Virtual browser environment: Use Firefox, Chrome & Co. in Docker with Neko 3.0
Neko is a virtual browser for more privacy, shared searches or as a VPN alternative. With the update, Neko supports the Firefox fork Waterfox.
(Image: Miroslav Ĺ edivĂ˝)
Version 3.0.0 of the open source virtual browser environment Neko has been released. It can be used to run different browsers in a Docker container and thus use them remotely. Shared access by several people is also possible. The new version of Neko also works with the Firefox offshoot Waterfox. In addition, the ARM images of the tool now also support Brave and Vivaldi. In addition to browsers, users can install other Linux applications.
Neko for interactive presentations and as a VPN alternative
Neko uses the WebRTC standard to stream a desktop in a Docker container. According to developer Miroslav Ĺ edivĂ˝, the application can be used in companies for interactive presentations, for example in support or workshops, with access for multiple users. It is also suitable as a collaborative tool, for example for joint research or checking program code. Furthermore, virtual browsers can be integrated into websites in the same way as the Hyperbeam API.
Individual users stream containerized applications and desktops with Neko, an alternative to Kasm Workspaces. With Neko, users can also use a shielded browser that does not leave any cookies on their computer and prevents the recognition of system information for advertising purposes by means of fingerprinting. In addition, with a Neko installation in the company network, user access to the intranet or internal applications is possible without a VPN connection.
Docker images for browsers based on Firefox and Chromium
With ready-made Docker images, Neko supports Firefox, its fork Waterfox and Tor on the AMD64 architecture. Images are also available for various Chromium-based browsers, including Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Brave, Vivaldi and Opera. Users must allocate at least two gigabytes of RAM to Chromium-based browsers. Images with Firefox, Chromium, Brave, and Vivaldi are available for ARM64 systems, but without DRM support. Ĺ edivĂ˝ also provides further images with GPU support for Intel and Nvidia chips.
Neko also supports VLC, the remote desktop client Remmina and the desktop environments KDE and Xfce on AMD64, ARM64 and ARMv7 system architectures as standard. Users can also install other tools independently. Neko can also be installed directly on the host outside of Docker containers and connected to the X server. However, Ĺ edivĂ˝ advises against this. Due to adjustments to the structure of the configuration files, Neko 3.0.0 contains a legacy mode. It is active when the tool recognizes a configuration from the previous version, but can be switched on and off.
Other updates in Neko 3.0.0 include a screencast feature as a fallback system for WebRTC, modified directory structures and plugins for chats and file uploads. All new features of the tool under the Apache 2.0 license can be found in the release notes on GitHub. According to Ĺ edivĂ˝, direct connections via the RDP and VNC protocols are also conceivable in the future, so that Neko will only act as a relay server for WebRTC. Most recently, Docker Mailserver version 15 also received an update for password confirmations and SASL authentication.
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