/*********************************************************************
*
- * File : $Source: /cvsroot/ijbswa/current/doc/source/readme.sgml,v $
+ * File : README
*
- * Purpose : README file to give a short intro.
+ * Purpose : Give a short intro about Privoxy.
*
- * Copyright : Written by and Copyright (C) 2001,2002 the SourceForge
- * Privoxy team. http://www.privoxy.org/
+ * Copyright : Written by and Copyright (C) 2001-2020 the
+ * Privoxy team. https://www.privoxy.org/
*
* Based on the Internet Junkbuster originally written
- * by and Copyright (C) 1997 Anonymous Coders and
+ * by and Copyright (C) 1997 Anonymous Coders and
* Junkbusters Corporation. http://www.junkbusters.com
*
- * This program is free software; you can redistribute it
+ * This program is free software; you can redistribute it
* and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General
* Public License as published by the Free Software
* Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at
* The GNU General Public License should be included with
* this file. If not, you can view it at
* http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html
- * or write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc., 59
- * Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307, USA.
+ * or write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
+ * 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301,
+ * USA
*
*********************************************************************/
-This README is included with the development version of Privoxy 3.1.1, which
-will someday become Privoxy v3.2. See http://www.privoxy.org/ for more
-information. The current code level is technically alpha, but is not yet
-significantly different from the 3.0.0 stable branch at this time (other
-than more bugs).
-
-There is not much reason to actually run this branch unless you want to help
-chase bugs, or with development.
+This README is included with Privoxy 3.0.30. See https://www.privoxy.org/ for
+more information. The current code maturity level is "stable".
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-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
+Privoxy is a non-caching web proxy with advanced filtering capabilities for
+enhancing privacy, modifying web page data and HTTP headers, controlling
+access, and removing ads and other obnoxious Internet junk. Privoxy has a
+flexible configuration and can be customized to suit individual needs and
+tastes. It has application for both stand-alone systems and multi-user
networks.
-Privoxy is based on Internet Junkbuster (tm).
+Privoxy is Free Software and licensed under the GNU GPLv2 or later.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+Privoxy is an associated project of Software in the Public Interest (SPI).
+
+Helping hands and donations are welcome:
-1. IMPORTANT CHANGES
+ * https://www.privoxy.org/participate
-REALLY BIG NEWS! August 2002: The long-awaited, oft-delayed stable version of
-Privoxy 3.0 is finally released! This is way behind schedule, but better late
-than never. The developers all hope the wait was worth it.
+ * https://www.privoxy.org/donate
-NEWS! As of 03/24/02, the name of this project has been changed from ijbswa/
-Junkbuster to Privoxy. This is reflected in many of the included files.
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-WARNING! If upgrading from earlier versions of this project via RPM packages,
-the new package will delete any previously installed 'Junkbuster' packages.
+1. CHANGES
-IMPORTANT! READ! Configuration Change as of 17 Mar 2002: The default listening
-port is now 8118 due to conflicts with port 8000 assignment. You will need to
-change your browser if upgrading!!! And maybe firewall, etc.
+For a list of changes in this release, please have a look at the "ChangeLog",
+the "What's New" section or the "Upgrader's Notes" in the User Manual.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. INSTALL
-See the INSTALL file in this directory, for installing from source, and the
-User Manual, for other installation types.
+See the INSTALL file in this directory, for installing from raw source, and the
+User Manual, for all other installation types.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. RUN
privoxy [--help] [--version] [--no-daemon] [--pidfile PIDFILE] [--user USER
-[.GROUP]] [config_file]
+[.GROUP]] [--chroot] [--pre-chroot-nslookup HOSTNAME ][config_file]
See the man page or User Manual for an explanation of each option, and other
configuration and usage issues.
file named 'config' in the current directory (except Win32 which will look for
'config.txt'). If no config_file is found, Privoxy will fail to start.
-Or for Red Hat based distributions: /etc/rc.d/init.d/privoxy start
-
-Or for SuSE: /etc/rc.d/privoxy start
-
-Or Debian: /etc/init.d/privoxy start
-
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. CONFIGURATION
-See: 'config', 'default.action', 'user.action', and 'default.filter'.
