-<!DOCTYPE article PUBLIC "-//OASIS//DTD DocBook V3.1//EN">
+<!DOCTYPE article PUBLIC "-//OASIS//DTD DocBook V3.1//EN"[
+<!entity % dummy "INCLUDE">
+<!entity supported SYSTEM "supported.sgml">
+<!entity newfeatures SYSTEM "newfeatures.sgml">
+<!entity p-intro SYSTEM "privoxy.sgml">
+<!entity seealso SYSTEM "seealso.sgml">
+<!entity contacting SYSTEM "contacting.sgml">
+<!entity history SYSTEM "history.sgml">
+<!entity copyright SYSTEM "copyright.sgml">
+<!entity p-version "2.9.14">
+<!entity p-status "beta">
+<!entity % p-not-stable "INCLUDE">
+<!entity % p-stable "IGNORE">
+<!entity % p-text "IGNORE"> <!-- define we are not a text only doc -->
+<!entity % p-doc "INCLUDE"> <!-- and we are a formal doc -->
+<!entity % p-supp-userman "INCLUDE"> <!-- Include all from supported.sgml -->
+]>
<!--
File : $Source: /cvsroot/ijbswa/current/doc/source/faq.sgml,v $
This file belongs into
ijbswa.sourceforge.net:/home/groups/i/ij/ijbswa/htdocs/
- $Id: faq.sgml,v 1.30 2002/03/25 16:39:22 hal9 Exp $
+ $Id: faq.sgml,v 1.44 2002/04/07 21:24:29 hal9 Exp $
Written by and Copyright (C) 2001 the SourceForge
Privoxy team. http://www.privoxy.org/
Based on the Internet Junkbuster originally written
by and Copyright (C) 1997 Anonymous Coders and
Junkbusters Corporation. http://www.junkbusters.com
+
+ <Qandaset defaultlabel='qanda'>
+ <QandAEntry>
+ <question>
+ <para>
+ How are you?
+ </para>
+ </question>
+ <answer>
+ <para>
+ Fine.
+ </para>
+ </answer>
+ </QandAEntry>
+ </QandASet>
+
+ ========================================================================
+ NOTE: Please read developer-manual/documentation.html before touching
+ anything in this, or other Privoxy documentation. You have been warned!
+ Failure to abide by this rule will result in the revocation of your license
+ to live a peaceful existence!
+ ========================================================================
+
-->
-<article id="index">
+
+<article id="index" class="faq">
<artheader>
<title>Privoxy Frequently Asked Questions</title>
-<pubdate>$Id: faq.sgml,v 1.30 2002/03/25 16:39:22 hal9 Exp $</pubdate>
+<pubdate>$Id: faq.sgml,v 1.44 2002/04/07 21:24:29 hal9 Exp $</pubdate>
<authorgroup>
<author>
</authorgroup>
<abstract>
+<![%dummy;[
+<para>
+ <comment>
+ This is here to keep vim syntax file from breaking :/
+ If I knew enough to fix it, I would.
+ PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE! HB: hal@foobox.net
+ </comment>
+</para>
+]]>
<para>
-The FAQ document gives users and developers alike answers to frequently asked
-questions about
-<application>Privoxy</application>. <application>Privoxy</application> 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. <application>Privoxy</application> has a very flexible configuration and
-can be customized to suit individual needs and
-tastes. <application>Privoxy</application> has application for both stand-alone
-systems and multi-user networks.
+ This FAQ gives users and developers alike answers to frequently asked
+ questions about <ulink url="http://www.privoxy.org">Privoxy</ulink>
+ <![%p-stable;[ v.&p-version]]>.
</para>
+
+<!-- Include privoxy.sgml boilerplate: -->
+ &p-intro;
+<!-- end boilerplate -->
+
<para>
-You can find the latest version of the document at <ulink url="http://www.privoxy.org/faq/">http://www.privoxy.org/faq/</ulink>.
-Please see the Contact section in the
-<ulink url="http://www.privoxy.org/user-manual/contact.html">user-manual</ulink> if you want to contact the developers.
+ You can find the latest version of the document at <ulink
+ url="http://www.privoxy.org/faq/">http://www.privoxy.org/faq/</ulink>.
+ Please see the Contact section if you want to contact the developers.
