FutureLibrary

You Can’t Lock a Good Browser Down April 30, 2010

I find it frustrating that the major browser players do not have a kiosk version of their product. That is, a version for use in public domains such as libraries. These companies are unable to comprehend that not everybody is using their browser in a secure environment in the comfort of their own home.

I am no programming expert, but surely it is a simple process to make a browser suitable for a public space. Simply allow administrators the ability to hide options such as the changing of  network settings, home pages, etc. It is not a matter of locking down the browser in a straight jacket, so as to give the user a negative browsing experience. It is simply the tweaking of a few menus to prevent a few basic settings from being viewed.

To their credit, Microsoft does allow this through their group policy editor, SteadyState. However, with versions above the dreaded 6, administrators cannot hide the address or search bar, which I want to do on webcat PCs. As we know, Explorer is not the fastest or most attractive browser, and I would love to steer clear of it. However, at the moment, it is the only browser which can be locked down satisfactorily.

Firefox and Opera state that they do have kiosk mode but  is way too complicated to initiate. Even Chrome, for all it’s excellence in simplicity and speed,  do not have a kiosk version. Too many settings can be changed. Simply give permission to hide options, problem solved.

In a time when more and more people are turning to libraries for their information hit, it is well overtime that the major browser players provide a secure, flexible and fast browser for public use.