Privoxy Frequently Asked Questions

Copyright © 2001, 2002 by Privoxy Developers

$Id: faq.sgml,v 2.2 2002/09/05 04:25:05 hal9 Exp $

This FAQ gives quick answers to frequently asked questions about Privoxy. It can't and doesn't replace the User Manual.

Privoxy is a web proxy with advanced filtering capabilities for protecting privacy, filtering web page content, managing cookies, controlling access, and removing ads, banners, pop-ups and other obnoxious Internet junk. Privoxy has a very flexible configuration and can be customized to suit individual needs and tastes. Privoxy has application for both stand-alone systems and multi-user networks.

Privoxy is based on Internet Junkbuster (tm).

Please note that this document is constantly evolving. This copy represents the state at the release of version 3.1.1. You can find the latest version of the document at http://www.privoxy.org/faq/. Please see the Contact section if you want to contact the developers.

Table of Contents

1. General Information

1.1. What is this new version of Privoxy?

1.2. Why "Privoxy"? Why a name change at all?

1.3. How does Privoxy differ from the old Junkbuster?

1.4. What is a "proxy"? How does Privoxy work?

1.5. How does Privoxy know what is an ad, and what is not?

1.6. Can Privoxy make mistakes? This does not sound very scientific.

1.7. My browser does the same things as Privoxy. Why should I use Privoxy at all?

1.8. Is there is a license or fee? What about a warranty? Registration?

1.9. I would like to help you, what do I do?

1.9.1. Money Money Money
1.9.2. Software
1.9.3. You want to work with us?

2. Installation

2.1. Which browsers are supported by Privoxy?
2.2. Which operating systems are supported?
2.3. Can I install Privoxy over Junkbuster?
2.4. I just installed Privoxy. Is there anything special I have to do now?
2.5. What is the proxy address of Privoxy?
2.6. I just installed Privoxy, and nothing is happening. All the ads are there. What's wrong?

3. Configuration

3.1. Where can I get updated Actions Files?
3.2. Can I use my old config files?
3.3. What is an "actions" file?
3.4. The "actions" concept confuses me. Please list some of these "actions".
3.5. How are actions files configured? What is the easiest way to do this?
3.6. There are several different "actions" files. What are the differences?
3.7. How can I make my Yahoo/Hotmail/GMX account work?
3.8. What's the difference between the "Cautious", "Medium" and "Advanced" defaults?
3.9. Why can I change the configuration with a browser? Does that not raise security issues?
3.10. What is the default.filter file? What is a "filter"?
3.11. How can I set up Privoxy to act as a proxy for my LAN?
3.12. Instead of ads, now I get a checkerboard pattern. I don't want to see anything.
3.13. Why would anybody want to see a checkerboard pattern?
3.14. I see some images being replaced by a text instead of the checkerboard image. Why and how do I get rid of this?
3.15. Can Privoxy run as a service on Win2K/NT?
3.16. How can I make Privoxy work with other proxies like Squid?
3.17. Can I just set Privoxy to use port 80 and thus avoid individual browser configuration?
3.18. Can Privoxy run as a "transparent" proxy?

4. Miscellaneous

4.1. How much does Privoxy slow my browsing down? This has to add extra time to browsing.
4.2. I noticed considerable delays in page requests compared to the old Junkbuster. What's wrong?
4.3. What are "http://config.privoxy.org/" and "http://p.p/"?
4.4. Do you still maintain the blocklists?
4.5. How can I submit new ads?
4.6. How can I hide my IP address?
4.7. Can Privoxy guarantee I am anonymous?
4.8. Might some things break because header information or content is being altered?
4.9. Can Privoxy act as a "caching" proxy to speed up web browsing?
4.10. What about as a firewall? Can Privoxy protect me?
4.11. I have large empty spaces / a checkerboard pattern now where ads used to be. Why?
4.12. How can Privoxy filter Secure (HTTPS) URLs?
4.13. Privoxy runs as a "server". How secure is it? Do I need to take any special precautions?
4.14. How can I temporarily disable Privoxy?
4.15. When "disabled" is Privoxy totally out of the picture?
4.16. My logs show Privoxy "crunches" ads, but also its own CGI pages. What is a "crunch"?
4.17. Can Privoxy effect files that I download from a webserver? FTP server?
4.18. Where can I find more information about Privoxy and related issues?

5. Troubleshooting

5.1. I just upgraded and am getting "connection refused" with every web page?
5.2. I just added a new rule, but the steenkin ad is still getting through. How?
5.3. One of my favorite sites does not work with Privoxy. What can I do?
5.4. After installing Privoxy, I have to log in every time I start IE. What gives?
5.5. I cannot connect to any FTP sites. Privoxy seems to be blocking me.
5.6. In Mac OSX, I can't configure Microsoft Internet Explorer to use Privoxy as the HTTP proxy.
5.7. In Mac OSX, I dragged the Privoxy folder to the trash in order to uninstall it. Now the finder tells me I don't have sufficient privileges to empty the trash.
5.8. I get a completely blank page at one site. "View Source" shows only: <html><body></body></html>.

6. Contacting the developers, Bug Reporting and Feature Requests

6.1. Get Support
6.2. Report Bugs
6.3. Request New Features
6.4. Report Ads or Other Actions-Related Problems
6.5. Other

7. Privoxy Copyright, License and History

7.1. License
7.2. History

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		General Information