Just the Browser
The most recommended of 3 browser configs
Recommended for turning off browser AI and other features, with each setting explained on the site. Critics say the install script is overkill for one small policy file.
Recommended for turning off browser AI and other features, with each setting explained on the site. Critics say the install script is overkill for one small policy file.
17 people gave an opinion
- recommend it
- 6
- criticize it
- 11
- approval share
- 35%
Recommended in 2 of 13 months
- November 2025: not recommended
- December 2025: not recommended
- January 2026: recommended
- February 2026: recommended
- March 2026: not recommended
- April 2026: not recommended
- May 2026: not recommended
- June 2026: not recommended
- July 2026: not recommended
- August 2026: not recommended
- September 2026: not recommended
- October 2026: not recommended
- November 2026: not recommended (month in progress)
Why it doesn’t carry the badge
- 6 people recommend itNeeds 10 or more, not met.
- 0.5 recommenders for every criticNeeds 2 to 1 or better, not met.
- Recommended in 2 of 13 monthsNeeds 4 or more, not met.
The same three rules apply to every product, and the badge can’t be bought. How the badge works
What people say about it
The reasons people give, with the number of comments that give each one. Open a reason to read what they said.
Why people recommend it
Each mark is one comment
Clear explanations of each setting
“The website explains each setting that would be turned off, which I find rather informative.”
Comment from 16 Jan 2026 in “Just the Browser” “I really appreciate the site/guides.”
Comment from 16 Jan 2026 in “Just the Browser” Offers both options upfront
“I think this is a good way to do it -- have both options and tell people about them right at the start of the process.”
Comment from 16 Jan 2026 in “Just the Browser” “This is a great way to do it.”
Comment from 16 Jan 2026 in “Just the Browser”
What people warn about
Each mark is one comment
Runs third-party shell scripts users distrust
“I'm not sure why I'd run a third-party script to flip low-level browser and system settings I can change myself.”
Comment from 14 Jan 2026 in “Just the Browser” “Seems like this is for the people that need to execute random powershell scripts they don't understand”
Comment from 16 Jan 2026 in “Just the Browser” “By getting you run run arbitrary code when in the end all is does is install this policy file”
Comment from 3 Feb 2026 in “Firefox Getting New Controls to Turn Off AI Features” - Comment from 16 Jan 2026 in “Just the Browser”
- Comment from 16 Jan 2026 in “Just the Browser”
- Comment from 16 Jan 2026 in “Just the Browser”
Overkill for one small policy file
“I dont understand the need for an entire website and shell script installer when all it does is download 1 file and put it somewhere.”
Comment from 16 Jan 2026 in “Just the Browser” “By getting you run run arbitrary code when in the end all is does is install this policy file”
Comment from 3 Feb 2026 in “Firefox Getting New Controls to Turn Off AI Features” “Suggesting bash/curl'ing to get a 12 lines JSON file is just... Not great.”
Comment from 16 Jan 2026 in “Just the Browser”
Other browser configs people recommend
The two most recommended other browser configs, with the same counts for each, so you can compare like for like. The tick on each bar marks the 2 to 1 line the badge needs.
| Product | Recommend | Criticize | Approval | Months | Owned | Badge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Just the BrowserThis page | 6 | 11 | 35% | 2 | — | — |
| Arkenfox user.js | 5 | 2 | 71% | 6 | — | — |
| BetterFox | 5 | 0 | 100% | 5 | — | — |
What people said
18 of the 19 comments that mention it, newest first. Each links to the original comment.
“By getting you run run arbitrary code when in the end all is does is install this policy file”
“This software sets up browser corporate policies to achieve exactly what you want.”
“It's also safer and provides more understanding.”
“in case anyone is looking to exploit this: user `corbindarvenport` is available if you want to do some typosquatting”
“I really appreciate the site/guides.”
“I think this is a good way to do it -- have both options and tell people about them right at the start of the process.”
“launching firefox automatically deletes the distribution folder from Content/Resources; and nothing changed in the browser”
“The website explains each setting that would be turned off, which I find rather informative.”
“I dont understand the need for an entire website and shell script installer when all it does is download 1 file and put it somewhere.”
“This is a great way to do it.”
“so it's not clear why it's getting the axe from this site”
“It disables single-digit number of "features" in each of the browsers, i.e. mostly useless.”
“This trains Windows users to run random code from the web.”
“Seems like this is for the people that need to execute random powershell scripts they don't understand”
“I like how the bash script to install this starts with getting sudo access :)”
“Suggesting bash/curl'ing to get a 12 lines JSON file is just... Not great.”
“Not sure you want to run a 3rd party shell script just to do that”
“I'm not sure why I'd run a third-party script to flip low-level browser and system settings I can change myself.”
Counts come from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026. How we count. Report a mistake.