</para>
<!-- <para> -->
</abstract>
</artheader>
-
<!-- ~~~~~ New section ~~~~~ -->
-
-<!--
-<sect1 id="introduction"><title>Introduction</title>
-<para>
- Fillme.
-</para>
+<sect1 id="intro" label=""><title></title>
+<!-- dummy section to force TOC on page by itself -->
+<!-- DO NOT REMOVE! please ;) -->
+<para> </para>
</sect1>
--->
-<!-- ~~~~~ New section ~~~~~ -->
-
-<sect1 id="questions"><title>Frequently Asked Questions</title>
<!-- ~~~~~ New section ~~~~~ -->
-<sect2 id="general"><title>General Information</title>
+<sect1 label="1" id="general"><title>General Information</title>
-<sect
3 id="newjb"><title>What is this new version of <application>Privoxy</application>?</title>
+<sect
2 renderas="sect3" id="newjb"><title>What is this new version of <application>Privoxy</application>?</title>
<para>
- The original <application>Internet Junkbuster</application> (tm) is a
- copyrighted product of <ulink url="http://www.junkbusters.com">Junkbusters
- Corporation</ulink>. Development of this effort stopped some time ago as of
- version 2.0.2. Stefan Waldherr started the ijbswa project on <ulink
- url="http://ijbswa.sourceforge.net">Sourceforge</ulink> to rekindle
- development. Other developers subsequently joined with Stefan, and have
- since added many new features, refinements and enhancements.
+ The original <application><trademark>Internet
+ Junkbuster</trademark></application> (tm) is a copyrighted product of <ulink
+ url="http://www.junkbusters.com">Junkbusters Corporation</ulink>.
+ Development of this effort stopped some time ago as of version 2.0.2. Stefan
+ Waldherr started the ijbswa project on <ulink
+ url="http://sourceforge.net/projects/ijbswa/">Sourceforge</ulink> to
+ rekindle development. Other developers subsequently joined with Stefan, and
+ have since added many new features, refinements and enhancements. The result
+ of this effort is <application>Privoxy</application>.
</para>
<para>
- The new <application>Privoxy</application> started with the same
- <application>Junkbuster</application> code base, but has changed
+ <application>Privoxy</application> has evolved from the
+ <application>Junkbuster 2.0.2</application> code base, and has advanced
significantly at this point.
</para>
+ <para>
+ Please see the <link linkend="copyright">History section</link> for more
+ information on the history of <application>Junkbuster</application> and
+ <application>Privoxy</application>.
+ </para>
-</sect3>
+</sect2>
-<sect3>
+<sect2 renderas="sect3">
<title id="whyprivoxy">Why <quote>Privoxy</quote>? Why a name change at all?</title>
<para>
- <application>Privoxy</application> is for <quote>Privacy Enhancing Proxy</quote>.
- There are possible legal complications from the continued use of the
- <application>Junkbuster</application> name, which is a trademark of
+ <application>Privoxy</application> is the
+ <quote><emphasis>Privacy Enhancing Proxy</emphasis></quote>.
+</para>
+<para>
+ There are potential legal complications from the continued use of the
+ <application>Junkbuster</application> name, which is a registered trademark of
<ulink url="http://junkbusters.com">Junkbusters Corporation</ulink>.
- (There are no objections from Junkbusters Corporation to the
- <application>Privoxy</application> project itself though, and they
- in fact still share our ideals and goals.)
+ And thus they <quote>own</quote> the rights to the name.
+ (There are, however, no objections from Junkbusters Corporation to the
+ <application>Privoxy</application> project itself, and they, in fact, still
+ share our ideals and goals.)
</para>
<para>
- The developers also believed that there so many changes from the original
+ The developers also believed that there are so many changes from the original
code, that it was time to make a clean break from the past and make
- a name in their own right, especially now with the pending release of
- version 3.0.
-
+ a name in their own right<![%p-not-stable;[, especially now with the pending
+ release of version 3.0]]>.
</para>
-</sect3>
+</sect2>
-<sect3 id="differs"><title>How does it differ from the old <application>Junkbuster?</application></title>
- <para>
- All the old features remain. The new <application>Privoxy</application>
- still blocks ads and banners, still manages cookies, and still helps protect
- your privacy. But, these are all enhanced, and many new features have been
- added, all in the same vein.
