There is no shortage of alternative browsers available. Today, we will look at another browser for Windows called SRWare Iron. Users love using Chrome, but many want a more private and secure browser. It has made them turn towards more secure and privacy-conscious alternatives. SRWare Iron Browser, called Iron, is a browser-based on the Chromium source, offering the same features as Chrome without compromising privacy.
If you are using Google Chrome as your default browser, you must have observed that often, the browser sends data to Google. Many do not like it and consider it a violation of their privacy. It cannot be regarded as appropriate – especially from a security standpoint. Iron resolves this issue. It eliminates usage tracking and other privacy-compromising functionality present in Chrome.
Let us see what all Iron disables!
- Suggestions: In Google Chrome, every time you enter something in the address line, the information goes to Google, sending suggestions. It is not to be seen in the Iron browser.
- RLZ-Tracking: This Chrome function sends information to Google in an encoded form. For example, when and where ‘Chrome’ was downloaded. This does not exist in Iron.
- URL-Tracker: Unlike Chrome, the feature does not exist in the Iron browser. Moreover, Chrome only has eight preview thumbs on the “NewTab”-Page, whereas Iron can offer you 12 preview thumbs to make the most of the available space on your monitor.
If you like what you have read so far, you can download it. You will have a “Chrome browser” which addresses your privacy concerns!
SRWare Iron is Secure, Privacy conscious browser for your Windows PC
To begin with, download the setup from the download link and install the browser. Unlike other browsers that we reviewed earlier, SRWare does an excellent job of regularly updating Iron.
Once installed completely, you can access the browser’s Command and Tool menus from the upper right corner of the browser window.
If you want to import some of your Bookmarks and Settings, you can do so. Click on the ‘Customize and Control SRWare Iron’ icon, choose ‘Bookmarks’, and select the ‘Import Bookmarks and Settings’ option from the available options. The process is straightforward, with no hassles!
On the other hand, clicking on ‘New Incognito window’ would direct you to a new window. Any pages you view in this window remain hidden and do not appear in your browser or search history. In addition, there are no cookies traces left behind on your computer; once you close all OPEN incognito windows.
The Settings section helps you manage search engines and other primary settings, such as opening particular pages on start-up and setting Iron as your default browser if you would like to. Plus, you can address any of your privacy concerns here. For instance, you can change ‘Proxy Settings’ and fine-tune other settings that may help you improve your browsing experience. You can even enable the ‘Offer to save the passwords’ option, change ‘Fonts and Languages’, and do a lot more, all under a single page.
SRWare Iron Browser is a lightweight browser compatible with all the recent Windows versions. You can download it from here.
Is there a truly private browser?
The only way to build a truly private browser is when underlying fundamentals are towards it. One of the best and true private browsers is the Tor Browser which uses an anonymous network of computers to connect to the Internet.
Why you should use Privacy in the browser?
You can protect yourself from cookie-based tracking by using private browsing. Private browsing cookies are not stored after you close the private browsing window, so it’s less likely that advertising related to the sites you visit in private browsing will appear in the future.
Thank you for covering IRON PORTABLE… the timing of which, I’m guessing, was, at least in part, due to what I wrote about it in comments beneath the article about Comodo Dragon…
…which, I want to make clear, is very good… but it’s just not kept up-to-date.
Plus, Comodo Dragon’s not portable, like IRON PORTABLE is.
Comodo Dragon also inlcludes things which can easily be added to IRON, as plugins and/or extensions — completely for free, I should make clear — and said added-to-Iron plugins/extensions are quite a bit better than the Comodo-made equivalents that are included with Comodo Dragon.
So, to be clear, it’s not so much that Comodo Dragon’s bad. It’s not. Rather, IRON PORTABLE’s simply better… by, as my ol’ man used to say, “a fair piece.” And I obviously made a pretty big point of that in my postings beneath the Comodo Dragon article. If that helped to get IRON PORTABLE featured on this site, then that’s excellent… yet another choice.
One thing about which to be clear: Portable versions of Chrome (actually, more accuratelly, Chromium-based browsers, of which Chrome is one) are hard to find. You can’t throw a cyber rock without hitting a portable version of Firefox — some of them actually quite good — but portable Chromium-based browsers are a bit more rare. And it was while hunting for one of those that I stumbled onto IRON PORTABLE… initially attracted to it simply because it’s portable, and almost identical to Chrome. The security features, for me, were just gravy (though, don’t get me wrong, I’m sure glad they’re there).
I actually rather like Comodo. I’m simply careful which of its products I buy-in to. The ones that are good are VERY good. But the ones that are bad… whoo, boy!
Anyway, thanks for covering IRON PORTABLE. I could not more strongly recommend it over Comodo Dragon for those who prefer Google Chrome as the browser they use most, but simply want both portability and better security.
