Vivaldi Blue – the safe browser

[PawelPoland]

I think a lot of parents worry that their children spend a lot of time exposed to the wrong content on the web: adult content, terrorism, politics… It’s not a simple thing to block all of that, most parents aren’t necessarily tech-savvy.

I think there’s a genuine need for there to be a browser that would simply block all of that very harmful content out of the box. It would really be a lot simpler if parents could install that one browser, uninstall all the other browsers, and feel safe in the knowledge that their children from now on cannot be exposed to any of the dangers on the web.

Further notes:

• since this version could also be addressed to elderly people or really, anyone who wants to be protected from unwanted content, I’d opt for a neutral name, like “Vivaldi Blue”; I think you might even be able to come up with a better name that’s equally neutral

• this cannot be only an option in the settings that any kid can change or turn off, that just wouldn’t work (consequently, downloading other browsers that do not offer adequate protection should also be impossible on this version of the browser)

• given that it’s going to be addressed to wider audiences, this version of your browser should probably be based on the more typical, minimalist version of the user interface of the Vivaldi browser (simply something similar to what they’re already used to in other browsers)

I think it’s a safe bet that there are millions, if not tens of millions of parents who have been waiting for a simple solution to this problem. Vivaldi Blue has a chance to be that solution.

[sgunhouse]

Whether or not Vivaldi is interested in making a filtered browser, I'd point out that the browser can't be all-knowing. The easiest way to make sure it can't download an unsafe browser is to block downloads completely, as otherwise it can't know if that game they're downloading is really a renamed browser or includes a browser.

The other possibility would be a "curated" browser - a browser that limits your choices to known sites. As such you couldn't just type an arbitrary address into the address bar - if it hasn't been checked you can't visit it. And Vivaldi doesn't have the people to do that.

So I doubt V could undertake such a browser.

[Catweazle]

@PawelPoland , at the moment it occurs to me to use Swisscows as a unique search engine in a profile for children. Swisscows is a search engine that protects privacy and is Family Friendly, yes or yes, without the possibility of changing it.
Other Family safe search engines
https://familysafesearch.net
https://www.kiddle.co
https://www.kidzsearch.com
https://www.kidtopia.info

Another possibility is to block adult content via DNS, for example with OpenDNS, which has a family save setting
https://www.opendns.com/home-internet-security/

The other can be configured in the aspect, with larger letters , bigger icons, colors with more contrast, etc., if it is used for older people.

[Pesala]

@PawelPoland I think that the only way this could happen is via an option in the vivaldi://welcome setup screen.

The Vivaldi Team do not have the resources to develop a separate browser.

[Catweazle]

@Pesala , it would be enough to be able to protect the different profiles in Vivaldi with a password, or design a safe profile for children with the corresponding search engines and direct accesses.
A kiosk mode would be another possibility, which was already requested some time ago, although I remember.
In any case, it is not advisable to leave small children on the network, unaccompanied or unattended.

[Pesala]

@Catweazle Yes, there is a feature request for a Kiosk Mode.

A Master Password Protected Mode would be a convenient way to implement this.

The details need working out so that children could access the Internet safely, while parents could each have their own protected profiles.

[Ayespy]

Everything nowadays has to be "set it and forget it." Unfortunately, children do not have that setting. They have to be supervised, educated, safeguarded and raised by actual parents. This is more of a headache than many modern adults are prepared for.

[LonM]

Related request https://forum.vivaldi.net/topic/29521/not-safe-for-work-filter

[PawelPoland]

@sgunhouse Well, what if parents did the curating? Wikipedia, the school website, a few more... Adding more websites would be password-protected. It's just that I'm not sure how many people would be prepared to restrict their children's use of the web to such an extent. I thought about that, too.

[PawelPoland]

@Catweazle @LonM That Swiss Cows search engine is great. The existence of APIs that can detect unsafe images is another important piece of information.

It seems to me there already are out there existing solutions to all of those problems. It's just that they aren't available in a simple-to-use package.

@Pesala I'm not sure if it would have to be a separate browser. Rather, it would be more or less the same Vivaldi, only set-up in a certain fixed way. Of course parents would still download it as if it was a different program.

[nomadic]

Blocking at the browser level is probably too late. Kids are crafty and will find ways around things.

Even network wide solutions aren't perfect, but are probably more reliable. There are already a few options out there for parents in that regard.

---

In my middle school, they set up the internet to have several silly restrictions on which sites you were able to visit, but Google Translate was not one of the blocked sites. I figured out that I could simply type in the URL I wanted to go to and "translate it to English" to visit it freely without restriction.

And in high school, an unfiltered Guest network password was passed around amongst basically all the students.

If there is a restriction on internet, kids are just about guaranteed to try and find a way around it. The best approach is to not only try and restrict kids from visiting dangerous sites but to help teach them how to identify and avoid aspects of the internet that could harm them.

