FixBrowser

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FixProxy - browse the web with privacy (2025/01/26)

FixProxy is a proxy server that allows to browse the web with privacy. It achieves this by having a whitelist approach where only the resources strictly needed by the website are loaded and by having JavaScript disabled.

Many websites are however not usable with JavaScript disabled, therefore FixProxy contains an updated set of fix scripts that fix and even improve various websites as well as groups of websites (using the same technology such as WordPress, Disqus forums, etc.).

This makes sure that the web can be browsed in a fast and comfortable way, with confidence that no 3rd party trackers will load. I've been using FixProxy for multiple years as my primary way of web browsing with good results.

Download

FixProxy is part of the FixBrowser project, a lightweight web browser with the same goals as the proxy but not requiring as much resources as regular browsers need. It is also very portable and the aim is to support also old systems. FixBrowser is currently in alpha stage and not usable for regular browsing unlike FixProxy.

You can download both on the homepage.

Usage

FixProxy is a command-line utility that once started is listening on the port 8080 (can be changed using the -p parameter) on localhost. Unlike other proxies you directly visit the website http://localhost:8080/ to access it.

This allows to mix the usage of FixProxy and normal direct access on a per-tab level. In addition to that you can setup the web browser to use this URL for new tabs to make it the default way of browsing (an extension may be required for that). You can also access it over the LAN on other computers if you wish.

This is how it looks when loaded in the web browser:

FixProxy prompt (in Firefox)

There you can put in an URL and press Enter (or click the Go button) or enter search terms and click on the Search button. The input field maintains an history of used websites.

Wikipedia title page using FixProxy xkcd comics using FixProxy

Support for JavaScript only websites

Some websites such as Imgur, a popular image/video sharing service, require JavaScript to function. The fix scripts provide a reimplementation in pure HTML/CSS making it accessible without JavaScript.

The result is a simple and lightweight web page compared to the original that requires loading of many resources and being heavyweight to the browser.

Of course not every feature can be supported this way, a basic functionality is provided first, later enhanced with more features. For some features (like posting the content) you need to use the original website without FixProxy.

Imgur.com title page reimplementation in FixProxy Imgur.com album in FixProxy

Enhancement of websites

Certain websites, while usable, lack features (even in their original version) that would make them quite better. For example, some discussions are collapsed by default so you have to manually uncollapse them and wait for them to load.

Another example is tracking of new comments on various websites. It is often not possible or just a partial support is provided. On Reddit you get messages when someone replies to your post/comment, however there is no way to be notified about other comments under that post. On Hacker News I've not found any way to track messages.

The fix scripts in FixProxy add a feature to track such new comments, no account is required. It highlights the new comments and have a simple way to navigate to them.

This makes the discussions more engaging as you don't miss anything, I do plan to extend this feature to other websites and comment systems.

Highlighted comments on Reddit using FixProxy Showing new comments in the submission list on Hacker News using FixProxy

Fundraising

The project needs your help. For this initial round €5000 will be needed to be raised. It will allow me to work on FixBrowser to make it usable for actual browsing and also implement some of the additional areas based on a vote. The work will take about a year, expecting major improvements within about 6 months.

Please select additional areas that you wish to be implemented the most (read FAQ section for more information):







Extra suggestions (eg. what websites or features to support etc.):


E-mail: (optional, used solely for contacting you in relation to the donation)

Donation amount: (you will need to enter it again on PayPal website)



You can donate using PayPal account or debit/credit card (no PayPal account required).

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