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Google Ends Support for Lynx Browser

102 points zhenyi | 3 comments | 10 Sep 25 18:20 UTC | HN request time: 0.666s | source

Accessing google.com in Lynx now shows:

  Google
  Update your browser
  Your browser isn't supported anymore. To continue your search, upgrade to a recent version. [Learn more]
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samtheDamned ◴[10 Sep 25 21:55 UTC] No.45204486[source]▶
maybe this is a knee-jerk reaction but I don't see any good reason for this. At it's core Google's job is to take an input and list outputs. The marketshare of people using lynx is small enough that whatever advertising or ai extras they want to squeeze in won't be meaningfully impacted by not working on lynx.

Edit: corrected spelling error

replies(2): >>45205040 #>>45205551 #
codedokode ◴[10 Sep 25 23:25 UTC] No.45205551[source]▶
Internet marketers can misuse this to send lot of automated requests instead of paying for API access.
replies(1): >>45207858 #
1. bdhcuidbebe ◴[11 Sep 25 04:41 UTC] No.45207858[source]▶
Lol, what?

Anyone can spoof UA…

replies(1): >>45209562 #
2. codedokode ◴[11 Sep 25 09:33 UTC] No.45209562[source]▶
Standard Google page can use JS and WASM to fingerprint device and detect bots. No-JS page cannot detect bots so it makes sense to shut it down to prevent using it for bot detection bypass.
replies(1): >>45210577 #
3. bdhcuidbebe ◴[11 Sep 25 12:05 UTC] No.45210577[source]▶
That is besides the point.

I can spoof UA today with lynx, curl or what ever that isnt executing js.

See topic.