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Privacy Web Browser 'Browzar' Branded Adware

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the shell-games dept.

DivineOmega writes "The recently released 'Browzar' web browser, based on the Internet Explorer core, is designed to protect a user's privacy whilst surfing the Internet and be an effective 'throw-away' browser. However many who deal with the removal of malware have flagged this software as malware. From the article: 'The application Browzar has been branded "adware" by many because it directs web searches to online adverts. Some technical experts also say Browzar, which claims to leave no trail of webpages visited, does not work. Browzar's developers say they are examining the feedback but strongly deny that it is adware.'"

3 of 113 comments (clear)

  1. well, by joe+155 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    they failed in their objectives pretty completely there...

    I could go on to make jokes about an IE core, but that might be tacky (besides you'll have them in a moment anyway...)

    --
    *''I can't believe it's not a hyperlink.''
  2. Nobody cared about the first story by karmaflux · · Score: 3, Interesting
    ...and nobody cares now.

    Releasing a closed-source Windows-only IE-based browser that claims to do things already done by other browsers is a non-story, especially on Slashdot. The discovery that it's adware can only be addressed with a single-word response:
    Duh.
    --

    REM Old programmers don't die. They just GOSUB without RETURN.

  3. Is anyone really surprised, here? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Let's look at a few things...
    1) It uses IE.
    2) It's a branded, closed source skin for IE that fails to do many of the claims that it makes
    3) Instead of actually creating something, they have to adapt it to something that is KNOWN to have many serious issues that...
    4) Allow malware/adware/spyware people to gain control of a browser to do their dirty work...
    5) Came pretty much out of nowhere. Full release without known betas,
    6) Doesn't work.

    Anyone who has been online for a while probably has had an experience or two with IE browser skins. Most of my experiences have involved devious search bars, plugins and other "enhanced content" that effectively monitors, controls traffic and serves ads. Not surprised in the least.

    If anyone claims to make a fully private and "secure" browser, while ignoring that you still have ISP and backbone logs, going through pipes and other servers that do their own logging... I'd have to, in my best technical opinion, call bullshit. Especially considering it still uses Internet Explorer as a rendering engine. (If that's indeed all it does.)

    Posted anonymously because I don't need no steekin' karma.