Google Chrome is based on Chromium, an open-source browser project. Anyone can take the Chromium source code and use it to build their own browser, renaming it and changing whatever they like. That’s why there are so many alternative browsers based on Google Chrome—but you don’t necessarily want to use most of them.
Supported OS: The Comodo browser is available on Windows, Mac, and Linux. SRWare Iron Browser. Just like Comodo, the SRWare Iron browser is also Chromium based web browser. Most of the visual elements of Chromium and SRware are same. The difference between theses two browsers is the data protection and security. Once you have selected your operating system you will now need to select your version, For Comodo Dragon, Google Chrome, SrWare Iron, Chromodo, Opera, Chrome Canary, Chromium, Epic, Vivaldi or Torch which are Chromium (chrome based) browser you will need to select PPAPI.
Many web sites have recommended these browsers in the past—including us, in this very post. We’ve since rewritten this article to discuss the problems with some of these alternative browsers, and why we no longer recommend using them—with a few exceptions.
The “Secure” Comodo Dragon Had Big Security Problems
Comodo Dragon is a Chrome-based browser made by Comodo, a security company. It’s installed by default with Comodo Internet Security.
You’d think a “secure” web browser made by a security software company would be…well, secure, but it’s had some big problems. Google’s Tavis Ormandy found that the browser shipped with a serious problem that destroyed the security of HTTPS encryption. As he put it: “Chromodo is described as ‘highest levels of speed, security and privacy’, but actually disables all web security.”
Comodo responded by issuing a fix that didn’t actually fix the problem. Comodo did fix it eventually, but that doesn’t change the fact that such a glaring security problem shipped with the browser. Companies like Google, Mozilla, Microsoft, and Apple have never made such a big mistake in their products. Comodo doesn’t sound like a company we’d want to get our web browser from.
SRWare Iron’s Privacy Claims Are Exaggerated, and It’s Slow to Update
SRWare Iron promises to remove various privacy-infringing options from Google Chrome. But it isn’t as good as it sounds.
Right off the bat, there’s something we don’t like: On March 17, 2017, the latest version of SRWare Iron was version 56.0.2950.1. The latest version of Chrome was version 57.0.2987.110, released on March 16. That means SRWare Iron was missing more than 36 security fixes that Chrome had for over a week.
That’s because SRWare Iron’s developers have to do some work to release those security fixes whenever Google releases a new version of Chrome. It’s not instant, and these third-party projects may take a long time to issue updates if their developers are busy.
RELATED:How to Optimize Google Chrome for Maximum Privacy
But here’s the real kicker: you aren’t really getting any extra privacy out of SRWare Iron. Most of what SRWare Iron does is possible through Chrome’s regular privacy settings. And if you enable those tweaks in Chrome, you’ll get the latest security updates without waiting for and trusting another company.
Chromium Isn’t For Users (Except on Linux)
Google doesn’t want you using the open-source Chromium browser. That’s why the Chromium project only offers “raw builds” of Chromium code that “may be tremendously buggy” for Windows. They also don’t include an auto-update feature, so you have to manually download new versions with security and bug fixes. These Chromium builds are really just development tools for checking whether issues are fixed in the latest Chromium code. Stay away.
RELATED:What’s the Difference Between Chromium and Chrome?
Chromium’s main difference is that it’s entirely open-source, while Google Chrome includes a few closed-source pieces (like Flash). That’s why Chromium is often made available via the package repositories on Linux distributions. A Chromium browser obtained from your Linux package repositories should be safe and receive regular security updates from your Linux distribution. But Windows and Mac users should just install Chrome.
The Chrome-Based Browsers Worth Using: Opera, Vivaldi, and Chrome Portable
There are, of course, exceptions to every rule. Some browsers are solid alternatives to Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and Internet Explorer.
Opera, for example, has been around in one form or another for a long time, with the first version of Opera being released back in 1995. In 2013, the company abandoned its old, homegrown browser engine, Presto, and Opera is now based on Chromium.
But Opera isn’t just a Chrome clone—it’s a unique browser with its own unique features, like a built-in VPN that can secure your web browsing.
RELATED:The Best Features of Vivaldi, a New Customizable Web Browser for Power Users
Vivaldi is also based on Chromium, and was created by former Opera developers who disagree with Opera’s new direction. Released in 2016, Vivaldi attempts to restore various “power user” features the Opera project has removed. For example, Vivaldi allows you to make your tabs appear as vertical thumbnails, something that just isn’t possible in Chrome. The developers are working on adding a built-in email client, a feature no longer included on the latest versions of Opera.
Both Opera and Vivaldi support Chrome extensions, as they’re based on the same underlying technology. If you’re looking for a new browser that still uses Chrome’s speedy rendering engine and supports the same browser extensions you use in Chrome, these browsers are interesting options you may want to try.
