.net/ w3m] is another text-based browser that can display images.
active development.


== Common Plug-Ins ==
*[http://www.elinks.cz/ ELinks] is a text-based based web browser that runs from the terminal.


* [https://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/distribution3.html Adobe
*[https://lynx.invisible-island.net/ Lynx] is the oldest web browser still under active development. It strips pages of images, doesn't use javascript, and is great for just reading what is needed, like an article. It also utilizes other system programs, should you need to open an image file, for instance.
Flash Player] is required to play the flash video incorporated into many
modern Web pages. It is infamous for being bloated, slow, and  
exploitable. While it is being phased out in favour of HTML 5 video,  
Flash is unfortunately still required in many cases. Flash should not be
used on GNU/Linux systems, due to the fact that it is no longer being
updated for that platform.


* [https://mozilla.github.io/shumway/ Shumway] is an HTML5 technology
===Other===
experiment that explores building a faithful and efficient renderer for
* [http://www.netsurf-browser.org/ NetSurf] is a fast, lightweight browser running on GTK and using its own rendering engine with no JavaScript support.
the SWF file format without native code assistance.
* [https://dillo-browser.github.io/ Dillo] is an even faster, more lightweight browser running on [http://www.fltk.org/ FLTK] using its own rendering engine with limited (but improving) CSS support and no JavaScript support.


* [https://www.microsoft.com/silverlight/ The Silverlight Plug-In] is
==Recommended User Scripts==
required to play Silverlight content. Silverlight was essentially
Microsoft's answer to Flash, but it failed to gain any significant
market share. Like Flash, it is being phased out in favour of HTML 5.
Unlike Flash, it is not common enough to justify its use.


* [https://www.java.com/en/download/index.jsp The Java and Java
===4chanX===
Deployment Toolkit Plug-Ins] are installed with the
[http://wiki.installgentoo.com/index.php?title=Questionable_software#Java_Runtime_Environment
Java Runtime Environment]. While the Runtime Environment itself is
often necessary for the use of desktop Java software, these plug-ins are
extremely vulnerable and rarely used. They should be disabled in all
cases.


== Recommended User Scripts ==
*[https://github.com/loadletter/4chan-x loadletter's 4chan X] is a maintained version of MayhemYDG's v2. It lacks the controversial changes made by MayhemYDG in v3. It is a shorter script, and the only maintained fork that supports Opera 12.
*[https://ccd0.github.io/4chan-x/ ccd0's 4chan X] is the continuation of Spittie's/Seaweed's 4chan X.
*[https://github.com/KevinParnell/OneeChan OneeChan] is a script for customizing the look and feel of 4chan. Originally by Seaweedchan, its maintenance was continued by Spittie, then Nebukazar and now KevinParnell.