+<sect2 renderas="sect3" id="differs"><title>How does <application>Privoxy</application> differ
+from the old <application>Junkbuster?</application></title>
+<para>
+ <application>Privoxy</application> picks up where
+ <application>Junkbuster</application> left off. All the old features remain.
+ The new <application>Privoxy</application> still blocks ads and banners,
+ still manages cookies, and still helps protect your privacy. But, these are
+ all enhanced, and many new features have been added, all in the same vein.
</para>
<para>
The configuration has changed significantly as well. This is something that
- users will notice right off the bat. The <quote>blocklist</quote> file does
- not exist any more. This is replaced by <quote>actions</quote> files, such
- as <filename>default.actions</filename>. This is where most of the per site
- configuration is now.
-
+ users will notice right off the bat if you are upgrading from
+ <application>Junkbuster</application> 2.0.x. The <quote>blocklist</quote>
+ file does not exist any more. This is replaced by <quote>actions</quote>
+ files, such as <filename>default.actions</filename>. This is where most of
+ the per site configuration is now.
</para>
-</sect3>
-
-<sect3 id="features"><title>What are some of the new features?</title>
-<!--
- This section is in both user-manual and faq. Please keep in sync!!!
--->
-<para>
- <itemizedlist>
-
- <listitem>
- <para>
- Integrated browser based configuration and control utility (<ulink
- url="http://p.p">http://p.p</ulink>). Browser-based tracing of rule
- and filter effects.
- </para>
- </listitem>
-<!--
- <listitem>
- <para>
- Modularized configuration that will allow for system wide settings, and
- individual user settings. (not implemented yet, probably a 3.1 feature)
- </para>
- </listitem>
--->
- <listitem>
- <para>
- Blocking of annoying pop-up browser windows.
- </para>
- </listitem>
-
- <listitem>
- <para>
- HTTP/1.1 compliant (most, but not all 1.1 features are supported).
- </para>
- </listitem>
-
- <listitem>
- <para>
- Support for Perl Compatible Regular Expressions in the configuration files, and
- generally a more sophisticated and flexible configuration syntax over
- previous versions.
- </para>
- </listitem>
-
- <listitem>
- <para>
- GIF de-animation.
- </para>
- </listitem>
-
- <listitem>
- <para>
- Web page content filtering (removes banners based on size,
- invisible <quote>web-bugs</quote>, JavaScript, pop-ups, status bar abuse,
- etc.)
- </para>
- </listitem>
-
- <listitem>
- <para>
- Bypass many click-tracking scripts (avoids script redirection).
-
- </para>
- </listitem>
-
- <listitem>
- <para>
- Multi-threaded (POSIX and native threads).
- </para>
- </listitem>
-
- <listitem>
- <para>
- Auto-detection and re-reading of config file changes.
- </para>
- </listitem>
-
- <listitem>
- <para>
- User-customizable HTML templates (e.g. 404 error page).
- </para>
- </listitem>
-
- <listitem>
- <para>
- Improved cookie management features (e.g. session based cookies).
- </para>
-</listitem>
-
- <listitem>
- <para>
- Builds from source on most UNIX-like systems. Packages available for: Linux
- (RedHat, SuSE, or Debian), Windows, Sun Solaris, Mac OSX, OS/2, HP-UX 11 and AmigaOS.
-
- </para>
- </listitem>
-
- <listitem>
- <para>
- In addition, the configuration is much more powerful and versatile over-all.
- </para>
-</listitem>
+</sect2>
- </itemizedlist>
-</para>
+<sect2 renderas="sect3" id="features"><title>What are some of the new features?</title>
+<!-- Include newfeatures.sgml: -->
+ &newfeatures;
+<!-- end include -->
-</sect3>
+</sect2>
-<sect3 id="proxymoron"><title>What is a <quote>proxy</quote>? How does
+<sect2 renderas="sect3" id="proxymoron"><title>What is a <quote>proxy</quote>? How does
<application>Privoxy</application> work? </title>
<para>
When you connect to a web site with <application>Privoxy</application>,
fits the <quote>filtering proxy</quote> category.
