SRWare Iron

Name: SRWare Iron
Rating: 4.6667 (39 reviews)

75.0.3900.0

01 August 2019

Chromium Web browser without usage tracking.

Overview

SRWare Iron, or simply Iron, is a free and open-source Web browser implementation of Chromium which primarily aims to eliminate usage tracking and other privacy compromising functionality that the Google Chrome browser includes.

Note: While the software is classified as free, it is actually donationware. Please consider making a donation to help support development.

What's new in SRWare Iron

Version 75.0.3900.0:

Hyperlink auditing disabled
No popups during page unload
Bug-/Securityfixes

SRWare Iron Screenshots

43 SRWare Iron Reviews

See all

Popguru

12 November 2011

Most helpful

Even though the Finder reports the application name as "SRWare Iron", it's actually called "Chromium.app" on the filesystem by default. You have to rename it if you want to have Chromium and Iron both installed. The fact that that SRWare didn't bother to change the name of the application bundle made me wonder how different Iron actually is from Chromium. Several sources attest that Iron has little or no significant benefit over Chromium. It simply removes some features which can be turned off manually in Chromium. These are a bit old, but likely still relevant: http://chromium.hybridsource.org/the-iron-scam http://neugierig.org/software/chromium/notes/2009/12/iron.html I think I'll stick with the FreeSMUG Chromium build instead: http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/36244/chromium

Like (8)

Version 14.0.850.0

Helmo-Hass

28 April 2017

Sorry MU is this a typo? asking because i'm using it, and this version came out on 02/12/2017

Version 56.0.2950.0

I haven't had any problems with this browser at all. So far it doesn't seem to contain any malware of any type, no scan has turned up anything. The article posted by Cyril-Howard has some good points, but does go a bit overboard in describing this browser as some sort of end-of-the-world malware. But the one thing it doesn't do is offer up any evidence that SRWare Iron is going to lead to ruin. I say use either it, Chromium, or Chrome itself - it doesn't really matter. Google isn't going to be beating down your door or selling off your family photos as a result of using Chrome. Add Glimmer Blocker, Little Snitch, and Ghostery to the mix (AdBlock and AdBlock Plus are worthless, IMHO), and you should be fine. It is up to you.

Version 43.0.2300.0

1. I don't care about cyrill-howard controversy and Chromium/Iron antagonism 2. SRWare Iron is a good stuff on Mac 3. SRWare Iron is too late for security updates and it's a serious fail for a browser Use with caution

Version 31.0.1700.0

People, please DON'T trust this browser! Iron is a scam! A scam by some greedy German who just regularly takes a Chromium source package, claims to remove 'spying' funcions, which is nothing more than changing a few settings (that you can change yourself - by going to ... the settings page) - and on top of that, he is apparently putting his own ad framework into it. Of course the versions are never up to date, so good luck with mainting browser security. If you search around a bit you will find enough links to articles and forums which elaborate on the nature of this scam, this source for example is pretty revealing: http://www.insanitybit.com/2012/06/23/srware-iron-browser-a-real-private-alternative-to-chrome-21/ Seems like the only reason Iron exists is to lure people on to his page so he can cash in several Google Ads and Analytics Bonuses. I invite you to give me hybris for this, flame away people. Or maybe save the time and read up for a minute on what disgusting piece of dodgy software you are raving about.

Like (8)

Version 27.0.1500.0

2 answer(s)

David-Evian

22 July 2013

Yes it's a bit ironic that someone uses Google's ad programme, maybe a bit hypocritical, while at the same time criticising their privacy track record. Bit because someone makes money with something doesn't mean it's a scam. Because someone brags about making making in a chat channel doesn't make it a scam either. The article you're pointing to is apparently written by a fan of Google, and tends to gloss over the implications of sending unique information back to Google, as if they don't matter and can be explained away at face value in terms of how Google frame this. But that's the position of the author of the article, it's not the position of others. Google's track record on the broad structures of privacy are abysmal to put it mildly, and overall user privacy is not a part of Google's strategy. Anything that draws attention to that is no bad thing in my book. Because some relatively small changes were made in SRWare Iron, doesn't make them totally worthless. A lot of people are too daft to configure this stuff themselves. People are free to use it or not use it. Personally I think Chrome is crappy ugly browser and isn't 'super fast' as promised on any platform I've tried it on. But it's useful to have different browsers around.