RELATED:What Is a “Portable” App, and Why Does It Matter?
Lastly, you may also consider a portable version of Chrome or Chromium. The Chromium Portable project, for example, is a customized build of Chromium designed to run as a “portable application“. If you place its files on a USB drive or other removable media device, you can take it between computers, using it on any PC without installing it first.
That said, Chromium Portable is based on the unstable “Dev” release channel of Google Chrome, which means it’s more unstable than the typical stable versions of Google Chrome. You probably aren’t looking for that. If you’d prefer a stable, portable version of Google Chrome, you’ll probably want to use the Google Chrome Portable package from PortableApps.com. Either way, both are decent, secure versions of Chrome.
Why Lesser-Known Browsers Are Suspect
There are other Chromium-based browsers out there. But we’re skeptical of them, and you should be too.
Here’s the issue: Browsers are very important programs. You spend almost all of your internet-connected time in a browser, so it needs to be secure. Part of that means getting security updates very quickly when they’re released, and smaller Chromium-based browsers don’t always do that. Furthermore, you’re trusting a small company or group of developers to make changes to your browser, which can introduce problems—intentional or not.
Comodo’s security problems and SRWare’s update delays are a few examples of the problems that can occur, even when a browser developer is acting in good faith. And if a browser developer isn’t acting in good faith, you’re in an even worse position: they could snoop on your web browsing and abuse its access to your computer.
Even if you don’t trust Google, Google is a large company with a lot of eyes on it. Google won’t steal your credit card number. If Google does something bad or makes a big mistake in Chrome, everyone will hear about it. The same isn’t true for these Chromium alternatives.
Many of the features promised in various third-party browsers can be achieved simply by tweaking Chrome’s settings or installing extensions from the Chrome Web Store. You’re better off using Google Chrome and installing a few browser extensions than switching to a Chrome-based alternative.
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(Redirected from Comodo Dragon (web browser))
Comodo Dragon 16.1, running on Windows 7, showing a security alert after opening Wikimedia Commons | |
Developer(s) | Comodo Group |
---|---|
Stable release(s) | |
76.0.3809.100 (August 26, 2019; 29 days ago[1])[±] | |
Preview release(s) | |
75.0.3770.100 Beta (June 20, 2019; 3 months ago[2]) | |
Engine | Blink[3] |
Operating system | Microsoft Windows |
Platform | IA-32 |
Size | 53.8 MB |
Available in | English and Spanish |
Type | Web browser[4] |
License | Freeware |
Website | browser.comodo.com |
Comodo Dragon is a freewareweb browser. It is based on Chromium and is produced by Comodo Group. Sporting a similar interface to Google Chrome, Dragon does not implement Chrome's user tracking and some other potentially privacy-compromising features, substituting them for its own user tracking implementations, and provides additional security measures, such as indicating the authenticity and relative strength of a website's Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate.[4][5]
Features[edit]
Upon installation, Comodo Dragon offers the opportunity to configure either the Comodo Dragon or the user's entire computer to use Comodo's own DNSservers instead of the user's Internet service provider.[6] Comodo Dragon performs additional checks on the SSLdigital certificates of secure websites, and informs users if a site's certificate may be of insufficient strength. It includes an on-demand site inspector[7] designed to determine if a site hosts malicious code.[8]
Instead of Google Updater, Comodo Dragon features its own built-in updater. If Dragon is uninstalled, users are given the option of keeping Dragon's cache and cookie files or deleting them.[9]
In addition, the following Google Chrome features are removed or disabled in Dragon:[10][11][12][13]
- Automatic access to Google Search on startup for users with Google as default search engine[14][15]
- Google-hosted error pages when a server is not present
- Automatic address bar search suggestions
- Bug tracking system, which sends information about crashes or errors
- Built-in PDF viewer and Adobe Flash Player which is sandboxed
- Google Native Client (NaCl) support
- H.264 codec
- Google Safe Browsing which blocks malicious and phishing sites
- Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides which open various document and spreadsheet formats
- Google Translate, which automatically translates webpages in foreign languages
Security issues[edit]
A Google engineer publicly disclosed a serious security vulnerability in Comodo Dragon after Comodo failed to respond to the issue within the 90 days Google provides software vendors. The advisory warns users who install Comodo Dragon that Dragon replaces their default browser, hijacks DNS settings, and disables the same-origin policy, which exposes users by allowing malicious websites to access private data.[16]
Comodo's first attempt to patch the issue was shown to be ineffective.[17] Comodo subsequently claimed the problems were fixed.[18]
Comodo license and tracking[edit]
Comodo tracks each user's time spent using the browser, its operating system, and browser inquiries about certificate revocation, which reveal the sites visited. Users can opt whether they also track activity and use in more detail than that.[19] Comodo and its partners use cookies and Google Analytics. 'Comodo may disclose data to its affiliates and business partners who have established similar privacy standards.'[20]
Their privacy statement says that only in California is the IP address considered personal information.[20] Comodo creates log files which track users, identifiable by cookie or browser features (and IP address outside California): 'Comodo uses log files comprising of non-personally identifiable information to ... track movements throughout the site ... and gather broad demographic information for aggregate use.'[20]
The browser is supported by ads which 'relate to the content of information as part of the Product or queries made through the Product.'[19] They include many other software products, each with its own license.