[PawelPoland]

@nomadic Perhaps a few kids would find a loophole, most would not. Besides, it isn't just about restricting mischievous youngsters, the browser would also be addressed to normal people who just don't want to have any kind of access to everything available out there.

By the way, I'm not sure why I mentioned politics in that main post, probably just to have a more general category of potentially harmful content. "Weapons" would probably be a better topic to restrict access to.

[dude99]

@PawelPoland I'm sorry, IMHO this is a futile proposition.

In order to protect children from the evil of Internet, we will need more than a "safe" web browser. What we learn from the recent history is this: not even the Great Firewall, Facial ID, & all sort of extreme privacy invasive surveillance technology can protect anyone from the evil of Internet.

If you insist, then the only sure way is NO INTERNET FOR CHILDREN. That means no smartphone, smartTv, & any smart device connect to the Internet whenever children is around. This sounds extreme & illogical, but that's the only way you can be sure children aren't expose to "harmful" content. LSS good parenting these days are mission impossible, cuz most people just can't live without the Internet.

Here is a common example, you & your spouse are watching Netflix show in your home comfortably, & then a child just walk in while the screen is showing "something violence" or "little girl twerking" or "the orange man"... Now you have become one of those terrible, terrible, irresponsible bad parents, because you just ruined your child's precious little innocent mind. LOL

Jokes aside, censorship is never the answer, obedience & self-discipline are probably a better solution to protect children from evil of Internet. Because eventually, every child will encounter evil & he/she will need to know how to handle em' properly. And that's the responsibility of parent/guardian of each child to impart the wisdom of obedience & self-discipline to not only enable the child to differentiate good & evil, but to act upon 'em accordingly, best while the child is still young & receptive. Don't rely on school, government, or technology to nurture your child's mind, DIY is the best way to get the job done!

[PawelPoland]

@dude99 It seems to me that installing a safe browser is still a good step towards responsible parenting. It's just that nothing like that is available yet.

Come to think of it, other groups might also be interested in installing a browser of this type: pensioners, schools, public institutions, many companies too, probably.

[dude99]

@PawelPoland

It's just that nothing like that is available yet.

Because there are already plenty of competent Content filter service available, there is no point to recreate the wheel on a less proficient method. Example: The web browser can't gatekeeping content as wide & efficient as DNS services, which works on all smart devices regardless of browser, apps or whatever software that connected to the Internet via said service.

If you really insist on Vivaldi build in "family safe" mode, Vivaldi actually already have a build-in content blocker/filter list support, so it can already be done by included "family safe" filter list by default combined with preloaded search engine, which mostly free on the Internet. This would be the quickest & cheapest way for Vivaldi to "upgrade" their browser's family safety feature.

I'm fine with adding another filter list into the browser by default, but there is no point to waste more resources to create & maintaining another version of the browser, while what we already have is capable of accomplished such task.

[PawelPoland]

@dude99 The main difference between this safer version and the default browser would be the fact that certain features/options are permanently turned on. I'd honestly have to search on the web for how to activate the features you've mentioned.

If this is supposed to work for the end user, it all has to be available out of the box without the possibility for turning the safety features off.

Then again, if this is achieved through other means, like that one piece of software that filters everything going through your router, that's just as good.

[PawelPoland]

@dude99 You're right, on the other hand, that it's all already available out there in one form or another. It's just that someone needs to bring it all together into one simple solution, like a genuinely safe browser.

[Catweazle]

@PawelPoland , the only other alternative that I see is to start with the OS, creating different accounts in it, since these can be protected with different passwords. In this environment created for kids, maybe using the hostfiles, you can use Vivaldi configured with a kiosk mode extension, with a special browser for children (the lack, the good child browsers are paid soft and not cheap) or use other measures that can be configured through permissions in the OS.

[dude99]

@PawelPoland said in Vivaldi Blue – the safe browser:

It's just that someone needs to bring it all together into one simple solution

Many company already did that years ago, & it's even better than any web browser can... Actually, you already have it in any smart device that can connect to the Internet, or any router at home/workplace. You don't even need to install any extra software, because it's an online solution & it doesn't have any negative impact on the devices you use to access the Internet (web browser/software filtering do impact device's performance).

Again, it's call DNS service. Here is a simple one, just follow the simple instructions to setup your smart device & router DNS settings properly, & you are done: https://1.1.1.1/family/

Oh, your child won't be able to bypass DNS service easily without some IT knowledge, & if he/she can bypass DNS to look for forbidden stuff, then as his/her parents you have a much bigger problem to worry about - your child have obedience & self-discipline problem, & no technology can stop this child.

[Catweazle]

@dude99 , yes, vigilance by parents is essential with children today. As a child, we put thumbtacks on the teacher's chair, today they hack his pacemaker