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I haven't had a chance to try it, but SRWare Iron is basically Chrome without the privacy problems. Or at least that's their goal, it basically just strips a lot of the Google stuff out. SRWare Iron

My bad, that link is in German. English Linky!

We already have a tinfoil hat version of Chrome, its called Iron

Chrome is based on Chromium, Chromium is open source, meaning the code is available to anyone who wants it. So why hasn't anyone massed around with Chromium to kludge together a true ad blocker, which may (or may not) be portable to Google's flavor, Chrome?

This has been done, actually. SRWare Iron is primarily concerned with privacy modifications to the Chromium source, but it also has ad blocking baked in.

I stopped following the project closely when I began to have trouble compiling Iron for 64bit Linux, but I recommend you check it out.

If you want to use Chrome without Google spying on you then use SRWare Iron instead. This page details the major differences between the two Chromium sourced browsers: http://www.srware.net/en/software_srware_iron_chrome_vs_iron.php Download SRWare Iron here: http://www.srware.net/en/software_srware_iron_download.php

If you want to use Chrome without Google spying on you then use SRWare Iron instead. This page details the major differences between the two Chromium sourced browsers: http://www.srware.net/en/software_srware_iron_chrome_vs_iron.php Download SRWare Iron here: http://www.srware.net/en/software_srware_iron_download.php

Uh... what exactly are you having problems with? It worked for me just now. Direct link to the executable.

For the sake of argument, let's assume that Chrome really is spyware.

Did you not notice that the spyware is OPEN SOURCED?!?!?!?!

Grab the source, and recompile it. Take the spy out of the spyware, distribute it as "Spyless Chrome" or whatever you want to call it, and everyone is happy.

Oh - wait - it's already been done! Looky heah: http://www.srware.net/en/software_srware_iron.php

Now stop whining. You have available to you the best of Chrome, without the parts that you object to.

This is what Iron is for.

Look at SRWare Iron - Chrome without the Google tie-in

Edit: There is an HORRIFIC flash slide-in advertisement in their site. Easy to close, innocuous content, but it appears on Every. Single. Page. I just decided not to update my version of Iron.

... so Google introduces a new Chrome beta with enhanced privacy features to chisel away at Microsoft's market share.

I'm guessing that the "enhanced privacy features" doesn't yet extend to being able to turn off the RLZ identifier?

(Good job we have SRWare Iron instead)

there's Iron, a browser that uses the same codebase (chromium) of google chrome but with the anti-privacy features stripped down.

Download SRWare Iron instead. It's the Chrome source, but with a proper installer. (And without weird server communication and the auto-update service.)

Sure they're both based on a open source project (Chromium/Webkit and Darwin/BSD) does not mean they are truly open source. Try to modify and redistribute either and see how long before either of their "parents" get all lawyer-ey.

You mean like Iron?

Try to modify and redistribute either and see how long before either of their "parents" get all lawyer-ey.

You mean like how these guys do? Theyve been around for close to a year now, and google hasnt said a peep (nor could they). Its not "sort of pretend" open source, you can modify, redistribute, etc as much as you like.

I saw Chrome's "process manager" for the first time the other day and was quite impressed. The fact that Google collects information via Chrome, and its limited extension/plugin repository (which doesn't provide the functionality I want) has so far kept me from giving it much of a serious look, but now, I'm having second thoughts.

You should look at iron then: http://www.srware.net/en/software_srware_iron.php
It's google chrome minus the google.

Awesome. I some how managed to fudge the URL between edits: http://www.srware.net/en/software_srware_iron.php

SRWare Iron is a solution to your Chrome privacy concerns - http://www.srware.net/en/software_srware_iron.php

It's a build of Chrome without all the privacy-infringing "features."

I'm guessing you didn't read much of the site then.

Whats the difference beetwen Iron and Chrome?

Even though I'm a little bit skeptical about the bloated aspect, hopefully SRWare Iron will be updated to support them soon too. Iron is Chrome but with all the things that violate your privacy removed.

Hopefully Chrome's extension system is done better than in Firefox though. It becomes incredibly clumsy, and the interface itself is already too. Been the main reason I've stayed with Opera, as it has everything build-in and works fast. But maybe Chrome becomes more useful now.

Like mister_playboy, I really don't consider "auto update" a feature. I uninstalled Chrome and installed SRWare Iron instead because I do not want some braindead Google Update service running constantly.

But, Iron also removes the browser's unique identifier and provides a proper installer (Chrome will only install per-user, in their profile).

If you're thinking about Chrome, get Iron instead. It supports AdBlock.

Come. We have cookies.

(Remember, Iron is the no-phone-home, no-spyware, privacy-assured derivative of Chrome.)

Despite that, I hope to see a version of Iron based on the upstream's beta soon. When it comes out, it would be announced on the SRware forums.

Also interesting: The Google Chrome download page requires javascript!

You need a JavaScript-capable browser to download this software. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser.

Now it's time for the Iron devs to get cracking.

You may also want to have a look at SRWare Iron, a Chromium build with the Google tracking crap removed. It also includes things such as adblocking (not finished in the Linux version, nor is Flash support)

Linux version is in alpha, but works very well for me.

http://www.srware.net/en/software_srware_iron.php

This is will almost certainly be the /.ers choice for a Chromium-based browser in the long run.

"SRWare Iron: The browser of the future - based on the free Sourcecode "Chromium" - without any problems at privacy and security

  Google's Web browser Chrome thrilled with an extremely fast site rendering, a sleek design and innovative features. But it also gets critic from data protection specialists , for reasons such as creating a unique user ID or the submission of entries to Google to generate suggestions. SRWare Iron is a real alternative. The browser is based on the Chromium-source and offers the same features as Chrome - but without the critical points that the privacy concern.

