Top 10 Tips and Extensions for Total Orbit Browser Users

Total Orbit Browser: A Complete Review of Features and PrivacyTotal Orbit Browser is an emerging web browser that aims to combine speed, customization, and a strong focus on user privacy. In this review I cover its core features, performance, privacy protections, extensions and ecosystem, user interface and experience, security model, and who it’s best suited for. Where helpful I note tradeoffs and practical tips for getting the most out of the browser.


What is Total Orbit Browser?

Total Orbit is a Chromium-based browser built by a smaller independent team (not one of the big platform vendors). It uses the Chromium engine for compatibility with modern web standards and many Chrome extensions, but the team layers in unique interface choices, performance optimizations, and a privacy-minded feature set intended to differentiate it from mainstream alternatives.


Key features

  • Tab management: Total Orbit offers vertical tab layouts, tab grouping, and a “tab explorer” that shows visual previews and quick actions (pin, mute, move to group). Tab sessions can be saved and restored with one click.
  • Built-in ad and tracker blocking: The browser includes a native blocklist for ads and common trackers, with options to toggle categories and create site-specific rules.
  • Privacy modes: In addition to a standard private/incognito window, Total Orbit provides a “vault mode”—an isolated profile container that stores cookies, local storage, and downloads separately from the main profile and is cleared when the vault is closed.
  • Performance optimizations: It implements lazy background tab loading, memory pressure heuristics (shelving inactive tabs), and an I/O scheduler tuned for faster startup and page rendering on typical consumer hardware.
  • Extension compatibility: Since it’s Chromium-based, the browser supports many Chrome extensions. The team also curates a small set of recommended privacy and utility extensions.
  • Sync (optional): Encrypted account sync is available to keep bookmarks, passwords, history, and open tabs synchronized across devices. Sync uses end-to-end encryption when enabled.
  • Built-in tools: A reader mode, note-taking sidebar, screenshot tool with annotations, and a lightweight VPN/proxy toggle (dependent on a third-party provider) are bundled directly in the UI.
  • Theme and layout customization: Multiple themes, toolbar configurations, and a modular sidebar let users tailor the interface.

Privacy and data handling

Privacy is a headline feature for Total Orbit, but the true privacy posture depends on defaults, transparency, and any third-party services it integrates.

  • Tracking and ads: The native ad/tracker blocker reduces third-party requests and fingerprinting surface. Users can import custom lists (EasyList, EasyPrivacy) and set stricter blocking levels.
  • Telemetry and analytics: The browser offers telemetry controls during setup. By default, minimal telemetry is collected to help developers diagnose crashes and performance issues, but the browser provides a clear toggle to disable all reporting. When enabled, the vendor states that collected data is anonymized and aggregated.
  • Sync and encryption: Sync is opt-in. When enabled, user data is end-to-end encrypted with a passphrase known only to the user. This means the vendor cannot read synced content.
  • Third-party services: Features like the built-in VPN/proxy depend on third-party providers. Using them routes traffic through an external service — useful for location spoofing and encryption on untrusted networks, but introduces a trust dependency. Total Orbit documents providers used and gives the option to disable integrated services.
  • Open-source components and audits: The browser uses open-source components (Chromium, ad-block lists) and the vendor publishes a components list. Full independent security or privacy audits are not always available publicly; check the vendor’s transparency reports for the latest status.

Summary of privacy posture: strong defaults for tracker blocking and opt-in telemetry/sync, with caveats around bundled third-party services and the need to verify any published audits.


Performance and resource use

Because Total Orbit builds on Chromium, raw rendering speed and standards compatibility are comparable to other Chromium browsers. The vendor claims and implements several optimizations:

  • Faster startup via prioritized resource loading.
  • Memory-saving heuristics that unload or freeze inactive tabs to reduce RAM use.
  • Network request consolidation and local caching improvements.

In practice, performance benefits will vary by system. Users with many open tabs and limited RAM are likely to see the most tangible gains from tab shelving and lazy loading. On high-end machines, differences versus mainstream Chromium forks are smaller.


Extensions and ecosystem

  • Extension support: Most Chrome Web Store extensions work, but some that rely on deep Chrome-specific APIs can be limited.
  • Curated add-ons: Total Orbit recommends extensions that enhance privacy and productivity (password managers, content blockers, tab managers).
  • Compatibility notes: Syncing extensions and extension data may be limited to preserve privacy; some extension sync happens only if the extension developer supports it.

Security features

  • Sandboxing and update cadence: Uses Chromium’s sandbox for process isolation. Security depends heavily on timely updates; Total Orbit publishes regular patches and security updates but may lag behind Google Chrome in days or weeks.
  • Password management: Built-in password manager with optional local-only storage or encrypted cloud sync.
  • Phishing and malicious site protections: URL safety checks and download scanning are included, but some protections rely on cloud services which may expose metadata unless explicitly anonymized.
  • Auto-updates and patching: The vendor provides an auto-update mechanism; however, on some platforms manual update checks can be necessary.

User experience and design

  • Interface: Clean, modern, with emphasis on workspace organization (tab groups, visual previews, sidebar tools).
  • Accessibility: Keyboard shortcuts, high contrast themes, and assistive-read features are available. Check the vendor’s accessibility statement for compliance details.
  • Onboarding: Setup screens guide users through privacy toggles and sync options. The vault mode is presented as a distinguishing feature for compartmentalization.

Pros and cons

Pros Cons
Strong built-in tracker/ad blocking May lag behind Chrome in the speed of security patches
Customizable tab and workspace tools Some bundled services rely on third-party providers
Optional end-to-end encrypted sync Smaller extension ecosystem compared with mainstream browsers’ vendor stores
Memory-saving tab shelving for low-RAM systems Occasional compatibility quirks with Chrome-specific extensions
Integrated tools (reader, screenshot, notes) VPN/proxy features add a trust dependency

Practical tips

  • Enable the ad/tracker blocker and import EasyPrivacy for stronger default protection.
  • Use vault mode for banking, sensitive accounts, or when testing logins across multiple identities.
  • Disable built-in VPN/proxy if you prefer your own paid VPN; be aware of traffic routing when it’s enabled.
  • Check the update settings and enable automatic updates to get security patches promptly.
  • Export bookmarks and settings before switching browsers to avoid losing custom configurations.

Who should use Total Orbit?

  • Privacy-conscious users who want stronger default blocking without many manual extensions.
  • Users with many open tabs or limited RAM who will benefit from tab shelving and lazy loading.
  • People who like a more modular UI with built-in tools (notes, screenshots, reader) and prefer an alternative to the big vendors.
  • Not ideal for users who need the absolute fastest security patch cadence or who rely on niche Chrome-only extensions that require Google-specific APIs.

Conclusion

Total Orbit Browser is a solid Chromium-based alternative focused on privacy-friendly defaults, workspace organization, and memory-saving features. It’s a particularly good fit for users who juggle many tabs and want built-in tracker blocking and vault-style compartmentalization without loading numerous extensions. Evaluate the vendor’s transparency around telemetry and third-party services (VPN/proxy providers) to ensure the trust model meets your needs. If you prize rapid security patching above all else, monitor update cadence compared with mainstream Chromium vendors before fully committing.

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