-'user.action' is for personal and local configuration preferences. These are
-all well commented. Most of the magic is in '*.action' files. 'user.action'
-should be used for any actions customizations. On Unix-like systems, these
-files are installed in /etc/privoxy. On Windows, then wherever the executable
-itself is installed. There are many significant changes and advances since
-Junkbuster v2.0.x. The User Manual has an explanation of all configuration
-options, and examples: http://www.privoxy.org/user-manual/.
+See: 'config', 'default.action', 'user.action', 'default.filter', and
+'user.filter'. 'user.action' and 'user.filter' are for personal and local
+configuration preferences. These are all well commented. Most of the magic is
+in '*.action' files. 'user.action' should be used for any actions
+customizations. On Unix-like systems, these files are typically installed in /
+etc/privoxy. On Windows, then wherever the executable itself is installed.
+There are many significant changes and advances from earlier versions. The User
+Manual has an explanation of all configuration options, and examples: https://
+www.privoxy.org/user-manual/.
Be sure to set your browser(s) for HTTP/HTTPS Proxy at <IP>:<Port>, or whatever
-you specify in the config file under 'listen-address'. DEFAULT is localhost:
-8118. Note that Privoxy ONLY proxies HTTP (and HTTPS) traffic. Do not try it
-with FTP or other protocols for the simple reason it does not work.
+you specify in the config file under 'listen-address'. DEFAULT is
+127.0.0.1:8118. Note that Privoxy ONLY proxies HTTP (and HTTPS) traffic. Do not
+try it with FTP or other protocols for the simple reason it does not work.
The actions list can be configured via the web interface accessed via http://
p.p/, as well other options.
-All configuration files are subject to unannounced changes during the
-development process.
-
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. DOCUMENTATION
-There should be documentation in the 'doc' subdirectory, but it is not
-completed at this point. In particular, see the User Manual there, the FAQ, and
-those interested in Privoxy development, should look at developer-manual.
+There should be documentation in the 'doc' subdirectory. In particular, see the
+User Manual there, the FAQ, and those interested in Privoxy development, should
+look at developer-manual.
-The most up to date source of information on the current development version,
-may still be either comments in the source code, or the included configuration
-files. The source and configuration files are all well commented. The main
-configuration files are: 'config', 'default.action', and 'default.filter' in
-the toplevel source directory.
+The source and configuration files are all well commented. The main
+configuration files are: 'config', 'default.action', and 'default.filter'.
Included documentation may vary according to platform and packager. All
-documentation is posted on http://www.privoxy.org, in case you don't have it,
+documentation is posted on https://www.privoxy.org, in case you don't have it,
or can't find it.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We value your feedback. In fact, we rely on it to improve Privoxy and its
configuration. However, please note the following hints, so we can provide you
-with the best support:
+with the best support.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-6.1. Get Support
+6.1. Please provide sufficient information
+
+A lot of support requests don't contain enough information and can't be solved
+without a lot of back and forth which causes unnecessary delays. Reading this
+section should help to prevent that.
+
+Before contacting us to report a problem, please try to verify that it is a
+Privoxy problem, and not a browser or site problem or documented behaviour that
+just happens to be different than what you expected. If unsure, try toggling
+off Privoxy, and see if the problem persists.
+
+If you are using your own custom configuration, please try the default
+configuration to see if the problem is configuration related. If you're having
+problems with a feature that is disabled by default, please ask around on the
+mailing list if others can reproduce the problem.
+
+If you aren't using the latest Privoxy version, the problem may have been found
+and fixed in the meantime. We would appreciate if you could take the time to
+upgrade to the latest version and verify that the problem still exists.
+
+Please be sure to provide the following information when reporting problems or
+requesting support:
+
+ * The exact Privoxy version you are using.
+
+ * The operating system and versions you run Privoxy on, e.g. Windows XP SP2.