</para>
-</sect3>
+</sect2>
+
+
+<sect2 renderas="sect3">
+<title id="knows">How does <application>Privoxy</application> know what is
+an ad, and what is not?</title>
+<para>
+ <application>Privoxy</application> processes all the raw content of every
+ web page. So it reads everything on each page. It then compares this to the
+ rules as set up in the configuration files, and looks for any matches to
+ these rules. <application>Privoxy</application> makes heavy use of
+ <quote>regular expressions</quote>. (If you are not familiar with regular
+ expressions, it is explained briefly in <ulink
+ url="../user-manual/appendix.html">the user manual</ulink>.) Regular
+ expressions facilitate matching of one text string against another, using
+ wildcards to build complex patterns. So <application>Privoxy</application>
+ will typically look for URLs and other content that match certain key words
+ and expressions as defined in the configuration files. For instance a URL
+ that contains <quote>/banners</quote>, has a high probability of containing
+ ad banners, and thus would be a prime candidate to have a matching rule.
+</para>
+<para>
+ So <application>Privoxy</application> will look for these kinds of obvious
+ looking culprits. And also, will use lists of known organizations that
+ specialize in ads. Again, using complex patterns to match as many potential
+ combinations as possible since there tend to be many, many variations used by
+ advertisers, and new ones are being introduced all the time.
+</para>
+</sect2>
-<sect3 id="browsers2"><title>My browser does the same things as
+<sect2 renderas="sect3">
+<title id="mistakes">Can <application>Privoxy</application> make mistakes?
+This does not sound very scientific.</title>
+<para>
+ Actually, it's a black art ;-) And yes, it is always possible to have a broad rule
+ accidentally block something by mistake. There is a good chance you may run
+ into such a situation at some point. It is tricky writing rules to cover
+ every conceivable possibility, and not occasionally get false positives.
+</para>
+
+<para>
+ But this should not be a big concern since the
+ <application>Privoxy</application> configuration is very flexible, and
+ includes tools to help identify these types of situations so they can be
+ addressed as needed, allowing you to customize your installation.
+ (<link linkend="badsite">See the Troubleshooting section below</link>.)
+</para>
+
+</sect2>
+
+
+<sect2 renderas="sect3" id="browsers2"><title>My browser does the same things as
<application>Privoxy</application>. Why should I use
<application>Privoxy</application> at all?</title>
<para>
for possibly many browsers.
</para>
-</sect3>
+</sect2>
-<sect3 id="license"><title>Is there is a license or fee? What about a
+<sect2 renderas="sect3" id="license"><title>Is there is a license or fee? What about a
warranty? Registration?</title>
<para>
- <application>Privoxy</application> is licensed under the
- GNU General Public License (GPL). It is free to use, copy,
- modify or distribute as you wish under the terms of this license.
- See <ulink
- url="http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html">http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html</ulink>
- for specifics.
+ <application>Privoxy</application> is licensed under the GNU General Public
+ License (GPL). It is free to use, copy, modify or distribute as you wish
+ under the terms of this license. Please see the Copyright section for more
+ information on the license and copyright.
+
</para>
<para>
There is no warranty of any kind, expressed, implied or otherwise. That is
in every respect!
</para>
-</sect3>
-<sect3 id="jointeam"><title>I would like to help you, what do I do?</title>
+</sect2>
+
+<sect2 renderas="sect3" id="jointeam"><title>I would like to help you, what do I do?</title>
-<sect4 id="jointeam-money"><title>Money Money Money</title>
+<sect3 renderas="sect4" id="jointeam-money"><title>Money Money Money</title>
<para>
We, of course, welcome donations and use the money for domain registering,
regular world-wide get-togethers (hahaha). Anyway, we'll soon describe the
process how to donate money to the team.
</para>
-</sect4>
+</sect3>
-<sect4 id="jointeam-work"><title>You want to work with us?</title>
+<sect3 renderas="sect4" id="jointeam-work"><title>You want to work with us?</title>
<para>
Well, helping the team is always a good idea. We welcome new developers,
RPM gurus or documentation makers. Simply get an account on sourceforge.net
and mail your id to the developer mailing list. Then read the
- section Quickstart in the developers manual.
+ section Quickstart in the <ulink url="../developer-manual/quickstart.html">
+ Developer's Manual</ulink>.
</para>
<para>
-Once we have added you to the team, you'll have write access to the CVS
-repository, and together we'll find a suitable task for you.
+ Once we have added you to the team, you'll have write access to the CVS
+ repository, and together we'll find a suitable task for you.