TWO IRON PORTABLE CAVEATS…
When you click on the wrench in Google Chrome, and then you look at the plug-ins and extensions, and then if you click on the link to get more plug-ins and/or extensions, you’re taken to Google’s store for same. However, if you do that in Iron Portable, you’re taken to SR Ware’s special little store for plug-ins and extensions (instead of the store operated by Google). All the plug-ins/extensions are the same, in either case… what works in Chrome also works in Iron Portable. However, Iron Portable’s (SR Ware’s) private little storeful of them is so new that almost nothing, by comparison, is in it yet. The solution is to simply key the URL for Google Chrome’s plug-ins/extenions store into Iron Portable’s “Address:” field and go to it that way. Once you’re there, Iron Portable will install any Chrome plug-in or extension in exactly the same manner as happens in Chrome.
At least one thing which Google Chrome does, that Iron Portable can’t (yet) do, is “Cloud Print” (most useful with Android phones).
SEE: http://www.google.com/cloudprint/learn/
I both love and use Google’s “Cloud Print,” and so I’ve encouraged the Iron Portable people (SR Ware) to add it, but they’ve not yet done so… and, who knows, maybe they never will. I’m not sure why… maybe it’s because it’s so Google-specific or something; or maybe — hey… this just hit me — it flies in the face of the very kinds of Chrome security deficiencies that Iron Portable’s trying to cure. That would make sense. The solution, in any case, is to simply have a copy of Chrome on one’s machine, too (which, actually, everyone should have, in any case… along with Firefoxand IE), and to configure cloud printing through it instead of through Iron Portable. Remember that a small Chrome core will always load at boot-up, and if Chrome is both configured for cloud printing, and also configured to auto-login to the same GMAIL account as is tied to one’s Android phone, then one needn’t even ever launch Chrome in order to avail oneself of its benefits for cloud printing purposes. One can do all that, and then still use Iron Portable as one’s primary browser, with Chrome running in the background only for cloud printing purposes. That, in any case, is how I do it. Works great!
Oh, yeah… and of the Android apps which actuate Google’s “Cloud Print,” I most strongly recommend the freeware “Cloud Print” by Paulo Fernandes.
SEE: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pauloslf.cloudprint
Pretty much all the other Android apps which Google recommends on its “Supported Apps” page are sub-standard, by comparison; or have some kind of catch… like having to purchase a premium version to actually do anything truly useful… stuff like that. Just use and stick with Paulo’s “Cloud Print” and look no further. It’s the best one of the bunch.
Also be sure to read, really carefully, how to set it all up. It’s not rocket science, but ya’ gotta’ get it “just right” in order for it all to work properly. Once it does, though, yikes! It makes printing from the Android Phone (or tablet) a breeze. In fact, using the “PrintCentral Pro” app for iOS devices, it even works from iPhones and iPads. Additionally, as long as there’s a computer (probably a desktop) at home running Chrome that’s configured for “Cloud Print” (or if there’s a cloud-ready printer there that’s connected, by hook or by crook, to the Internet), then one can even cloud print from one’s Mac or Windows notebook whenever one’s out in the field with it, using one of the Cloud-Print-enabling apps intended for use with them! And it’s all FREE! What’s not to like, right? [grin]
Hope that helps!
_________________________________
Gregg L. DesElms
Napa, California USA
gregg at greggdeselms dot com
This download was flagged by A/V and antimalware as keylogger infected.
Yes – We read your mention of the Iron browser in you earlier comment. :)
Within past half-hour, via Comodo IceDragon I downloaded from your link the Iron USB portable (no indications from IceDragon); I then scanned the file with VIPRE definition 12374 (07/25/2012 9:15PM VIPRE time) and found zero traces of malware; I then and finally uploaded the file to VirusTotal.com for online scan with 41 antivirus programs (including McAfee and Kaspersky)…it scored 0/41 or no malware traces per that scan, too. I’m going to try Iron after extracting it now to another pendrive; if anyone says their A/V showed the Iron download(s) at Windows Club link infected with keyloggers, it might help to know which A/V program(s) gave them a positive.
Which security software was it?
norton 360 and emisisoft anti-malware
Downloaded this portable browser a couple of days ago. MSE checked it as clean so I gave it a try. All good – shut down my Win 7 Laptop, no problems. Went to start up laptop and now I can’t boot into Windows without pressing the F1 Key. Co-incidental? Not too sure, but when I checked programs that had crashed just about when my laptop also crashed, Iron Portable was flagged as the offending software. Probably way off track, but the coincidence is curious and baffling at the same time! I hope my download from this site wasn’t infected because I have a high regard for the Windows Club.
Dude, I think Comodo New Browser, “IceDragon” is actually based on GECKO Engine, It is Firefox not based on Chromium Source Code as You mention above..CMIIW.
I Use Coolnovo Same Source code browser and its best for me ..
The browser works very very fast, faster than most browser I have come across in the past. it open my profile very fast http://www.google.com/+GodwinOO
U all need to get torch browser if ur still stuck on this garbage! Haha
U all need to get torch browser if ur still stuck on this garbage! Ha