How do you stop the stop Brave from automatically updating ?
The reason I’m asking is because in June Google plans to remove Manifest V2 items from the store
Now the Brave team has said they’ll try their best to support some MV2 extensions
which is much appreciated but if the Chromium code gets changed too much then I realise this may not be possible in the long run
The only extensions I care about are Ublock Origin & NoScript but I view them as essential for web browsing and if I can no longer use them it would force me to switch browsers
Brave Shields work fine for most sites but for some I need uBlock/Noscript
I don’t want to start Brave one day to find them disabled so I want to create a separate profile / install with an older Brave version as a backup to use alongside the current version should these apps ever stop working
Is it possible to maintain 2 separate profiles running different Brave versions ?
If not how can I modify the update settings so that that 1 Brave install continues to receive updates and the other doesn’t ?
Instead of running a secondary insecure browser with outdated features, I would create a secondary profile with javascript turned off, and report any Shields issues that I encountered.
At this time, we still continue to support those extensions. I would highly recommend you continue to update the browser and if for any reason we’re unable to support them at a certain point, then you can reach out and see about stopping the automatic updates.
Until then, you might as well stay as safe and secure as possible.
Well should they no longer be supported I plan on running 2 versions - a ‘legacy’ one and a current one
Is it even even possible to have 2 separate installs on the same system ?
As for security concerns in all my years browsing I have never received malware when NoScript/uBlock where enabled (but I have been infected despite running the latest versions of various browsers IE/FFox/Chrome) so in my experience they are better than any Antivirus program at preventing malware
Also the sites I plan to use the ‘legacy’ version on are mostly mainstream/commercial and presumably low risk anyway
Yes but how much notice will we get given that the changes will be made upstream to Chromium ? That’s why I want to prepare in advance
In this thread you give instructions on how to prevent updates for Mac
So how would you do this for 1 install on Windows ?
Do I need to rename folders e.g. >Program Files > BraveSoftware > - make a copy and rename it e.g BraveSoftware2
But then what alterations do I need to make in the registry ? to ensure one version continues to receive updates and the other doesn’t ?
In all my years of driving, I’ve never been ejected through my front window during a car crash but I’m still going to wear my seatbelt. Also to be clear, NoScript/uBlock are not specifically designed to block malware and if they do, it is likely due to them blocking some malicious script on a site by accident. Lastly, just because you haven’t been infected while running these extensions and have been when you’re using an updated browser does not prove anything – classic correlation vs causation.
Browser updates don’t just apply fixes that protect you from malware, but also from other bad actors that would leverage security loopholes/exploits to gain access to your personal data, preventing you from visiting/connecting to malicious sites, and stopping you from downloading (intentional or not) potentially malicious files.
If you want to run those risks that’s your choice, but I don’t recommend it and I don’t think you’ll find many web dev/security/privacy experts who would approve of it. I will have to double check on the exact methodology for stopping windows updates.
Are you saying that an outdated browser can pose a security risk just by being passively installed or only while in use ? Because as I mentioned I primarily intend to use it for mainstream sites e.g. Youtube where I would assume the risk of malware would be low
That being said it’s a risk I’m prepared to take - I keep important data on external HDDs , don’t store passwords / personal info etc
Anyway so it is possible to have 2 separate installs on the same machine ?
I use old Mac computer gear with older versions of Brave Browser, with one exception as of yesterday: I created a dual boot setup for my (recently purchased, used) 2013 MacBook Pro (MacOS container-partition plus BOOTCAMP partition). I installed Windows OS 10 on that BOOTCAMP partition, and eventually installed Brave Browser v1.77.100 (yesterday, before v1.77.101 was released).
One reason for doing all that work, is: Despite the many restrictions I place on my using old Internet browsers, I believe that I must be prepared for (instead of surprised by) a sudden discovery, that “It’s not working!” ← some place that I really need to sign-on to . . . and the fix is: Update the Internet browser(s).