</para>
-</sect4>
-
</sect3>
</sect2>
+</sect1>
+
<!-- ~~~~~ New section ~~~~~ -->
-<sect2 id="installation"><title>Installation</title>
+<sect1 label="2" id="installation"><title>Installation</title>
-<sect3 id="whichbrowsers">
+<sect2 renderas="sect3" id="whichbrowsers">
<title>Which browsers are supported by <application>Privoxy</application>?</title>
<para>
Any browser that can be configured to use a <quote>proxy</quote>, which
- is probably almost all browsers. Direct browser support is not necessary
+ should be virtually all browsers. Direct browser support is not necessary
since <application>Privoxy</application> runs as a separate application and
- just exchanges standard HTML data with your browser.
+ just exchanges standard HTML data with your browser, just like a web server
+ does.
</para>
-</sect3>
+</sect2>
-<sect3 id="whichos">
+<sect2 renderas="sect3" id="whichos">
<title>Which operating systems are supported?</title>
-<para>
- Right now Win32, Mac OSX, OS/2, AmigaOS, Linux, and many
- flavors of Unix.
-</para>
-
-<para>
- Source code is available, so porting to other operating systems,
- is always a possibility.
-
-</para>
-</sect3>
+<!--
+Include supported.sgml here:
+-->
+&supported;
+</sect2>
-<sect3 id="newinstall"><title>Can I install
+<sect2 renderas="sect3" id="newinstall"><title>Can I install
<application>Privoxy</application> over <application>Junkbuster</application>?</title>
<para>
We recommend you uninstall <application>Junkbuster</application>
</para>
<para>
See the <ulink
- url="http://www.privoxy.org/user-manual/">user-manual</ulink> for
- platform specific installation instructions. [FIXME: This is meant for after
- the name change for 3.0!]
+ url="../user-manual/index.html">user-manual</ulink> for
+ platform specific installation instructions.
+ </para>
+ <para>
+ Note: Some installers may automatically uninstall
+ <application>Junkbuster</application>, if present!
</para>
-
-</sect3>
-<sect3>
+</sect2>
+
+<sect2 renderas="sect3">
<title id="firststep">I just installed <application>Privoxy</application>. Is there anything
special I have to do now?</title>
All browsers must be told to use <application>Privoxy</application>
as a proxy by specifying the correct proxy address and port number
in the appropriate configuration area for the browser. See below.
+ Also, you should flush your browser's memory and disk cache to get rid of any
+ cached items.
</para>
-</sect3>
+</sect2>
-<sect
3 id="localhost"><title>What is the proxy address of <application>Privoxy</application>?</title>
+<sect
2 renderas="sect3" id="localhost"><title>What is the proxy address of <application>Privoxy</application>?</title>
<para>
If you set up the <application>Privoxy</application> to run on
the computer you browse from (rather than your ISP's server or some
protocols such as FTP, SMTP, IM, IRC, ICQ, or other Internet
protocols.
</para>
-</sect3>
+</sect2>
-<sect3>
+<sect2 renderas="sect3">
<title id="nothing">I just installed <application>Privoxy</application>, and nothing is happening.
All the ads are there. What's wrong?</title>
</para>
-</sect3>
-
</sect2>
+</sect1>
+
<!-- ~~~~~ New section ~~~~~ -->
-<sect2 id="configuration"><title>Configuration</title>
+<sect1 label="3" id="configuration"><title>Configuration</title>
-<sect3 id="newconfig"><title>Can I use my old config files?</title>
+<sect2 renderas="sect3" id="newconfig"><title>Can I use my old config files?</title>
<para>
- There are major changes to <application>Junkbuster</application>
- configuration from version 2.0.x to 2.9.x and later. The older files will
- not work at all. If this is the case, you will need to re-enter your old
- data into the new configuration structure. This is probably also a good
- recommendation even if upgrading from 2.9.x to 3.x since there were
- many minor changes along the way.
+ There are major changes to <application>Junkbuster</application>/
+ <application>Privoxy</application> configuration from version 2.0.x to
+ 2.9.x and later. Most of the older files will not work at all. This is
+ especially true of <filename>blocklist</filename>. If this is the case, you
+ will need to re-enter your old data into the new configuration structure.
+ This is probably also a good recommendation even if upgrading from 2.9.x to
+ 3.x since there were many minor changes along the way.
</para>
-</sect3>
+</sect2>
-<sect3>
+<sect2 renderas="sect3">
<title id="actionsfile">What is an <quote>actions</quote> file?</title>
<para>
configuration (see below).