The license has common terms about complying with subpoenas and interception orders, against reverse engineering, copying and sub-licensing, and disclaiming warranties and liability.[19]
The license also requires disputes to be settled by arbitration in New Jersey. Users must give accurate registration information, and pay Comodo's costs ' that, directly or indirectly, are based on your breach of this agreement, information provided by you, or your infringement on the rights of a third party.'
See also[edit]
- Comodo IceDragon – based on Firefox, also from Comodo Group
References[edit]
- ^'Comodo Dragon v76.0.3809.100 is now available for download'. Comodo Group. 26 August 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
- ^'Comodo Dragon v75.0.3770.100 32 & 64 bit Beta available for beta testing'. Comodo Group. 20 June 2019. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
- ^JoWa, Product Translator, Global Moderator (2 May 2014). 'Blink, since v. 28'. Comodo Group, Inc. Retrieved 3 August 2014.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
- ^ ab'Dragon Internet Browser – Comodo Dragon Web Browser'. Comodo Group, Inc. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
- ^Polishchuk, Polina (25 April 2014). 'Comodo Dragon - Free downloads and software reviews - CNET Download.com'. CNet.com. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
- ^Spencer, Spanner (11 April 2014). 'Four Useful Alternative Browsers Based On Google Chrome- Lifehacker Australia'. Allure Media. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
- ^'Online Webpage Scanning for Malware Attacks- Web Inspector Online Scan'. Comodo CA Ltd. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
- ^Horton, Steve (19 April 2010). 'Comodo Dragon review - PC Advisor'. IDG UK. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
- ^'Comodo Dragon Review- The Secured Browser on Chromium- PC Security'. PC Security. 27 March 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
- ^'How is Dragon better? - Help - CD'. Comodo Forum. 16 January 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
- ^http://lifehacker.com/four-alternative-useful-browsers-based-off-of-google-c-1558525397 Four Alternative, Useful Browsers Based On Google Chrome, Spanner Spencer, 4/07/14, Lifehacker
- ^How to Harden Your Browser Against Malware and Privacy Concerns, Tech Support Alert
- ^Make Your Browser More Resilient to Malwares and Privacy Concerns, Security Gladiators
- ^'View of /trunk/src/chrome/browser/google/google_url_tracker.cc'. Archived from the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2010.Source code comment on line 31
- ^'Google Chrome, Chromium, and Google'. Retrieved 28 January 2010.See Which Google Domain
- ^Chirgwin, Richard (2 February 2016). 'Google calls out Comodo's Chromodo Chrome-knockoff as insecure crapware'. The Register. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
- ^Kirk, Jeremy (3 February 2016). 'Custom Web browser from Comodo poses severe security threat, researcher says'. PCWorld. IDG Network. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
- ^Ghoshal, Abhimanyu (3 February 2016). 'Google says Comodo's 'secure' browser isn't safe to use at all'. The Next Web. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
- ^ abc'Comodo Internet Security v10.0 End User License and Subscriber Agreement'(PDF). Comodo. 15 December 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
- ^ abc'Privacy Policy'. Comodo. 1 July 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
Further reading[edit]
- Yegulalp, Serdar (25 January 2012). '6 Google Chrome remixes worth trying'. InfoWorld. IDG. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
- Roggio, Armando (2 August 2010). 'The PEC Review: Comodo Dragon, A Web Browser'. Practical eCommerce. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
- Polishchuk, Polina (17 June 2010). 'Comodo Dragon'. Download.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
- Horton, Steve (19 April 2010). 'Comodo Dragon review'. PC Advisor. IDG. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
- Horton, Steve (13 April 2010). 'Comodo Dragon: A Chromium Browser With Extra Armor'. PC World. IDG. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
- HOFFMAN, CHRIS (5 July 2017). 'Why You Shouldn't Use (Most) Alternative Browsers Based on Google Chrome'. howtogeek. IDG. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
- Woods, Alice (14 January 2019). 'Comodo Dragon review'. 2-spyware. IDG. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
External links[edit]
- Official website
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Comodo_Dragon&oldid=917623888'