XPost: alt.comp.software.firefox   
   From: marion@facts.com   
      
   On Sat, 2 Aug 2025 17:58:33 -0000 (UTC), Marion wrote :   
      
      
   > ... to update the group at large, here are VPN's I'm testing.   
      
   TESTING UPDATE Building your own DIY privacy Mozilla browser   
      
   Since Mozilla browsers were problematic, I changed my plans to first create   
   a DIY privacy browser in the Chromium land, and THEN to move to Mozilla.   
      
   I've almost completed the initial tests of what VPN extensions worked and   
   which failed, along with the privacy-based extensions that worked well.   
      
   Here is the current status, but bear in mind the experimental results have   
   to be moved to the most un-mozilla'd of the mozilla-based web browsers.   
      
   Hence, likely the Mozilla test will be to replace Brave with MullVad, and   
   then to replace Ungoogled Chromium with LibreWolf (that's the plan anyway).   
      
     === cut here for proposed chromium to mozilla test sequence ===   
      
   BUILD-YOUR-OWN DIY PRIVACY BROWSER - TESTING UPDATE   
      
   Every day I test more free, no-registration, no-ad privacy extensions.   
   I'm focusing mostly on Brave for now because it's easier to update than UC.   
      
   Luckily, archiving browser extensions is simple and straightforward:   
     %localappdata%\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Default\Extensions\   
      
   With Brave, you can trick tabs into loading in the foreground to speed them   
   up. Most users won't want this, but it's useful to know these options.   
     "C:\Program Files\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\Application\brave.exe"   
     --disable-background-timer-throttling   
     --disable-backgrounding-occluded-windows   
     --disable-renderer-backgrounding   
      
   Here are the privacy extensions I have tested which work well together.   
   As reported by  which creates this list below for you.   
    mnojpmjdmbbfmejpflffifhffcmidifd : Brave : version 1_0_0   
    bhchdcejhohfmigjafbampogmaanbfkg : User-Agent Switcher : version 0_6_4   
    cafckninonjkogajnihihlnnimmkndgf : Disable HTML5 Autoplay : version 0_9_3   
    cjpalhdlnbpafiamejdnhcphjbkeiagm : uBlock Origin : version 1_65_0   
    fhcgjolkccmbidfldomjliifgaodjagh : Cookie AutoDelete : version 3_8_2   
    fhkphphbadjkepgfljndicmgdlndmoke : Font FP Defender : version 0_1_6   
    fjkmabmdepjfammlpliljpnbhleegehm : WebRTC Control : version 0_3_3   
    hhnhplojcganfmfimkeboiipphklcbih : Location Guard V3 : version 3_0_0   
    hnkcfpcejkafcihlgbojoidoihckciin : Referer Control : version 1_35   
    ikclbgejgcbdlhjmckecmdljlpbhmbmf : HTTPS Everywhere : version 1_0   
    jaoafjdoijdconemdmodhbfpianehlon : Skip Redirect : version 2_3_6   
    jjbikklopibeimjelkohlldbjcdnofei : StayInTab : version 1_0   
    lckanjgmijmafbedllaakclkaicjfmnk : ClearURLs : version 1_26_0   
    ldpochfccmkkmhdbclfhpagapcfdljkj : Decentraleyes : version 3_0_0   
    mhjfbmdgcfjbbpaeojofohoefgiehjai : Chrome PDF Viewer : version 1   
    njdfdhgcmkocbgbhcioffdbicglldapd : LocalCDN : version 2_6_79   
    njkmjblmcfiobddjgebnoeldkjcplfjb : Trace : version 3_0_6   
    nomnklagbgmgghhjidfhnoelnjfndfpd : Canvas Blocker : version 0_2_2   
    pkehgijcmpdhfbdbbnkijodmdjhbjlgp : Privacy Badger : version 2025_5_30   
      
   Here is a quick summary of how these extensions impact privacy:   
    Brave: Built-in ad/tracker blocking, privacy-focused browser   
    User-Agent Switcher: Masks browser identity to reduce tracking   
    Disable HTML5 Autoplay: Stops media autoplay, reduces fingerprinting   
    uBlock Origin: Blocks ads, trackers, malicious domains   
    Cookie AutoDelete: Deletes cookies after tabs close   
    Font FP Defender: Randomizes font data to prevent fingerprinting   
    WebRTC Control: Prevents IP leaks via WebRTC   
    Location Guard: Spoofs or hides geolocation data   
    Referer Control: Limits referer headers to reduce tracking   
    HTTPS Everywhere: Forces HTTPS when available   
    Skip Redirect: Bypasses tracking redirects   
    StayInTab: Prevents tab switching, reduces behavioral tracking   
    ClearURLs: Removes tracking elements from URLs   
    Decentraleyes: Blocks CDN-based tracking with local resources   
    Chrome PDF Viewer: Displays PDFs without external viewers   
    LocalCDN: Replaces CDN resources locally   
    Trace: Blocks fingerprinting and tracking techniques   
    Canvas Blocker: Prevents canvas fingerprinting   
    Privacy Badger: Learns and blocks invisible trackers   
      
   These VPN extensions failed for various reasons:   
    hotspotshieldvpn : Removed from Chrome Web Store (2025-08-04)   
    itopvpn : Removed from Chrome Web Store (2022-12-09)   
    protonvpn : Requires registration (not privacy-friendly)   
    urbanvpn : Works briefly, then requires registration   
    hidemevpn : Flaky behavior after short use   
    hiddenbatvpn : Exposes your IP address (!?)   
    tunnelbearvpn : Requires registration   
    windscribevpn : Requires registration   
      
   These VPNs passed the login/ad/IP tests but failed YouTube access:   
    xvpn : Encrypts traffic, hides IP, may log metadata   
    1clickvpn : Encrypts traffic, hides IP, claims no logs   
    1vpn : SSL encryption, blocks WebRTC, no-logs policy   
    setupvpn : Encrypts traffic, collects usage info   
    vpnly : Swiss-based, AES-256, strict no-logs policy   
    securefreeedgevpn : Encrypts traffic, hides IP, no login   
    browsec : Encrypts traffic, hides IP, unclear logging policy   
      
   Note: Browsec was the only VPN that passed the YouTube test   
   in addition to the IP obfuscation & no-registration tests.   
      
   To follow in my footsteps, I'd recommend these simple steps.   
    1. Install privacy extensions in Brave   
    2. Copy unpacked folders to your software archive   
    3. In Ungoogled Chromium, enable "Developer mode"   
    4. Click "Load unpacked" to sideload each extension   
    5. Compare with Opera/Epic privacy browsers   
      
   Contributions welcome to refine these test findings.   
   Note that this needs to be repeated for Mozilla browsers.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)