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18 <h1 class="TITLE"><a name="AEN2" id="AEN2">Privoxy Frequently Asked
21 <p class="PUBDATE"><sub><a href="copyright.html">Copyright</a> ©
22 2001-2014 by <a href="http://www.privoxy.org/" target="_top">Privoxy
23 Developers</a></sub><br></p>
25 <p class="PUBDATE">$Id: faq.sgml,v 2.107 2014/12/19 12:31:46 fabiankeil
29 <div class="ABSTRACT">
30 <a name="AEN9" id="AEN9"></a>
32 <p>This FAQ gives quick answers to frequently asked questions about
33 <a href="http://www.privoxy.org/" target="_top">Privoxy</a>. It is
34 not a substitute for the <a href="../user-manual/index.html"
35 target="_top"><i class="CITETITLE">Privoxy User Manual</i></a>.</p>
37 <p>What is Privoxy?</p>
39 <p>Privoxy is a non-caching web proxy with advanced filtering
40 capabilities for enhancing privacy, modifying web page data and
41 HTTP headers, controlling access, and removing ads and other
42 obnoxious Internet junk. Privoxy has a flexible configuration and
43 can be customized to suit individual needs and tastes. It has
44 application for both stand-alone systems and multi-user
47 <p>Privoxy is Free Software and licensed under the GNU GPLv2.</p>
49 <p>Privoxy is an associated project of Software in the Public
52 <p>Helping hands and donations are welcome:</p>
57 "http://www.privoxy.org/faq/general.html#PARTICIPATE" target=
58 "_top">http://www.privoxy.org/faq/general.html#PARTICIPATE</a></p>
62 <p><a href="http://www.privoxy.org/faq/general.html#DONATE"
64 "_top">http://www.privoxy.org/faq/general.html#DONATE</a></p>
68 <p>Please note that this document is a work in progress. This copy
69 represents the state at the release of version 3.0.23. You can find
70 the latest version of the document at <a href=
71 "http://www.privoxy.org/faq/" target=
72 "_top">http://www.privoxy.org/faq/</a>. Please see the <a href=
73 "contact.html">Contact section</a> if you want to contact the
82 <dt><b>Table of Contents</b></dt>
84 <dt>1. <a href="general.html">General Information</a></dt>
88 <dt>1.1. <a href="general.html#WHO-USES">Who should give
89 <span class="APPLICATION">Privoxy</span> a try?</a></dt>
91 <dt>1.2. <a href="general.html#BESTCHOICE">Is Privoxy the best
92 choice for me?</a></dt>
94 <dt>1.3. <a href="general.html#PROXYMORON">What is a <span class=
95 "QUOTE">"proxy"</span>? How does Privoxy work?</a></dt>
97 <dt>1.4. <a href="general.html#OTHERSTUFF">Does Privoxy do
98 anything more than ad blocking?</a></dt>
100 <dt>1.5. <a href="general.html#NEWJB">What is this new version of
101 <span class="QUOTE">"Junkbuster"</span>?</a></dt>
103 <dt>1.6. <a href="general.html#AEN82">Why <span class=
104 "QUOTE">"Privoxy"</span>? Why change the name from Junkbuster at
107 <dt>1.7. <a href="general.html#DIFFERS">How does Privoxy differ
108 from the old Junkbuster?</a></dt>
110 <dt>1.8. <a href="general.html#WHATSANAD">How does Privoxy know
111 what is an ad, and what is not?</a></dt>
113 <dt>1.9. <a href="general.html#AEN158">Can Privoxy make mistakes?