=== 4chanX ===
===Other===
* [https://zixaphir.github.io/appchan-x/ Appchan X] is Zixaphir's fork
of 4chan X. It combines the features of 4chan X with the rice of the
Appchan and OneeChan style scripts.
* [https://github.com/loadletter/4chan-x loadletter's 4chan X] is a
maintained version of MayhemYDG's v2. It lacks the controversial changes
made by MayhemYDG in v3. It is a shorter, more portable script, and the
only maintained fork that supports Opera 12.
* [https://ccd0.github.io/4chan-x/ ccd0's 4chan X] is the continuation
of Spittie's/Seaweed's 4chan X.
* <del>[https://github.com/aeosynth/4chan-x Aeosynth's
4Chan-X]</del> was the original version of 4chan X.
* <del>[https://github.com/MayhemYDG/4chan-x MayhemYDG's
4Chan-X]</del> was the ''official'' [citation needed] continuation
of Aeosynth's popular 4chan X script. It may still work for you until
moot changes the site. The Chrome version is in the store
[https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/4chan-x/cellaaeoekimmemgdheibaibbaoeefbl
here]. Mayhem no longer distributes the Firefox version of his script,
so [https://paste.installgentoo.com/view/raw/fb99099b#.user.js here] is a
script compiled from the latest source code on Github.
* <del>[https://github.com/ihavenoface/4chan-x ihavenoface's 4chan
X]</del> added features to MayhemYDG's 4Chan X. Not officially
abandoned yet, but not updated since September 6. Note that the last
released version (v3.13.15) contains
[https://github.com/ihavenoface/4chan-x/pull/341 security flaws] that
allow scripts from 4chan or the archives to read data from any website;
however, it does not appear to be able to read data protected by a
session cookie. The problem has been fixed, but a fixed version has yet
to be released. Anyone concerned about the issue is advised to compile
the script from themselves from the source code on Github.
* <del>[https://github.com/seaweedchan/4chan-x Seaweedchan's 4chan
X]</del> was a popular fork of 4chan X. Developed in
collaboration with Zixaphir, it offered several controversial features
over Mayhem's fork. Additionally, several potentially obnoxious features
were made optional, such as the fixed header and the clearing and
redownloading (via JSON) of the thread index.
* <del>[https://github.com/Spittie/4chan-x Spittie's 4chan
X]</del> was a fork of Seaweed's 4chan X after it was abandoned.


=== Other ===
*[http://userscripts-mirror.org/scripts/show/87750 4Chan Linkify] changes plain-text links on 4chan into hyper-links. It is redundant if either 4chan X or the official extension are used.
* [https://github.com/reek/anti-adblock-killer Anti-Adblock Killer]
*[https://github.com/gorhill/uBlock uBlock Origin] is an adblocker that is very efficient on system resources. This is the original source, and works on Firefox.
prevents various anti-adblock methods from being effective. For best
*[https://github.com/ClearURLs/Addon ClearURLs] Removes tracking ids in URL while surfing the web.
results, it must be used in conjunction with its set of
*[https://git.synz.io/Synzvato/decentraleyes Decentraleyes] Improves the privacy of Content Delivery Networks.
[http://jsbin.com/AhewOcox Adblock Plus filters].
*[https://sponsor.ajay.app/ SponsorBlock] is an extension for both major web browsers, as well as kodi, mpv, youtube-dl, chromecast, android, etc. that blocks sponsored segments in videos (works on invidous as well).
* [https://github.com/Nebukazar/OneeChan OneeChan] is a script for
customizing the look of 4chan. Unlike Appchan X, it packaged no 4chan X
features. Originally by Seaweedchan, its maintenance was continued by
Spittie and now Nebukazar.
* [http://userscripts-mirror.org/scripts/show/87750 4Chan Linkify]  
changes plain-text links on 4chan into hyper-links. It is redundant if  
either 4chan X or the official extension are used.
* [https://github.com/YePpHa/YouTubeCenter YouTube Center] seamlessly
integrates many features like video downloading directly into YouTube.
* [http://isebaro.com/viewtube/?ln=en ViewTube] forces HTML5 to be
preferred over flash on a variety of popular video sites.
** [http://isebaro.com/viewtube/?ln=en ViewTubePlus] is like ViewTube,  
but for pornographic sites.


[[Category:Browser]]
[[Category:Browser]]
[[Category:Recommendations]]
[[Category:What does /g/ use?]]

Latest revision as of 04:21, 13 April 2025

A Web browser is a type of Web client that enables a user to select, retrieve, and perceive resources on the Web. In particular, Web browsers provide a way for a user to view hypertext documents and follow the hyperlinks that connect them, typically by moving the cursor over a link and depressing the mouse button.

What does /g/ use?