+
+ * The name, platform, and version of the browser you were using (e.g.
+ Internet Explorer v5.5 for Mac).
+
+ * The URL where the problem occurred, or some way for us to duplicate the
+ problem (e.g. http://somesite.example.com/?somethingelse=123).
+
+ * Whether your version of Privoxy is one supplied by the Privoxy developers,
+ or if you got your copy somewhere else.
+
+ * Whether you are using Privoxy together with another proxy such as Tor. If
+ so, please temporary disable the other proxy to see if the symptoms change.
+
+ * Whether you are using a personal firewall product. If so, does Privoxy work
+ without it?
+
+ * Any other pertinent information to help identify the problem such as config
+ or log file excerpts (yes, you should have log file entries for each action
+ taken). To get a meaningful logfile, please make sure that the logfile
+ directive is being used and the following debug options are enabled (all of
+ them):
+
+ debug 1 # Log the destination for each request Privoxy let through.
+ # See also debug 1024.
+ debug 2 # show each connection status
+ debug 4 # show tagging-related messages
+ debug 8 # show header parsing
+ debug 128 # debug redirects
+ debug 256 # debug GIF de-animation
+ debug 512 # Common Log Format
+ debug 1024 # Log the destination for requests Privoxy didn't let through,
+ # and the reason why.
+ debug 4096 # Startup banner and warnings.
+ debug 8192 # Non-fatal errors
+ debug 65536 # Log applying actions
-For casual users, our support forum at SourceForge is probably best suited:
-http://sourceforge.net/tracker/?group_id=11118&atid=211118
+ If you are having trouble with a filter, please additionally enable
-All users are of course welcome to discuss their issues on the users mailing
-list, where the developers also hang around.
+ debug 64 # debug regular expression filters
+
+ If you suspect that Privoxy interprets the request or the response
+ incorrectly, please enable
+
+ debug 32768 # log all data read from the network
+
+ It's easy for us to ignore log messages that aren't relevant but missing
+ log messages may make it impossible to investigate a problem. If you aren't
+ sure which of the debug directives are relevant, please just enable all of
+ them and let us worry about it.
+
+ Note that Privoxy log files may contain sensitive information so please
+ don't submit any logfiles you didn't read first. You can mask sensitive
+ information as long as it's clear that you removed something.
+
+You don't have to tell us your actual name when filing a problem report, but if
+you don't, please use a nickname so we can differentiate between your messages
+and the ones entered by other "anonymous" users that may respond to your
+request if they have the same problem or already found a solution. Note that
+due to spam the trackers may not always allow to post without being logged into
+SourceForge. If that's the case, you are still free to create a login that
+isn't directly linked to your name, though.
+
+Please also check the status of your request a few days after submitting it, as
+we may request additional information. If you use a SF id, you should
+automatically get a mail when someone responds to your request. Please don't
+bother to add an email address when using the tracker. If you prefer to
+communicate through email, just use one of the mailing lists directly.
+
+The appendix of the Privoxy User Manual also has helpful information on
+understanding actions, and action debugging.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-6.2. Report Bugs
+6.2. Get Support
+
+All users are welcome to discuss their issues on the users mailing list, where
+the developers also hang around.
-Please report all bugs only through our bug tracker: http://sourceforge.net/
-tracker/?group_id=11118&atid=111118.
+Please don't send private support requests to individual Privoxy developers,
+either use the mailing lists or the support trackers.
-Before doing so, please make sure that the bug has not already been submitted
-and observe the additional hints at the top of the submit form.
+If you have to contact a Privoxy developer directly for other reasons, please
+send a real mail and do not bother with SourceForge's messaging system. Answers
+to SourceForge messages are usually bounced by SourceForge's mail server in
+which case the developer wasted time writing a response you don't get. From
+your point of view it will look like your message has been completely ignored,
+so this is frustrating for all parties involved.
-Please try to verify that it is a Privoxy bug, and not a browser or site bug
-first. If unsure, try toggling off Privoxy, and see if the problem persists.