114 This does not sound very scientific.</a></dt>
116 <dt>1.10. <a href="general.html#AEN164">Will I have to configure
117 Privoxy before I can use it?</a></dt>
119 <dt>1.11. <a href="general.html#LAN">Can Privoxy run as a server
120 on a network?</a></dt>
122 <dt>1.12. <a href="general.html#BROWSERS2">My browser does the
123 same things as Privoxy. Why should I use Privoxy at all?</a></dt>
125 <dt>1.13. <a href="general.html#WHYTRUST">Why should I trust
128 <dt>1.14. <a href="general.html#LICENSE">Is there is a license or
129 fee? What about a warranty? Registration?</a></dt>
131 <dt>1.15. <a href="general.html#SPYWARE">Can Privoxy remove
132 spyware? Adware? Viruses?</a></dt>
134 <dt>1.16. <a href="general.html#OTHERADS">Can I use Privoxy with
135 other ad-blocking software?</a></dt>
137 <dt>1.17. <a href="general.html#HELP-THE-DEVELOPERS">I would like
138 to help you, what can I do?</a></dt>
142 <dt>1.17.1. <a href="general.html#PARTICIPATE">Would you like
143 to participate?</a></dt>
145 <dt>1.17.2. <a href="general.html#DONATE">Would you like to
152 <dt>2. <a href="installation.html">Installation</a></dt>
156 <dt>2.1. <a href="installation.html#WHICHBROWSERS">Which browsers
157 are supported by Privoxy?</a></dt>
159 <dt>2.2. <a href="installation.html#WHICHOS">Which operating
160 systems are supported?</a></dt>
162 <dt>2.3. <a href="installation.html#EMAIL-CLIENT">Can I use
163 Privoxy with my email client?</a></dt>
165 <dt>2.4. <a href="installation.html#FIRSTSTEP">I just installed
166 Privoxy. Is there anything special I have to do now?</a></dt>
168 <dt>2.5. <a href="installation.html#LOCALHOST">What is the proxy
169 address of Privoxy?</a></dt>
171 <dt>2.6. <a href="installation.html#NOTHING">I just installed
172 Privoxy, and nothing is happening. All the ads are there. What's
175 <dt>2.7. <a href="installation.html#NOTUSED">I get a <span class=
176 "QUOTE">"Privoxy is not being used"</span> dummy page although
177 Privoxy is running and being used.</a></dt>
181 <dt>3. <a href="configuration.html">Configuration</a></dt>
185 <dt>3.1. <a href="configuration.html#AEN360">What exactly is an
186 <span class="QUOTE">"actions"</span> file?</a></dt>
188 <dt>3.2. <a href="configuration.html#ACTIONSS">The <span class=
189 "QUOTE">"actions"</span> concept confuses me. Please list some of
190 these <span class="QUOTE">"actions"</span>.</a></dt>
192 <dt>3.3. <a href="configuration.html#AEN383">How are actions
193 files configured? What is the easiest way to do this?</a></dt>
195 <dt>3.4. <a href="configuration.html#AEN392">There are several
196 different <span class="QUOTE">"actions"</span> files. What are
197 the differences?</a></dt>
199 <dt>3.5. <a href="configuration.html#GETUPDATES">Where can I get
200 updated Actions Files?</a></dt>
202 <dt>3.6. <a href="configuration.html#NEWCONFIG">Can I use my old
203 config files?</a></dt>
205 <dt>3.7. <a href="configuration.html#DIFFICULT">Why is the
206 configuration so complicated?</a></dt>
208 <dt>3.8. <a href="configuration.html#YAHOO">How can I make my
209 Yahoo/Hotmail/Gmail account work?</a></dt>
211 <dt>3.9. <a href="configuration.html#CONFIGFILES">What's the
212 difference between the <span class="QUOTE">"Cautious"</span>,
213 <span class="QUOTE">"Medium"</span> and <span class=
214 "QUOTE">"Advanced"</span> defaults?</a></dt>
216 <dt>3.10. <a href="configuration.html#BROWSECONFIG">Why can I
217 change the configuration with a browser? Does that not raise
218 security issues?</a></dt>
220 <dt>3.11. <a href="configuration.html#AEN482">What is the
221 <tt class="FILENAME">default.filter</tt> file? What is a
222 <span class="QUOTE">"filter"</span>?</a></dt>
224 <dt>3.12. <a href="configuration.html#LANCONFIG">How can I set up