  • Ungoogled Chromium - Chromium with better default settings. Not fully audited (needs explanation on why, some /g/entoomen please add).
  • Thorium - An optimized Chromium fork claiming to be the speediest web browser on Earth.
  • Firefox and it's forks:
    • Librewolf - A community-driven fork of Firefox designed to increase protection against tracking and fingerprinting techniques, with a removal of all telemetry, data collection and annoyances, as well as disabling anti-freedom features like DRM. It comes with uBlock Origin as well as better default settings options (search engines and DNS providers for example). Librewold is licensed under the Mozilla Public License (MPL 2.0).
    • Mullvad Browser - A hardened Firefox fork similar to Librewolf made backed up by The Tor Project and the Mullvad VPN guys. It's licensed under the Mozilla Public License (MPL 2.0).
    • Mercury - a optimized fork of Firefox made by the same people who made Thorium, a optimized fork of Chromium. Claiming an 8-20% increase in performance, Thorium, a 8-38% increase over vanilla Chromium.
  • Pale Moon - Legacy Firefox being maintained by infamous furry known as Moonchild. It's frequently called "Pale Meme" by some users, due to some controversies regarding automatic updates and add-ons as there is a blacklist set by default. Palemoon doesn't support DNS over HTTPS like Firefox and most of its forks.

Free web browsers

Firefox spawned

Good ole' Firefox
The Best Firefox fork [Citation needed]

Firefox is a free and open source web browser descended from the Netscape Communicator. It is known for its championing of the open web during Internet Explorer's reign of terror and its extensive customisation capabilities via add-ons and settings. Nowadays, Mozilla spends more effort on chasing industry trends and squandering donations than maintaining the browser.

Numerous forks and spin-offs of Firefox exist and are a common sight on /g/ and /tech/ given Firefox's perceived transition into a Chrome-imitating memory whore, for example Pale Moon, its sibling Basilisk, and advertiser-sold Waterfox. The most "free" fork would be GNU Icecat, a fully free, libre, open-source (FLOSS) fork of Firefox without its built-in DRM support and Firefox Hello. IceCat comes with LibreJS, an add-on which blocks out any non-free JavaScript on webpages.

Chromium based

Google, de-botneted (a lie)

Chromium is a free and open-source web browser botnet known for its extremely fast JavaScript execution and multiprocess security model. Upon release, Chromium was ahead of the competition by leaps and bounds in terms of raw performance. In the years that followed though, Firefox and Opera largely equalled and in some cases surpassed its performance advantage, although Chromium still tends to maintain a slight edge in UI responsiveness and JavaScript execution. While usually recommended for use, many users stay away from this browser as it has not been audited as much as Firefox has, and in protest of its (easy to disable) tracking features.

If you're thinking of switching to Chromium (Google's open source version of Chrome) instead, think again. For some time, Chromium snuck in a binary blob for voice recognition whenever you started it up. This has been removed by the project maintainers, but it should raise some concern over what else could be lurking in the code.

If you want a completely botnet-free and telemetry-free browsing experience, this is what you do:

  1. Get Ungoogled-Chromium from your package manager.
  2. Go to chrome://flags and change the setting "Handling of Extension MIME Type Requests" to "Always prompt for install".
  3. Install chromium-web-store
  4. Install our recommended extensions
  5. ???
  6. PROFIT!!!

Non-free web browsers

Superior waifu browser not available on Freedom™ systems

Google Chrome

Google Chrome is a botneted version proprietary fork of the free and open source Chromium project. While effectively offering the same browsing experience as Chromium, it integrates Google's DRM and controversial user-tracking capabilities. If you value your privacy or reputation on /g/ and /tech/, it's best to avoid this one.

Vivaldi

Vivaldi is made by the developers of Opera, who were apparently as frustrated with its change in direction as /g/ and /tech/, and attempts to bring back the feel and features of Opera 12.

Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge is the default web browser in Microsoft's Windows operating systems. It is another proprietary Chromium fork but instead of Google botnet, you get Microsoft botnet, which could be better. Can be uninstalled from Windows with a shell script.

