BERLIN: At a time when browsers feel more cluttered than ever, a free tool called Just the Browser, developed by US journalist and programmer Corbin Davenport, promises to strip mainstream browsers of unwanted extras by applying a bundle of settings for Chrome, Firefox and Edge on Windows, macOS and Linux.
The utility collects configuration choices in a single file, aiming to make browsers show web pages and little else.
After entering a single command in the Windows Run dialogue (Windows key + R) or in the Terminal on macOS or Linux, the Just the Browser script removes:
- most AI features
- shopping functions such as price monitoring or coupon codes
- sponsored or third-party content
- prompts make the browser the default browser and to import data
- data collection features
- browser auto-starts when your computer boots
A full list of functions, a detailed guide and tips on how to stay informed about updates are available in the Just the Browser GitHub repository.
If users change their mind, the tool’s settings can be removed without trace and the browser reset to default, as the tutorials explain.
So far the AI purge works only for Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Microsoft Edge on Windows, macOS and Linux. There is no support for mobile platforms such as Android and iOS.
Davenport also notes the tool not designed to work like an ad blocker. "Just the Browser" is intended to help cleanse mainstream browsers of unwanted and superfluous features without giving up their existing advantages.
Why not just switch browsers instead? Alternatives like Vivaldi, LibreWolf, Waterfox and SeaMonkey generally work as well as the big names and come from established developer communities.
However, they are not always available on all platforms or installable everywhere, for example on work machines, and sometimes lag behind on security and feature updates. – dpa