Like (3)

Cyril-Howard

06 August 2013

It's insofar a scam that the Iron developer makes claims about features of Iron which range from having no meaning at all to plain ridiculous seemingly in order to generate clicks, all hyprocrisy aside. All those "features" are basic chromium settings you can change within a minute or two. Here's someone that offers a not up-to-date, unsigned, maldocumented chromium binary with a few trivial settings changed, and that in very irregular intervals. The well up-to-date Chromium stable from http://www.freesmug.org/chromium features (in accordance with Chromiums release calendar) Chromium 28 stable while the latest Mac build of Iron is still based on Chromium 26 (release date: Feb 11th, 2013). There have been 3 (!) security updates since version 26. I hope we don't have to argue about the importance of keeping your browser up to date in order to keep your system safe.That alone to me would be a deal breaker. And even if the author of that article was a "google fan", his case is far better documented than any part of the SRWare website - the browser is probably the most hostile environment for your computer anyway - why on earth choose a maldocumented, poorly maintained, month old binary from some dubious developer who uses agent smith as an avatar over the official well documented up-to-date version from either chromium projects or freesmug?

Like (5)

Excellent! I love Chrome, but I uninstalled it recently because I was fed up the obligatory Auto-Update system that comes with it (among other factors). With SRWare Iron I get all the goodness of Chrome, including all my usual extensions, without the annoyances. On my system it appears to be running flawlessly. Thanks for providing this.

Like (2)

Version 23.0.1300.0

4 answer(s)

cutie2011

13 February 2013

People with Snow Leopard can use the FreeSmug Chromium builds. SRWare developer ceased to support the "old" OS. http://www.freesmug.org/chromium Latest stable build (v24) works flawlessly on 10.6 without annoyances.

Like (3)

bbw7

22 March 2013

@cutie2011, Yes, that is the primary version of Chromium, i.e. the one to which you point; however, if I read between the lines correctly, unlike SRWare Iron, Chromium still does some level of usage tracking. I don't see any mention of lack of usage tracking at the chromium site, although it would seem to be a major feature to taut if it were the case. Can anyone else more informed comment on this?

bbw7

23 March 2013

@Lumac52, I'm no Chrome apologist by any measure, but there is a way to disable the google auto update feature: In terminal: "defaults write com.google.Keystone.Agent checkInterval 0" http://support.google.com/installer/bin/answer.py?hl=en&ctx=go&answer=147176

Like (1)

Lumac52

24 March 2013

@bbw7, Thanks, you're right, Chrome has fortunately now made it possible to disable auto-updates. I almost switched back to Chrome for this reason, but for now I'm sticking with Iron because I prefer the way it turns off suggestions in the omnibox. See http://www.srware.net/en/software_srware_iron_chrome_vs_iron.php

Helmo-Hass

14 December 2012

To macupdate : Just avoid any misunderstanding can you please modify the minimum sys requirements for this as 10.7 as till now even this newest release Do Not Work under Snow Leopard. Thanks

Like (1)

Version 23.0.1300.0

1 answer(s)

MacUpdate-Ryan

14 December 2012

Thanks for the heads up, I've updated the system requirements on our listing.

Heads up. As of 12/2/2012, version 23 is out ... BUT this one still crashes on start-up using Snow Leopard. So, if you are still using SL, stay with version 21.

Version 22.0.1250.0

Helmo-Hass

12 November 2012

working fine on Mlion but refuses to launch under 10.6.8

Version 22.0.1250.0

3 answer(s)

Zampom

12 November 2012

Yes, crashes on launch in 10.6.8. Multiple of reports of this crash on the SRWare forum. Reverted back to Iron 21 for the time being.

Helmo-Hass

12 November 2012

Thanks Zampon for your clarification .. i did it as well.

Zampom

12 November 2012

Also, should note that according info at SRWare, OS requirement is now 10.6 or greater ... 10.5 no longer supported.

Worked great until I did the OS X java update on 4/13/12. Now it takes 2 to 3 minutes to load webpages, if they load. Safari and other browsers I've tested run just fine.

Like (3)

Version 17.0.1000.0

SRWare Iron

Overview

What's new in SRWare Iron

SRWare Iron Screenshots

43 SRWare Iron Reviews

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