-The appendix of the user manual also has helpful information on action
-debugging. If you are using your own custom configuration, please try the stock
-configs to see if the problem is configuration related.
+Note that the Privoxy mailing lists are moderated. Posts from unsubscribed
+addresses have to be accepted manually by a moderator. This may cause a delay
+of several days and if you use a subject that doesn't clearly mention Privoxy
+or one of its features, your message may be accidentally discarded as spam.
-If not using the latest version, chances are that the bug has been found and
-fixed in the meantime. We would appreciate if you could take the time to
-upgrade to the latest version (or even the latest CVS snapshot) and verify your
-bug, but this is not required for reporting.
+If you aren't subscribed, you should therefore spend a few seconds to come up
+with a proper subject. Additionally you should make it clear that you want to
+get CC'd. Otherwise some responses will be directed to the mailing list only,
+and you won't see them.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-6.3. Request New Features
+6.3. Reporting Problems
+
+"Problems" for our purposes, come in two forms:
-You are welcome to submit ideas on new features or other proposals for
-improvement through our feature request tracker at http://sourceforge.net/
-tracker/?atid=361118&group_id=11118.
+ * Configuration issues, such as ads that slip through, or sites that don't
+ function properly due to one Privoxy "action" or another being turned "on".
+
+ * "Bugs" in the programming code that makes up Privoxy, such as that might
+ cause a crash. Documentation issues, for example spelling errors and
+ unclear descriptions, are bugs, too.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-6.4. Report Ads or Other Actions-Related Problems
+6.3.1. Reporting Ads or Other Configuration Problems
Please send feedback on ads that slipped through, innocent images that were
-blocked, and any other problems relating to the default.action file through our
-actions feedback mechanism located at http://www.privoxy.org/actions/. On this
-page, you will also find a bookmark which will take you back there from any
-troubled site and even pre-fill the form!
+blocked, sites that don't work properly, and other configuration related
+problem of default.action file, to https://sourceforge.net/p/ijbswa/
+actionsfile-feedback/, the Actions File Tracker.
+
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+6.3.2. Reporting Bugs
+
+Before reporting bugs, please make sure that the bug has not already been
+submitted and observe the additional hints at the top of the submit form. If
+already submitted, please feel free to add any info to the original report that
+might help to solve the issue.
+
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+6.4. Reporting security problems
+
+If you discovered a security problem or merely suspect that a bug might be a
+security issue, please mail Fabian Keil <fk@fabiankeil.de> (OpenPGP
+fingerprint: 4F36 C17F 3816 9136 54A1 E850 6918 2291 8BA2 371C).
+
+Usually you should get a response within a day, otherwise it's likely that
+either your mail or the response didn't make it. If that happens, please mail
+to the developer list to request a status update.
+
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+6.5. Mailing Lists
-New, improved default.action files will occasionally be made available based on
-your feedback. These will be announced on the ijbswa-announce list and
-available from our the files section of our project page.
+If you prefer to communicate through email, instead of using a web interface,
+feel free to use one of the mailing lists. To discuss issues that haven't been
+completely diagnosed yet, please use the Privoxy users list. Technically
+interested users and people who wish to contribute to the project are always
+welcome on the developers list. You can find an overview of all Privoxy-related
+mailing lists, including list archives, at: https://lists.privoxy.org/mailman/
+listinfo. The lists hosted on privoxy.org have been created in 2016, the
+previously-used lists hosted at SourceForge are deprecated but the archives may
+still be useful: https://sourceforge.net/p/ijbswa/mailman/.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-6.5. Other
+6.6. SourceForge support trackers
-For any other issues, feel free to use the mailing lists. Technically
-interested users and people who wish to contribute to the project are also
-welcome on the developers list! You can find an overview of all Privoxy-related
-mailing lists, including list archives, at: http://sourceforge.net/mail/?
-group_id=11118.
+The SourceForge support trackers may be used as well, but have various
+technical problems that are unlikely to be fixed anytime soon. If you don't get
+a timely response, please try the mailing list as well.
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