225 Privoxy to act as a proxy for my LAN?</a></dt>
227 <dt>3.13. <a href="configuration.html#AEN533">Instead of ads, now
228 I get a checkerboard pattern. I don't want to see
231 <dt>3.14. <a href="configuration.html#AEN550">Why would anybody
232 want to see a checkerboard pattern?</a></dt>
234 <dt>3.15. <a href="configuration.html#AEN556">I see some images
235 being replaced with text instead of the checkerboard image. Why
236 and how do I get rid of this?</a></dt>
238 <dt>3.16. <a href="configuration.html#SRVANY">Can Privoxy run as
239 a service on Win2K/NT/XP?</a></dt>
241 <dt>3.17. <a href="configuration.html#OTHERPROXY">How can I make
242 Privoxy work with other proxies?</a></dt>
244 <dt>3.18. <a href="configuration.html#PORT-80">Can I just set
245 Privoxy to use port 80 and thus avoid individual browser
246 configuration?</a></dt>
248 <dt>3.19. <a href="configuration.html#TRANSPARENT">Can Privoxy
249 run as a <span class="QUOTE">"transparent"</span> proxy?</a></dt>
251 <dt>3.20. <a href="configuration.html#INTERCEPTING">Can Privoxy
252 run as a <span class="QUOTE">"intercepting"</span>
255 <dt>3.21. <a href="configuration.html#OUTLOOK">How can I
256 configure Privoxy for use with Outlook?</a></dt>
258 <dt>3.22. <a href="configuration.html#OUTLOOK-MORE">How can I
259 have separate rules just for HTML mail?</a></dt>
261 <dt>3.23. <a href="configuration.html#SNEAKY-COOKIES">I sometimes
262 notice cookies sneaking through. How?</a></dt>
264 <dt>3.24. <a href="configuration.html#EVIL-COOKIES">Are all
265 cookies bad? Why?</a></dt>
267 <dt>3.25. <a href="configuration.html#ALLOW-COOKIES">How can I
268 allow permanent cookies for my trusted sites?</a></dt>
270 <dt>3.26. <a href="configuration.html#MULTIPLES">Can I have
271 separate configurations for different users?</a></dt>
273 <dt>3.27. <a href="configuration.html#WHITELISTS">Can I set-up
274 Privoxy as a whitelist of <span class="QUOTE">"good"</span>
277 <dt>3.28. <a href="configuration.html#NO-ADBLOCK">How can I turn
278 off ad-blocking?</a></dt>
280 <dt>3.29. <a href="configuration.html#TEMPLATES">How can I have
281 custom template pages, like the <span class="emphasis"><i class=
282 "EMPHASIS">BLOCKED</i></span> page?</a></dt>
284 <dt>3.30. <a href="configuration.html#BLOCKALL">How can I remove
285 the <span class="QUOTE">"Go There Anyway"</span> link from the
286 <span class="emphasis"><i class="EMPHASIS">BLOCKED</i></span>
291 <dt>4. <a href="misc.html">Miscellaneous</a></dt>
295 <dt>4.1. <a href="misc.html#AEN731">How much does Privoxy slow my
296 browsing down? This has to add extra time to browsing.</a></dt>
298 <dt>4.2. <a href="misc.html#LOADINGTIMES">I notice considerable
299 delays in page requests. What's wrong?</a></dt>
301 <dt>4.3. <a href="misc.html#CONFIGURL">What are
302 "http://config.privoxy.org/" and "http://p.p/"?</a></dt>
304 <dt>4.4. <a href="misc.html#NEWADS">How can I submit new ads, or
305 report problems?</a></dt>
307 <dt>4.5. <a href="misc.html#NEWADS2">If I do submit missed ads,
308 will they be included in future updates?</a></dt>
310 <dt>4.6. <a href="misc.html#NOONECARES">Why doesn't anyone answer
311 my support request?</a></dt>
313 <dt>4.7. <a href="misc.html#IP">How can I hide my IP
316 <dt>4.8. <a href="misc.html#AEN796">Can Privoxy guarantee I am
319 <dt>4.9. <a href="misc.html#AEN814">A test site says I am not
320 using a Proxy.</a></dt>
322 <dt>4.10. <a href="misc.html#TOR">How do I use Privoxy together
325 <dt>4.11. <a href="misc.html#AEN872">Might some things break
326 because header information or content is being altered?</a></dt>
328 <dt>4.12. <a href="misc.html#AEN886">Can Privoxy act as a
329 <span class="QUOTE">"caching"</span> proxy to speed up web
332 <dt>4.13. <a href="misc.html#AEN896">What about as a firewall?