</para>
-</sect3>
+</sect2>
-<sect3 id="actionss">
-<title>The <quote>actions</quote>concept confuses me. Please list
+<sect2 renderas="sect3" id="actionss">
+<title>The <quote>actions</quote> concept confuses me. Please list
some of these <quote>actions</quote>.</title>
<para>
These are all explained in the
<ulink url="../user-manual/configuration.html#ACTIONSFILE">user-manual</ulink>.
Please refer to that.
</para>
-</sect3>
+</sect2>
-<sect3>
+<sect2 renderas="sect3">
<title id="actconfig">How are actions files configured? What is the easiest
way to do this?</title>
The easiest way to do this, is to access <application>Privoxy</application>
with your web browser at <ulink url="http://p.p/">http://p.p/</ulink>,
and then select
- "<ulink url="http://www.privoxy.org/config/edit-actions">Edit the actions list</ulink>"
+ "<ulink url="http://config.privoxy.org">Edit the actions list</ulink>"
from the selection list. You can also do this by editing the appropriate
file with a text editor.
</para>
detailed explanation of these and other configuration files, and their
various options and syntax.
</para>
-</sect3>
+</sect2>
<!--
FIXME: Commenting these out until we have some data there. HB 03/17/02.
-<sect3 id="yahoo"><title>How can I make my Yahoo account work?</title>
+<sect2 renderas="sect3" id="yahoo"><title>How can I make my Yahoo account work?</title>
<para>
Fillme.
</para>
-</sect3>
+</sect2>
-<sect3 id="hotmail"> <title>How can I make my Hotmail account work?</title>
+<sect2 renderas="sect3" id="hotmail"> <title>How can I make my Hotmail account work?</title>
<para>
Fillme.
</para>
-</sect3>
+</sect2>
-<sect3 id="gmx"> <title>How can I make my GMX account work?</title>
+<sect2 renderas="sect3" id="gmx"> <title>How can I make my GMX account work?</title>
<para>
Fillme.
</para>
-</sect3>
+</sect2>
-->
-<sect3 id="configfiles"> <title>What are the differences between
+<sect2 renderas="sect3" id="configfiles"> <title>What are the differences between
intermediate.action, basic.action, etc.?</title>
<para>
Configuring <application>Privoxy</application> is not easy. To help you get
</tgroup>
</table>
</para>
-</sect3>
+</sect2>
-<sect3 id="browseconfig"> <title>Why can I change the configuration with a
+<sect2 renderas="sect3" id="browseconfig"> <title>Why can I change the configuration with a
browser? Does that not raise security issues?</title>
<para>
What I don't understand, is how I can browser edit the config file as a
-regular user, while the whole /etc/privoxy hierarchy belongs to the user
-"privoxy", with only 644 perms.
+regular user, while the whole <filename>/etc/privoxy</filename> hierarchy
+belongs to the user <quote>privoxy</quote>, with only 644 permissions.
</para>
<para>
When you use the browser-based editor, <application>Privoxy</application>
itself is writing to the config files. Because
-<application>Privoxy</application> is running as the user "privoxy", it can
+<application>Privoxy</application> is running as the user <quote>privoxy</quote>, it can
update the config files.
</para>
<para>
-If you don't like this, setting "enable-edit-actions 0" in the config file
-will disable the browser-based editor. If you're that paranoid, you should
-also consider setting "enable-remote-toggle 0" to prevent browser-based
-enabling/disabling of <application>Privoxy</application>.
+If you don't like this, setting <quote>enable-edit-actions 0</quote> in the
+config file will disable the browser-based editor. If you're that paranoid,
+you should also consider setting <quote>enable-remote-toggle 0</quote> to prevent
+
browser-based enabling/disabling of <application>Privoxy</application>.
</para>
<para>
-Note that normally only local users can connect to <application>Privoxy</application>, so this is not
-(normally) a security problem.
+Note that normally only local users can connect to
+<application>Privoxy</application>, so this is not (normally) a security
+problem.
</para>
-</sect3>
+</sect2>
-<sect3>
-<title id="filterfile">What is a <quote>default.filter</quote>?</title>
+<sect2 renderas="sect3">
+<title id="filterfile">What is <quote>default.filter</quote>?</title>
<para>
The <quote>default.filter</quote> file is used to <quote>filter</quote> any
web page content. By <quote>filtering</quote> we mean it can modify, remove,
file with the <quote>Actions List Editor</quote> from your browser.
