Ghostzilla

Ghostzilla is a discontinued open source web browser for Microsoft Windows based on Mozilla Application Suite 1.0.1.[4][2][1] It ran the browser inside the window space of another application (e.g. in Microsoft Outlook), where the page was then made to look like the content in an email.[4][6][7][8] When moving the cursor out of the window, the browser subsequently disappeared.[2]

Ghostzilla
Final release
1.0.1-free-v1 / November 2002 (2002-11)[1]
EngineGecko[2]
Operating systemMicrosoft Windows[2]
Available inEnglish[3]
TypeWeb browser[4]
LicenseMozilla Public License 1.1[5]
Websitewww.ghostzilla.com 

History

Ghostzilla was originally launched as a shareware project priced at US$19.95. The project then became freeware and later open source. From May 2004 until January 2005, the project was removed from public view due to a copyright claim from Mozilla. It later returned with code directly derived from Mozilla's open source, excluding the core proprietary library used to create minimal pages and desaturated colors. It also came with warnings about the potential for misuse. In February 2007, the site was removed.

In March 2006, users of Firefox had the option of installing a free add-on called Ghostfox, which aimed to mimic Ghostzilla's behavior in Firefox,[9] although from June 2010 this extension was no longer compatible with Firefox 3.5.[10] An open source project, InstaBrowser, appeared in July 2007 mimicking Ghostzilla's ideas.[11] By September 2009 this project was renamed Ninja Browser but was again short-lived.[12]

Features
Now you can hide what you're up to in full view of prying eyes as this web browser does its thing, mocking up your desktop furniture, files and trash bin while you're checking out the latest downloadable tunes.

--"Tech Heads", Daily Record (2002)[13]

Ghostzilla is a browser which can be used directly from a CD or USB stick.[14] Ghostzilla changes the layout of the web pages pending on the user's preferences as categorized into 6 different "stealth modes":[14][15]

  • As simple text (without any CSS, advertisement, or pop-ups).[14]
  • Images are hidden or grayed out.

Users can change their preferences so that the navigation bar turns off.[14] If the cursor is placed outside the Ghostzilla window, Ghostzilla hides itself and can be viewed again by a mouse gesture.[3][14]

References
  1. "Ghostzilla — the invisible browser". ghostzilla.com. Archived from the original on 29 May 2006. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
  2. Pash, Adam (6 June 2006). "Download of the Day: Ghostzilla". Lifehacker. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
  3. Zäch, Sascha (16 June 2006). "Ghostzilla – der unsichtbare Browser" (in German). PCtipp. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
  4. Donath, Andreas (14 June 2006). "Surfen unter dem Radar: Ghostzilla macht Browser unsichtbar" (in German). Golem.de. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
  5. "Ghostzilla Source". ghostzilla.com. Archived from the original on 13 June 2006. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
  7. SLOAN, WANDA (11 October 2006). "Is that a browser in your pocket?". Bangkok Post. Thailand.
  8. Ramesh, C. (2 July 2003). "Beyond browsing". Business Line. Kasturi & Sons LTD.
  9. Zielenkewitz, Moritz (16 August 2007). "Freeware der Woche: GhostFox" (in German). Netzwelt. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
  10. "Ghostfox 0.2.2.1". Mozilla. 30 December 2008. Archived from the original on 6 January 2010. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
  11. "instabrowser". 24 September 2009. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
  12. "Ninja Browser". Archived from the original on 7 June 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
  13. TOWNLEY, PIERS (28 November 2002). "Tech heads.(192)". Daily Record. Retrieved 23 June 2012. (subscription required)
  14. Rentrop, Christian (14 June 2006). "Ghostzilla: Surfen ohne neugierige Blicke" (in German). Netzwelt. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
  15. Shigecky. "Ghostzilla" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 30 April 2012. Retrieved 8 April 2012.

Further reading
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