333 Can Privoxy protect me?</a></dt>
335 <dt>4.14. <a href="misc.html#AEN901">I have large empty spaces /
336 a checkerboard pattern now where ads used to be. Why?</a></dt>
338 <dt>4.15. <a href="misc.html#AEN909">How can Privoxy filter
339 Secure (HTTPS) URLs?</a></dt>
341 <dt>4.16. <a href="misc.html#AEN923">Privoxy runs as a
342 <span class="QUOTE">"server"</span>. How secure is it? Do I need
343 to take any special precautions?</a></dt>
345 <dt>4.17. <a href="misc.html#TURNOFF">Can I temporarily disable
348 <dt>4.18. <a href="misc.html#REALLYOFF">When <span class=
349 "QUOTE">"disabled"</span> is Privoxy totally out of the
352 <dt>4.19. <a href="misc.html#TURNOFF2">How can I tell Privoxy to
353 totally ignore certain sites?</a></dt>
355 <dt>4.20. <a href="misc.html#CRUNCH">My logs show Privoxy
356 <span class="QUOTE">"crunches"</span> ads, but also its own
357 internal CGI pages. What is a <span class=
358 "QUOTE">"crunch"</span>?</a></dt>
360 <dt>4.21. <a href="misc.html#DOWNLOADS">Can Privoxy effect files
361 that I download from a webserver? FTP server?</a></dt>
363 <dt>4.22. <a href="misc.html#DOWNLOADS2">I just downloaded a Perl
364 script, and Privoxy altered it! Yikes, what is wrong!</a></dt>
366 <dt>4.23. <a href="misc.html#HOSTSFILE">Should I continue to use
367 a <span class="QUOTE">"HOSTS"</span> file for
368 ad-blocking?</a></dt>
370 <dt>4.24. <a href="misc.html#SEEALSO">Where can I find more
371 information about Privoxy and related issues?</a></dt>
373 <dt>4.25. <a href="misc.html#MICROSUCK">I've noticed that Privoxy
374 changes <span class="QUOTE">"Microsoft"</span> to <span class=
375 "QUOTE">"MicroSuck"</span>! Why are you manipulating my
378 <dt>4.26. <a href="misc.html#VALID">Does Privoxy produce
379 <span class="QUOTE">"valid"</span> HTML (or XHTML)?</a></dt>
381 <dt>4.27. <a href="misc.html#SURPRISE-PRIVOXY">How did you manage
382 to get Privoxy on my computer without my consent?</a></dt>
386 <dt>5. <a href="trouble.html">Troubleshooting</a></dt>
390 <dt>5.1. <a href="trouble.html#AEN1089">I cannot connect to any
391 websites. Or, I am getting <span class="QUOTE">"connection
392 refused"</span> message with every web page. Why?</a></dt>
394 <dt>5.2. <a href="trouble.html#ERROR503">Why am I getting a 503
395 Error (WSAECONNREFUSED) on every page?</a></dt>
397 <dt>5.3. <a href="trouble.html#AEN1112">I just added a new rule,
398 but the steenkin ad is still getting through. How?</a></dt>
400 <dt>5.4. <a href="trouble.html#BADSITE">One of my favorite sites
401 does not work with Privoxy. What can I do?</a></dt>
403 <dt>5.5. <a href="trouble.html#DUN">After installing Privoxy, I
404 have to log in every time I start IE. What gives?</a></dt>
406 <dt>5.6. <a href="trouble.html#FTP">I cannot connect to any FTP
407 sites. Privoxy is blocking me.</a></dt>
409 <dt>5.7. <a href="trouble.html#MACOSXIE">In Mac OS X, I can't
410 configure Microsoft Internet Explorer to use Privoxy as the HTTP
413 <dt>5.8. <a href="trouble.html#MACOSXUNINSTALL">In Mac OS X, I
414 dragged the Privoxy folder to the trash in order to uninstall it.
