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Tutorial: DIY build your own lightweight chromium-based privacy web browser

From Marion <marion@facts.com>
Newsgroups alt.comp.os.windows-10, alt.comp.os.windows-11, alt.comp.microsoft.windows
Subject Tutorial: DIY build your own lightweight chromium-based privacy web browser
Date 2025-07-29 02:25 +0000
Organization BWH Usenet Archive (https://usenet.blueworldhosting.com)
Message-ID <1069bff$24ia$1@nnrp.usenet.blueworldhosting.com> (permalink)

Cross-posted to 3 groups.

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This tutorial walks you through creating a DIY Chromium-based 
privacy browser using Brave and Ungoogled Chromium.

This was written for the benefit of the team, off the cuff.
Please improve so that everyone benefits from your every post.

I've been using Epic as my lightweight privacy browser for years, 
but it recently went south, so I needed a new lightweight privacy
browser (other than Opera & Tor, which have their own pros & cons).

Here's how to roll your own DIY chromium-based privacy browser.
The assumption is that you want your base to be Ungoogled Chromium.

Since Ungoogled Chromium can't easily access Chrome Web Extensions, 
you'll need "some other chromium-based browser" where Edge isn't a good 
idea due to the fact that the extensions may be modified by Edge.

Hence, I picked Brave as the chromium-based web browser to temporarily
fetch extensions, but the final lightweight privacy browser was UC.

1. Download the latest Brave full offline installer into your archive.
   https://github.com/brave/brave-browser/
   https://github.com/brave/brave-browser/releases/tag/v1.80.124
    BraveBrowserSetup.exe ==> stub
    <https://github.com/brave/brave-browser/releases/download/v1.80.124/BraveBrowserSetup.exe>
    BraveBrowserStandaloneSetup.exe ==> interactive installer
    <https://github.com/brave/brave-browser/releases/download/v1.80.124/BraveBrowserStandaloneSetup.exe>
    <BraveBrowserStandaloneSilentSetup.exe == batch installer>

2. Doubleclick on the desired installer to install (I chose silent).
   It's a brain-dead dumb installer that doesn't ask where to go.
   Mine installed Brave into
   C:\Program Files\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\Application\brave.exe
   %LOCALAPPDATA%\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\Application\

3. Start Brave and install your desired privacy-based extensions.
   I chose the following privacy-based extensions (YMMV).

   hidemevpn 1.3.0_0
   Unblocks websites and hides your IP using hide.me proxy.
   <https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/hideme-proxy/ohjocgmpmlfahafbipehkhbaacoemojp>

   ublockorigin 1.65.0_0
   Efficient wide-spectrum content blocker for ads, trackers, etc.
   <https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/ublock-origin/cjpalhdlnbpafiamejdnhcphjbkeiagm>

   canvasblocker 0.2.2_0
   Prevents canvas fingerprinting by injecting noise into canvas data.
   <https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/canvas-blocker-fingerprin/nomnklagbgmgghhjidfhnoelnjfndfpd>

   skipredirect 2.3.6_0
   Skips intermediary redirect pages to reach final URLs directly.
   <https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/skip-redirect/jaoafjdoijdconemdmodhbfpianehlon>

   privacybadger 2025.5.30_0
   Learns and blocks invisible trackers that ignore Do Not Track.
   <https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/privacy-badger/pkehgijcmpdhfbdbbnkijodmdjhbjlgp>

   clearurls 1.26.0_0
   Removes tracking parameters from URLs to protect your privacy.
   <https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/clearurls/lckanjgmijmafbedllaakclkaicjfmnk>

   localcdn 2.6.79_0
   Replaces CDN-hosted libraries with local copies to prevent tracking.
   <https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/localcdn/njdfdhgcmkocbgbhcioffdbicglldapd>

   cookieautodelete 3.8.2_0
   Auto-deletes cookies from closed tabs unless whitelisted.
   <https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/cookie-autodelete/fhcgjolkccmbidfldomjliifgaodjagh>

4. Copy the numbered folder (containing manifest.json) to your archives.
   cd %LOCALAPPDATA%\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Default\Extensions\

