AnBrowse

A privacy-focused web browser built with PyQt5 and QtWebEngine, designed as a secure alternative to standard private browsing modes.

Important Notice

AnBrowse is specifically designed as a privacy-enhancing tool and alternative to traditional private browsing windows. Websites that rely heavily on tracking, fingerprinting, or invasive technologies may not function correctly. This is expected behavior, not a bug, as these restrictions are fundamental to the browser's privacy protection approach.

Technical Overview

Privacy Protection Mechanisms

1. Request Interception & Filtering

   • Blocks requests to known tracking domains
   • Prevents connections to advertising networks
   • Intercepts fingerprinting attempts
   • Implements strict Content Security Policies

2. Profile Isolation

   • Each tab operates with a completely isolated profile
   • No cross-tab tracking or data sharing
   • Separate cache and storage per tab

3. Anti-Fingerprinting Measures

   • Randomized User-Agent strings in stealth mode
   • Disabled WebGL and canvas fingerprinting
   • Limited JavaScript capabilities for privacy-sensitive features
   • Randomized screen resolution reporting

4. Storage Management

   • Temporary cache directories cleared on exit
   • No persistent cookies by default
   • Configurable data retention policies

Technical Limitations

By design, AnBrowse prioritizes privacy over compatibility:

1. Website Compatibility

   • Sites relying on tracking may malfunction
   • Services depending on persistent logins may require frequent re-authentication
   • Some advanced web features are disabled for security

2. Performance Considerations

   • Isolated profiles increase memory usage
   • Request filtering adds minimal processing overhead
   • Temporary storage reduces disk usage but requires frequent re-downloading of resources

System Requirements

• Python 3.6+
• PyQt5
• PyQtWebEngine
• 4GB RAM minimum (8GB recommended for multi-tab browsing)
• 500MB disk space

Installation

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/ricalnet/browser.git && cd browser

# Create environment
python3 -m venv venv

source venv/bin/activate

# Install dependencies
pip install -r requirements.txt

# Run the browser
python browser.py

Usage

After launching the browser:

1. Adjust privacy settings according to your needs via Settings (Ctrl+,)
2. Use stealth mode (Ctrl+Shift+S) for maximum privacy
3. Monitor the privacy status indicator in the status bar
4. Review download warnings before saving files

Privacy Features Configuration

The browser offers multiple configurable privacy settings:

• Tracker blocking (enabled by default)
• Ad blocking (enabled by default)
• Fingerprinting protection (enabled by default)
• Stealth mode (disabled by default)
• Data clearing on exit (enabled by default)

Disclaimer

AnBrowse is a privacy tool, not a mainstream browser replacement. It makes intentional trade-offs that may break website functionality to protect user privacy. Users should expect some websites to not work correctly and understand this is a result of the privacy protections in place.