Safari

Safari is the default web browser in Apple's macOS. It is based on Apple's WebKit layout engine, a distant KHTML fork. Compared to Chromium and Firefox, Safari has a slower development cycle and smaller extension base, but offers a simple browsing experience out of the box.

Obscure hipster browsers

The chance that all websites will work with these browsers is low. Its just the way things are now.

Gecko

  • K-Meleon is a free and open-source Firefox-like browser for Windows. It uses the Gecko rendering engine just like Firefox, but sports a native Windows UI and is absurdly configurable. It also runs very, very well on Pentium M era hardware and below.
  • LibreWolf A hardened security-focused fork of Firefox with uBlock Origin preinstalled.
  • SeaMonkey is a continuation of the Mozilla suite and descendant of Netscape Navigator. Unlike most modern web browsers, it is an Internet suite, completely bundled with an email client, newsreader, IRC, and web designer. Has old internet written all over it. It's the only functional choice on early to mid 2000's computers, as many Chromium based browsers won't work at all due to requiring an specific instruction set that older CPUs don't have. Could be worth considering on any extremely resource-deprived system, more-so than browsers like Pale Moon.

WebKit

  • GNOME Web is the GNOME Project's default browser.
  • Badwolf is a minimalist browser with a built-in Javascript-toggle and Images-toggle button.
  • Sleipnir is a proprietary Japanese weeaboo Chromium fork with a superior, proprietary font rendering engine. However, it is only available on OS X and Windows.
  • Falkon (formerly QupZilla) is similar to rekonq by being lightweight and using Qt except it has more features.
  • Otter Browser is a project that aims to recreate and improve upon the features of classic Opera using the Qt5 toolkit. It is in development at the time of writing, and is thus unsuited for general use.
  • Luakit, Uzbl and qutebrowser are all minimalistic browsers with a keyboard-driven, Vim-inspired interface. Most are based on archaic versions of WebKit, although qutebrowser uses QtWebEngine in more recent builds.
  • Dooble is a web browser focused on security and privacy with many integrated features like support for advanced options and cookie management, Gopher support, a FTP browser, a file manager, a download manager, and many others.

KHTML

  • Konqueror is a Web browser and file manager that was once a core component of the K desktop environment. Webkit and Blink are both descendants of its KHTML layout engine.

Terminal

  • Links is a text-based browser that can display images.
  • w3m is another text-based browser that can display images.
  • ELinks is a text-based based web browser that runs from the terminal.
  • Lynx is the oldest web browser still under active development. It strips pages of images, doesn't use javascript, and is great for just reading what is needed, like an article. It also utilizes other system programs, should you need to open an image file, for instance.

Other

  • NetSurf is a fast, lightweight browser running on GTK and using its own rendering engine with no JavaScript support.
  • Dillo is an even faster, more lightweight browser running on FLTK using its own rendering engine with limited (but improving) CSS support and no JavaScript support.

Recommended User Scripts

4chanX

  • loadletter's 4chan X is a maintained version of MayhemYDG's v2. It lacks the controversial changes made by MayhemYDG in v3. It is a shorter script, and the only maintained fork that supports Opera 12.
  • ccd0's 4chan X is the continuation of Spittie's/Seaweed's 4chan X.
  • OneeChan is a script for customizing the look and feel of 4chan. Originally by Seaweedchan, its maintenance was continued by Spittie, then Nebukazar and now KevinParnell.

Other

  • 4Chan Linkify changes plain-text links on 4chan into hyper-links. It is redundant if either 4chan X or the official extension are used.
  • uBlock Origin is an adblocker that is very efficient on system resources. This is the original source, and works on Firefox.
  • ClearURLs Removes tracking ids in URL while surfing the web.
  • Decentraleyes Improves the privacy of Content Delivery Networks.
  • SponsorBlock is an extension for both major web browsers, as well as kodi, mpv, youtube-dl, chromecast, android, etc. that blocks sponsored segments in videos (works on invidous as well).
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