Re the many restrictions I place on my using old Internet browsers:
I DO NOT remain logged in / signed on ← ANYWHERE
The browser is set to globally BLOCK javascripts, and that means: I must know which javascripts to Allow and specifically make such allowances per website
I ALWAYS clear cache, cookies & sites, history, downloads, when Exiting / Quitting an Internet browser
I ALWAYS use Private Browsing, except when trying to diagnose an issue and test, or adjust settings in, a Brave Browser New Window
I NEVER sync an Internet browser and its data, settings with another computing device → that means, I run the browser in isolation
I DO NOT store passwords in the browser’s password manager
I routinely, manually back up the bookmarks to a “bookmarks.html” file
I routinely copy URL address links instead of clicking on them; I paste the link into a text file, where I can study the link ← thus reducing chances for using a malicious link
Yet, I am an amateur; and there is no way for me to protect my old computing systems - except by increasing restrictions and digging deeper holes in order to avoid a day of surprising and messy, unwanted discovery.
I cannot beat the fact, that Chromium (and such browsers) and Firefox are advancing with later versions, that websites (where I need to sign on) are maintaining a pace with, those developments - that is / are leaving the old gear and guys, behind.
You can find good, used computers that are capable of running Windows OS 11 or MacOS 15.
You can’t (at least not easily) have two different installations of the same release of Brave. So normal Brave with two different versions. But you can install one of each channel. Such as Brave, Brave Beta, and Brave Nightly.
Just keeping an older version installed will not make MV2 extensions work. It may work for the interim but Google is turning off the backend completely. There will be challenges in them receiving updates as well as actually being able to work properly even if updated.
In terms of security and all, it’s tough to put into perspective. By not using more recent updates of browsers or OS, you are leaving more exploits available. Now, what’s the chances of you encountering a person or website trying to take advantage of those exploits? But it’s generally a good thing to have basic protections in place with as few exploits known.
Don’t forget Brave has its own adblock protection via Shields. So you may be able to just use it rather than uBlock Origin. Sure, there’s some extra functionality that Brave needs to catch up on, but it’s there. In a similar notion, Brave is gradually working on introducing script controls via being able to Block Scripts or allowing for custom procedural filters. Maybe not as effective and user friendly as No Script and all, but just pointing out gradual little steps.
In keeping older version of the browser, you will eventually hit walls in terms of not being able to sync data or use particular services. Whether it be Rewards, VPN, etc.
Yes, you can stop Brave from auto updating, but it’s not a simple way provided in the browser. One example is to use Group Policy. I also believe you can go to C:\Program Files (x86)\BraveSoftware\Update and delete/rename the BraveUpdate it contains , but I’m not sure if that does indeed still work with no issues. Again, not really recommended though.
So these extensions need to connect to remote servers to function ? They can’t just work from the local install ?
When you install Brave apart from the folder in Program Files are there any other components installed elsewhere ?
What would happen if I simply made a copy of the Brave folder(s) ? / components and renamed them - wouldn’t that allow me to have 2nd copy of the same release ?
I know for example with Tor Browser it’s possible to have multiple versions installed on the same system but in that case all the components are contained in a single folder so with Brave would I need to create copies of registry files as well ?
Ok with the deadline approaching are there any updates from Brave on whether they will be able to keep supporting these apps long term ?
Yes, you can stop Brave from auto updating, but it’s not a simple way provided in the browser. One example is to use Group Policy. I also believe you can go to C:\Program Files (x86)\BraveSoftware\Update and delete/rename the BraveUpdate it contains , but I’m not sure if that does indeed still work with no issues. Again, not really recommended though.
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Group Policy doesn’t exist for Home versions of Windows
What is / Is there an equivalent that I can use instead ?
Also can I have list of all the locations (folders / registry entries etc) where Brave components are installed so that I can make a backup
it contains , but I’m not sure if that does indeed still work with no issues. Again, not really recommended though.