   For hidemevpn 1.3.0_0 ... 
   Copy "ohjocgmpmlfahafbipehkhbaacoemojp" to your hidemevpn archive
   Rename "ohjocgmpmlfahafbipehkhbaacoemojp" to "hidemevpn"
   C:\archive\browser\chromium\extensions\hidemevpn\1.3.0_0\

   ublockorigin 1.65.0_0 ... 
   Copy "cjpalhdlnbpafiamejdnhcphjbkeiagm" to your ublockorigin archive
   Rename "cjpalhdlnbpafiamejdnhcphjbkeiagm" to "ublockorigin"
   C:\archive\browser\chromium\extensions\ublockorigin\1.65.0_0\

   canvasblocker 0.2.2_0 ... 
   Copy "nomnklagbgmgghhjidfhnoelnjfndfpd" to your canvasblocker archive
   Rename "nomnklagbgmgghhjidfhnoelnjfndfpd" to "canvasblocker"
   C:\archive\browser\chromium\extensions\canvasblocker\0.2.2_0\

   skipredirect 2.3.6_0 ... 
   Copy "jaoafjdoijdconemdmodhbfpianehlon" to your skipredirect archive
   Rename "jaoafjdoijdconemdmodhbfpianehlon" to "skipredirect"
   C:\archive\browser\chromium\extensions\skipredirect\2.3.6_0\

   privacybadger 2025.5.30_0 ... 
   Copy "pkehgijcmpdhfbdbbnkijodmdjhbjlgp" to your privacybadger archive
   Rename "pkehgijcmpdhfbdbbnkijodmdjhbjlgp" to "privacybadger"
   C:\archive\browser\chromium\extensions\privacybadger\2025.5.30_0\

   clearurls 1.26.0_0 ... 
   Copy "lckanjgmijmafbedllaakclkaicjfmnk" to your clearurls archive
   Rename "lckanjgmijmafbedllaakclkaicjfmnk" to "clearurls"
   C:\archive\browser\chromium\extensions\clearurls\1.26.0_0\

   localcdn 2.6.79_0 ... 
   Copy "njdfdhgcmkocbgbhcioffdbicglldapd" to your localcdn archive
   Rename "njdfdhgcmkocbgbhcioffdbicglldapd" to "localcdn"
   C:\archive\browser\chromium\extensions\localcdn\2.6.79_0\

   cookieautodelete 3.8.2_0 ... 
   Copy "fhcgjolkccmbidfldomjliifgaodjagh" to your cookieautodelete archive
   Rename "fhcgjolkccmbidfldomjliifgaodjagh" to "cookieautodelete"
   C:\archive\browser\chromium\extensions\cookieautodelete\3.8.2_0\

5. Download the latest Ungoogled Chromium offline installer
   <https://github.com/ungoogled-software/ungoogled-chromium-windows/
   Click on the green "Latest" button.
   <https://github.com/ungoogled-software/ungoogled-chromium-windows/releases/tag/138.0.7204.168-1.1>
   Select "ungoogled-chromium_138.0.7204.168-1.1_installer_x64.exe"
   https://github.com/ungoogled-software/ungoogled-chromium-windows/releases/download/138.0.7204.168-1.1/ungoogled-chromium_138.0.7204.168-1.1_installer_x64.exe>
   Or select the zip archive so you can install it where you like.
   ungoogled-chromium_138.0.7204.168-1.1_windows_x86.zip
   <https://github.com/ungoogled-software/ungoogled-chromium-windows/releases/download/138.0.7204.168-1.1/ungoogled-chromium_138.0.7204.168-1.1_windows_x86.zip>

6. Doubleclick on the saved executable to install ungoogled chromium

7. Now install each of the extensions into Ungoogled Chromium.
   a. In Ungoogled Chromium, go to chrome://extensions/
   b. Enable Developer mode in the top right (if not already enabled).
   c. Click the "Load unpacked" button in the top left.
   d. Select a numbered archived extension folder containing manifest.json 
      C:\archive\browser\chromium\extensions\hidemevpn\1.3.0_0\
      C:\archive\browser\chromium\extensions\ublockorigin\1.65.0_0\
      C:\archive\browser\chromium\extensions\canvasblocker\0.2.2_0\
      C:\archive\browser\chromium\extensions\skipredirect\2.3.6_0\
      C:\archive\browser\chromium\extensions\privacybadger\2025.5.30_0\
      C:\archive\browser\chromium\extensions\clearurls\1.26.0_0\
      C:\archive\browser\chromium\extensions\localcdn\2.6.79_0\
      C:\archive\browser\chromium\extensions\cookieautodelete\3.8.2_0\
   e. The extension should now be installed & running 
      If an extension fails to load, double-check that the
      manifest.json is in the root of the selected folder.
   f. To "pin" it to Ungoogled Chromium select the puzzle icon at top right
   g. A dropdown will appear showing all installed extensions
   h. Click the pin icon next to uBlock Origin in the list

