1 /*********************************************************************
3 * File : $Source: /cvsroot/ijbswa/current/doc/source/readme.sgml,v $
5 * Purpose : README file to give a short intro.
7 * Copyright : Written by and Copyright (C) 2001 the SourceForge
8 * Privoxy team. http://www.privoxy.org/
10 * Based on the Internet Junkbuster originally written
11 * by and Copyright (C) 1997 Anonymous Coders and
12 * Junkbusters Corporation. http://www.junkbusters.com
14 * This program is free software; you can redistribute it
15 * and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General
16 * Public License as published by the Free Software
17 * Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at
18 * your option) any later version.
20 * This program is distributed in the hope that it will
21 * be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the
22 * implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A
23 * PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public
24 * License for more details.
26 * The GNU General Public License should be included with
27 * this file. If not, you can view it at
28 * http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html
29 * or write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc., 59
30 * Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307, USA.
32 *********************************************************************/
34 This README is included with Privoxy 3.0.1. See http://www.privoxy.org/ for
35 more information. The current code level is stable.
37 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
39 Privoxy is a web proxy with advanced filtering capabilities for protecting
40 privacy, filtering web page content, managing cookies, controlling access, and
41 removing ads, banners, pop-ups and other obnoxious Internet junk. Privoxy has a
42 very flexible configuration and can be customized to suit individual needs and
43 tastes. Privoxy has application for both stand-alone systems and multi-user
46 Privoxy is based on Internet Junkbuster (tm).
48 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
52 REALLY BIG NEWS! August 2002: The long-awaited, oft-delayed stable version of
53 Privoxy 3.0 is finally released! This is way behind schedule, but better late
54 than never. The developers all hope the wait was worth it.
56 NEWS! As of 03/24/02, the name of this project has been changed from ijbswa/
57 Junkbuster to Privoxy. This is reflected in many of the included files.
59 WARNING! If upgrading from earlier versions of this project via RPM packages,
60 the new package will delete any previously installed 'Junkbuster' packages.
62 IMPORTANT! READ! Configuration Change as of 17 Mar 2002: The default listening
63 port is now 8118 due to conflicts with port 8000 assignment. You will need to
64 change your browser if upgrading!!! And maybe firewall, etc.
66 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
70 See the INSTALL file in this directory, for installing from source, and the
71 User Manual, for other installation types.
73 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
77 privoxy [--help] [--version] [--no-daemon] [--pidfile PIDFILE] [--user USER
78 [.GROUP]] [config_file]
80 See the man page or User Manual for an explanation of each option, and other
81 configuration and usage issues.
83 If no config_file is specified on the command line, Privoxy will look for a
84 file named 'config' in the current directory (except Win32 which will look for
85 'config.txt'). If no config_file is found, Privoxy will fail to start.
87 Or for Red Hat based distributions: /etc/rc.d/init.d/privoxy start
89 Or for SuSE: /etc/rc.d/privoxy start
91 Or Debian: /etc/init.d/privoxy start
93 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
97 See: 'config', 'default.action', 'user.action', and 'default.filter'.
98 'user.action' is for personal and local configuration preferences. These are
99 all well commented. Most of the magic is in '*.action' files. 'user.action'
100 should be used for any actions customizations. On Unix-like systems, these
101 files are installed in /etc/privoxy. On Windows, then wherever the executable
102 itself is installed. There are many significant changes and advances since
103 Junkbuster v2.0.x. The User Manual has an explanation of all configuration
104 options, and examples: http://www.privoxy.org/user-manual/.
106 Be sure to set your browser(s) for HTTP/HTTPS Proxy at <IP>:<Port>, or whatever
107 you specify in the config file under 'listen-address'. DEFAULT is localhost:
108 8118. Note that Privoxy ONLY proxies HTTP (and HTTPS) traffic. Do not try it
109 with FTP or other protocols for the simple reason it does not work.
111 The actions list can be configured via the web interface accessed via http://
112 p.p/, as well other options.
114 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
118 There should be documentation in the 'doc' subdirectory. In particular, see the
119 User Manual there, the FAQ, and those interested in Privoxy development, should
120 look at developer-manual.
122 The source and configuration files are all well commented. The main
123 configuration files are: 'config', 'default.action', and 'default.filter'.
125 Included documentation may vary according to platform and packager. All
126 documentation is posted on http://www.privoxy.org, in case you don't have it,
129 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
131 6. CONTACTING THE DEVELOPERS, BUG REPORTING AND FEATURE REQUESTS
133 We value your feedback. In fact, we rely on it to improve Privoxy and its
134 configuration. However, please note the following hints, so we can provide you
135 with the best support:
137 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
141 For casual users, our support forum at SourceForge is probably best suited:
142 http://sourceforge.net/tracker/?group_id=11118&atid=211118
144 All users are of course welcome to discuss their issues on the users mailing
145 list, where the developers also hang around.
147 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
151 Please report all bugs only through our bug tracker: http://sourceforge.net/
152 tracker/?group_id=11118&atid=111118.
154 Before doing so, please make sure that the bug has not already been submitted
155 and observe the additional hints at the top of the submit form.
157 Please try to verify that it is a Privoxy bug, and not a browser or site bug
158 first. If unsure, try toggling off Privoxy, and see if the problem persists.
159 The appendix of the user manual also has helpful information on action
160 debugging. If you are using your own custom configuration, please try the stock
161 configs to see if the problem is configuration related.
163 If not using the latest version, chances are that the bug has been found and
164 fixed in the meantime. We would appreciate if you could take the time to
165 upgrade to the latest version (or even the latest CVS snapshot) and verify your
166 bug, but this is not required for reporting.
168 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
170 6.3. Request New Features
172 You are welcome to submit ideas on new features or other proposals for
173 improvement through our feature request tracker at http://sourceforge.net/
174 tracker/?atid=361118&group_id=11118.
176 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
178 6.4. Report Ads or Other Actions-Related Problems
180 Please send feedback on ads that slipped through, innocent images that were
181 blocked, and any other problems relating to the default.action file through our
182 actions feedback mechanism located at http://www.privoxy.org/actions/. On this
183 page, you will also find a bookmark which will take you back there from any
184 troubled site and even pre-fill the form!
186 New, improved default.action files will occasionally be made available based on
187 your feedback. These will be announced on the ijbswa-announce list and
188 available from our the files section of our project page.
190 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
194 For any other issues, feel free to use the mailing lists. Technically
195 interested users and people who wish to contribute to the project are also
196 welcome on the developers list! You can find an overview of all Privoxy-related
197 mailing lists, including list archives, at: http://sourceforge.net/mail/?