</para>
-</sect3>
+</sect2>
-<sect3>
+<sect2 renderas="sect3">
<title id="lanconfig">How can I set up <application>Privoxy</application> to act as a proxy for my
LAN?</title>
<para>
all browsers on the network then to use this address and port number.
</para>
-</sect3>
+</sect2>
-<sect3>
+<sect2 renderas="sect3">
<title id="noseeum">Instead of ads, now I get a checkerboard pattern. I don't want to see anything.</title>
<para>
This is a configuration option for images that
<application>Privoxy</application> is stopping. You have the choice <!-- of
- the --> <!-- <application>Privoxy</application> logo, --> a checkerboard
+ the --> <!-- <application>Privoxy</application> logo, --> of a checkerboard
pattern, a transparent 1x1 GIF image (aka <quote>blank</quote>), or a custom
- URL or your choice.
+ URL of your choice. Note that to fit this category, the URL must match both
+ the <quote>+image</quote> and <quote>+block</quote> actions.
</para>
<para>
<quote>Edit Actions List</quote> selection at <ulink
url="http://p.p/">http://p.p/</ulink>. Or by hand editing the appropriate
actions file. This will only effect what is defined as <quote>images</quote>
- though.
-
+ though. Also, some URLs that generate the bright red <quote>Blocked</quote>
+ banner, can be moved to the <quote>+image-blocker</quote> section for the
+ same reason, but there are some limits and risks to this (see below).
</para>
-</sect3>
+</sect2>
-<sect3>
+<sect2 renderas="sect3">
<title id="whyseeum">Why would anybody want to see a checkerboard pattern?</title>
<para>
This can be helpful for troubleshooting problems. It might also be good
important.
</para>
-</sect3>
+</sect2>
-<sect3>
+<sect2 renderas="sect3">
<title id="blockedisugly">I see large red banners on some pages that say
-<quote>Blocked</quote>. How do I get rid of this?</title>
+<quote>Blocked</quote>. Why and how do I get rid of this?</title>
<para>
These are URLs that match something in one of
<application>Privoxy's</application> block actions (+block). It is meant
to be a warning so that you know something has been blocked and an easy way
for you to see why. These are handled differently than what has been defined
- as <quote>images</quote> (e.g. ad banners). If you want them to be treated
- as if they were images, so that they can be made invisible, then move the
- offending URL from the <quote>+block</quote> section to the
- <quote>+imageblock</quote> section of your actions file. Alternately, you
- could modify the <quote><filename>block</filename></quote> HTML template that
- is used by <application>Privoxy</application> to display this, and make it
- something more to your liking.
+ explicitly as <quote>images</quote> (e.g. ad banners). Depending on the
+ URL itself, it is sometimes hard for <application>Privoxy</application> to
+ really know whether there is indeed an ad image there or not. And there are
+ limitations as to what <application>Privoxy</application> can do to
+ <quote>fool</quote> the browser.
</para>
-</sect3>
+<para>
+ For instance, if the ad is in a frame, then it is embedded in the separate
+ HTML page used for the frame. In this case, you cannot just substitute an
+ aribitray image (like we would for a <quote>blank</quote> image), for an HTML
+ page. The browser is expecting an HTML page, and that is what it must have
+ for frames. So this situation can be a little trickier to deal with, and
+ <application>Privoxy</application> will use the <quote>Blocked</quote> page.
+</para>
+
+<para>
+ If you want these to be treated as if they were images, so that they can be
+ made invisible, you can try moving the offending URL from the
+ <quote>+block</quote> section to the <quote>+imageblock</quote> section of
+ your actions file. Just be forewarned, if any URL is made
+ <quote>invisible</quote>, you may not have any inkling that something has
+ been removed from that page, or why. If this approach does not work, then you are
+ probably dealing with a frame (or <quote>ilayer</quote>), and the only thing
+ that can go there is an HTML page of some sort.
+</para>
+<para>
+ To deal with this situation, you could modify the
+ <quote><filename>block</filename></quote> HTML template that is used by
+ <application>Privoxy</application> to display this, and make it something
+ more to your liking. Currently, there is no configuration option for this.