8. Set your extensions up as desired in Ungoogled Chromium.

9. At this point you can keep Brave as is, or wipe it out for
   a fresh installation, depending on what you want to do with it.

You now have a customized Chromium browser with privacy extensions,
(and archived for portability & reuse on any chromium browser).

Tested only once as I was doing the task and writing up the steps taken.
As always, please add value to improve the tribal knowledge for the team.
   
Note extensions installed this way into Ungoogled Chromium won't update.

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Thread

Tutorial: DIY build your own lightweight chromium-based privacy web browser Marion <marion@facts.com> - 2025-07-29 02:25 +0000
  Re: Tutorial: DIY build your own lightweight chromium-based privacy web browser "Allan Higdon" <allanh@vivaldi.net> - 2025-07-29 08:38 -0500
    Re: Tutorial: DIY build your own lightweight chromium-based privacy web browser Marion <marion@facts.com> - 2025-07-29 22:41 +0000
      Re: Tutorial: DIY build your own lightweight chromium-based privacy web browser Marion <marion@facts.com> - 2025-07-30 05:42 +0000
        Re: Tutorial: DIY build your own lightweight chromium-based privacy web browser Marion <marion@facts.com> - 2025-07-30 21:01 +0000
          Re: Tutorial: DIY build your own lightweight chromium-based privacy web browser Marion <marion@facts.com> - 2025-08-01 02:42 +0000
            Re: Tutorial: DIY build your own lightweight chromium-based privacy web browser Marion <marion@facts.com> - 2025-08-07 03:31 +0000
              Re: Tutorial: DIY build your own lightweight chromium-based privacy web browser Marion <marion@facts.com> - 2025-08-09 02:57 +0000
                Re: Tutorial: DIY build your own lightweight chromium-based privacy web browser Marion <marion@facts.com> - 2025-08-09 19:35 +0000
                Re: Tutorial: DIY build your own lightweight chromium-based privacy web browser Marion <marion@facts.com> - 2025-08-12 20:13 +0000
                Re: Tutorial: DIY build your own lightweight chromium-based privacy web browser Marion <marion@facts.com> - 2025-08-18 00:20 +0000
                Re: Tutorial: DIY build your own lightweight chromium-based privacy web browser Marion <marion@facts.com> - 2025-08-18 16:42 +0000
                Re: Tutorial: DIY build your own lightweight chromium-based privacy web browser Marion <marion@facts.com> - 2025-08-18 19:10 +0000
                Re: Tutorial: DIY build your own lightweight chromium-based privacy web browser Marion <marion@facts.com> - 2025-08-19 11:00 +0000
                Re: Tutorial: DIY build your own lightweight chromium-based privacy web browser Marion <marion@facts.com> - 2025-08-19 15:17 +0000
                Re: Tutorial: DIY build your own lightweight chromium-based privacy web browser Marion <marion@facts.com> - 2025-08-20 18:27 +0000
                Re: Tutorial: DIY build your own lightweight chromium-based privacy web browser Marion <marion@facts.com> - 2025-08-21 04:11 +0000
                Re: Tutorial: DIY build your own lightweight chromium-based privacy web browser Marion <marion@facts.com> - 2025-08-22 09:45 +0000
                Re: Tutorial: DIY build your own lightweight chromium-based privacy web browser Marion <marion@facts.com> - 2025-08-23 17:14 +0000
                Re: Tutorial: DIY build your own lightweight chromium-based privacy web browser Marion <marion@facts.com> - 2025-08-24 14:54 +0000
                Re: Tutorial: DIY build your own lightweight chromium-based privacy web browser Marion <marion@facts.com> - 2025-08-29 05:41 +0000
                Re: Tutorial: DIY build your own lightweight chromium-based privacy web browser Marion <marion@facts.com> - 2025-09-02 04:06 +0000

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