  We could therefore create a browser with which you can now use the innovative features without worrying about your privacy.

  We want our users to participate in our work and make the browser free to download under the name "SRWare Iron" into the net."

http://www.srware.net/en/software_srware_iron.php

Try SRware Iron. It's just Chrome - tracking bits.
 
  Comparison of Chrome Vs Iron

Chrome without the crap... the current Linux alpha works great for me:

http://www.srware.net/en/software_srware_iron_download.php

Use Iron, then.

http://www.srware.net/en/software_srware_iron.php

Chrome + some privacy features and an adblocker.

The current Linux alpha runs great and makes /. almost snappy!

Get it here: http://www.srware.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=561

Take "SRWare Iron" out for a spin.

http://www.srware.net/en/software_srware_iron_faq.php

The current alpha works great and makes /. almost snappy!

Get it here: http://www.srware.net/en/software_srware_iron_download.php

And if we are lucky, there will soon be a privacy-enabled version here:
http://www.srware.net/en/software_srware_iron_download.php

However, open source means that if enough people complain, someone is going to release a fork of it removing those "features", maintain compatibility for patches, and end up with a better product. For example, Chrome had some annoyances, for one its privacy was questionable at best and it had no adblocker, but since Chrome had an open source project (Chromium) developers were able to fork that and make SRWare Iron ( http://www.srware.net/en/software_srware_iron.php ) which removes these privacy issues and adds in an adblocker. Forks are a natural part of software development and occasionally are forked to prove a point to the often stubborn developers, after the fork gets popular usually the developer relents and adds in or removes the offending code and the fork ceases to exist.

When will google learn that plugins, especially something like adblock, is the killer feature they need to attract the "willing to switch" audience, a lot of whom are using firefox right now. I personally love Chrome for its speed and stability, used it for a week or so, but then switched right back to Firefox because I just didn't realise how it is to do many things in Firefox with extensions such as adblock, no script, autopager, del.icio.us integration etc.

Oh here we go again! :)

SRWare Iron is the same browser as Google Chrome except it has all the privacy concerns removed.

IT ALSO HAS ADBLOCK SUPPORT.

SRWare Iron - http://www.srware.net/en/software_srware_iron.php ADBLOCKER SUPPORT: "11.10.2008: Adblocker integrated in Iron

The wish of many users comes true: We integrated an Adblocker in Iron! With a filterlist so nearly all online-advertising can be blocked. A working list can bedownloaded here and just has to be copied to the Iron folder (e.g: C:\Program Files\SRWare Iron\). Note: You must first get the latest version of Iron you can find under "Downloads". So Iron is the first Chromium based webbrowser worldwide which has an adblocker included."

Here is the link to download the latest adblock.ini file http://www.srware.net/downloads/adblock.ini

When will google learn that plugins, especially something like adblock, is the killer feature they need to attract the "willing to switch" audience, a lot of whom are using firefox right now. I personally love Chrome for its speed and stability, used it for a week or so, but then switched right back to Firefox because I just didn't realise how it is to do many things in Firefox with extensions such as adblock, no script, autopager, del.icio.us integration etc.

Oh here we go again! :)

SRWare Iron is the same browser as Google Chrome except it has all the privacy concerns removed.

IT ALSO HAS ADBLOCK SUPPORT.

SRWare Iron - http://www.srware.net/en/software_srware_iron.php ADBLOCKER SUPPORT: "11.10.2008: Adblocker integrated in Iron

The wish of many users comes true: We integrated an Adblocker in Iron! With a filterlist so nearly all online-advertising can be blocked. A working list can bedownloaded here and just has to be copied to the Iron folder (e.g: C:\Program Files\SRWare Iron\). Note: You must first get the latest version of Iron you can find under "Downloads". So Iron is the first Chromium based webbrowser worldwide which has an adblocker included."

Here is the link to download the latest adblock.ini file http://www.srware.net/downloads/adblock.ini

I'll take this opportunity to just say... http://www.srware.net/en/software_srware_iron.php It's like Chome, without the Google.

It* does support Adblock.

*By it I mean SRWare Iron.

It seems the download link on the main page is out of date. Try the forum instead.

But I can't live with the invasion of privacy. Sorry :(

So why not get Iron?

For those of you concerned about the privacy issues surrounding Google Chrome, there is a virtually identical FOSS alternative that Google can't farm data from. See, http://www.srware.net/en/software_srware_iron.php

I also use SRWare Iron and it is possible to get some sort of AdBlock in Iron. Save this file in the SRWare Iron program folder and the anoying ads are a thing of the past. http://www.srware.net/downloads/adblock.ini It's not as easily tweaked as AdBlok in FF but it's a start.

You can use this if you want your privacy:
http://www.srware.net/en/software_srware_iron.php

Personally, i use firefox for its plugins. adblock+, linkification, noscript, firebug, tamper data are the reason why i stick with firefox. If they were to be available in srware iron, i'd switch over in a heartbeat.

Cited
http://www.srware.net/en/software_srware_iron_chrome_vs_iron.php

SRWare Iron.

Chromium source code with all of the privacy-infringing stuff removed.

http://www.srware.net/en/software_srware_iron_download.php

It's the last two download links. Good luck compiling it on F10 since it looks like a Windows app...

Srware Iron is Chrome compiled without all the Google spyware crap and it has adblock built in.

I LOVE IT! Firefox (all versions) is sooooo slow compared to Chrome/Iron.

http://www.srware.net/en/software_srware_iron.php

I would suggest trying SRWare Iron, a build of Chrome with all the nasty stuff removed: http://www.srware.net/en/software_srware_iron.php

Or you can just download Iron, which leaves all of Chrome's "evil bits" out. ;)

http://www.srware.net/software_srware_iron_download.php

...you should probably be using Iron instead of just Chrome.