415 Now the finder tells me I don't have sufficient privileges to
416 empty the trash.</a></dt>
418 <dt>5.9. <a href="trouble.html#MACOSXIMAGES">In Mac OS X Panther
419 (10.3), images often fail to load and/or I experience random
420 delays in page loading. I'm using <tt class=
421 "LITERAL">localhost</tt> as my browser's proxy setting.</a></dt>
423 <dt>5.10. <a href="trouble.html#MACOSXACCOUNTDELETION">I just
424 upgraded to Mac OS X 10.9 (Mavericks) and now <span class=
425 "APPLICATION">Privoxy</span> has stopped working.</a></dt>
427 <dt>5.11. <a href="trouble.html#BLANKPAGE">I get a completely
428 blank page at one site. <span class="QUOTE">"View Source"</span>
429 shows only: <span class=
430 "MARKUP"><html><body></body></html></span>.
431 Without Privoxy the page loads fine.</a></dt>
433 <dt>5.12. <a href="trouble.html#NOHOSTNAME">My logs show many
434 <span class="QUOTE">"Unable to get my own hostname"</span> lines.
437 <dt>5.13. <a href="trouble.html#INUSE">When I try to launch
438 Privoxy, I get an error message <span class="QUOTE">"port 8118 is
439 already in use"</span> (or similar wording). Why?</a></dt>
441 <dt>5.14. <a href="trouble.html#DEMORONIZER">Pages with UTF-8
442 fonts are garbled.</a></dt>
444 <dt>5.15. <a href="trouble.html#DEMORONIZER2">Why are binary
445 files (such as images) corrupted when Privoxy is used?</a></dt>
447 <dt>5.16. <a href="trouble.html#DEMORONIZER3">What is the
448 <span class="QUOTE">"demoronizer"</span> and why is it
451 <dt>5.17. <a href="trouble.html#WINDOWOPEN">Why do I keep seeing
452 <span class="QUOTE">"PrivoxyWindowOpen()"</span> in raw source
455 <dt>5.18. <a href="trouble.html#DNSERRORS">I am getting too many
456 DNS errors like <span class="QUOTE">"404 No Such Domain"</span>.
457 Why can't Privoxy do this better?</a></dt>
459 <dt>5.19. <a href="trouble.html#ALLCPU">At one site Privoxy just
460 hangs, and starts taking all CPU. Why is this?</a></dt>
462 <dt>5.20. <a href="trouble.html#SLOWCRAWL">I just installed
463 Privoxy, and all my browsing has slowed to a crawl. What
466 <dt>5.21. <a href="trouble.html#PREVENTCOMP">Why do my filters
467 work on some sites but not on others?</a></dt>
469 <dt>5.22. <a href="trouble.html#SSL-WARNINGS">On some HTTPS sites
470 my browser warns me about unauthenticated content, the URL bar
471 doesn't get highlighted and the lock symbol appears to be broken.
472 What's going on?</a></dt>
474 <dt>5.23. <a href="trouble.html#SE-LINUX">I get selinux error
475 messages. How can I fix this?</a></dt>
477 <dt>5.24. <a href="trouble.html#GENTOO-RICERS">I compiled
478 <span class="APPLICATION">Privoxy</span> with Gentoo's portage
479 and it appears to be very slow. Why?</a></dt>
483 <dt>6. <a href="contact.html">Contacting the developers, Bug
484 Reporting and Feature Requests</a></dt>
488 <dt>6.1. <a href="contact.html#SUFFICIENT-INFORMATION">Please
489 provide sufficient information</a></dt>
491 <dt>6.2. <a href="contact.html#CONTACT-SUPPORT">Get
494 <dt>6.3. <a href="contact.html#REPORTING">Reporting
499 <dt>6.3.1. <a href="contact.html#CONTACT-ADS">Reporting Ads
500 or Other Configuration Problems</a></dt>
502 <dt>6.3.2. <a href="contact.html#CONTACT-BUGS">Reporting
507 <dt>6.4. <a href="contact.html#SECURITY-CONTACT">Reporting
508 security problems</a></dt>
510 <dt>6.5. <a href="contact.html#MAILING-LISTS">Mailing
513 <dt>6.6. <a href="contact.html#SF-TRACKERS">SourceForge support
518 <dt>7. <a href="copyright.html">Privoxy Copyright, License and
523 <dt>7.1. <a href="copyright.html#AEN1469">License</a></dt>
525 <dt>7.2. <a href="copyright.html#AEN1478">History</a></dt>
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551 <td width="33%" align="right" valign="top">General Information</td>