+ You will have to modify, or create your own page, and use this to replace
+ <filename>templates/blocked</filename>, which is what
+ <application>Privoxy</application> uses to display the <quote>Blocked</quote>
+ page.
+</para>
+<para>
+ Another way to deal with this is find why and where
+ <application>Privoxy</application> is blocking the frame, and
+ diable this. Then let the <quote>+image-blocker</quote> action
+ handle the ad that is embedded in the frame's HTML page.
+</para>
+
+</sect2>
+
+<sect2 renderas="sect3" id="alliseeisred">
+<title>I cannot see all of the <quote>Blocked</quote> page banner. All I
+see is a bright red square.</title>
+<para>
+ There is not enough space to fit the entire page. Try right clicking on the
+ visible, red portion, and select <quote>Show Frame</quote>, or equivalent.
+ This will usually allow you to see the entire Privoxy <quote>Blocked</quote>
+ page, and from there you can see just what is being blocked, and why.
+</para>
+</sect2>
-<sect3 id="otherproxy">
+<sect2 renderas="sect3" id="srvany">
+<title>Can <application>Privoxy</application> run as a service
+on Win2K/NT?</title>
+<para>
+ Yes, it can run as a system service using <command>srvany.exe</command>.
+ The only catch is that this will effectively disable the
+ <application>Privoxy</application> icon in the taskbar. You can have
+ one or the other, but not both at this time :(
+</para>
+<para>
+ There is a pending feature request for this functionality. See
+ thread: <ulink
+ url="http://sourceforge.net/tracker/?func=detail&atid=361118&aid=485617&group_id=11118">http://sourceforge.net/tracker/?func=detail&atid=361118&aid=485617&group_id=11118</ulink>,
+ for details, and a sample configuration.
+
+</para>
+</sect2>
+
+
+<sect2 renderas="sect3" id="otherproxy">
<title>How can I make <application>Privoxy</application> work with other
proxies like <application>Squid</application>?</title>
<para>
</para>
-</sect3>
-
</sect2>
+</sect1>
+
<!-- ~~~~~ New section ~~~~~ -->
-<sect2 id="misc"><title>Miscellaneous</title>
+<sect1 label="4"id="misc"><title>Miscellaneous</title>
-<sect3>
+<sect2 renderas="sect3">
<title id="slowsme">How much does <application>Privoxy</application> slow my browsing down? This
has to add extra time to browsing.</title>
<para>
before displaying. See below.
</para>
-</sect3>
+</sect2>
-<sect3 id="loadingtimes"><title>I noticed considerable
+<sect2 renderas="sect3" id="loadingtimes"><title>I noticed considerable
delays in page requests compared to the old Junkbuster. What's wrong?</title>
<para>
Using the default filtering configuration, I noticed considerable delays in
not just replace ads, <application>Privoxy</application> needs to download the
entire page first, do its content magic and then send the page to the browser.
</para>
-</sect3>
+</sect2>
-<sect3 id="configurl"><title>What is the "http://p.p/"?</title>
+<sect2 renderas="sect3" id="configurl"><title>What is the "http://p.p/"?</title>
<para>
Since <application>Privoxy</application> sits between your web browser and the Internet, it can be
programmed to handle certain pages specially.
<para>
With recent versions of <application>Privoxy</application> (version 2.9.x), you can get some
information about <application>Privoxy</application> and change some settings by going to
-http://p.p/ or, equivalently, http://www.privoxy.org/config/
+<ulink url="http://p.p/">http://p.p/</ulink> or, equivalently, <ulink url="http://config.privoxy.org/">http://config.privoxy.org/</ulink>
(Note that p.p is far easier to type but may not work in some
-configurations).
+configurations. With the name change to <application>Privoxy</application>,
+this is changed from the previous http://i.j.b/ or earlier 2.9.x versions).
</para>
<para>
-These pages are *not* forwarded to a server on the Internet - instead they are
-handled by a special web server which is built in to <application>Privoxy</application>.
+These pages are <emphasis>not</emphasis> forwarded to a server on the Internet
+- instead they are handled by a special web server which is built in to
+<application>Privoxy</application>.
</para>
<para>
-If you are not running <application>Privoxy</application>, then http://p.p/ will fail, and
-http://www.privoxy.org/config/ will return a web page telling you
-you're not running <application>Privoxy</application>.
+If you are not running <application>Privoxy</application>, then <ulink
+url="http://p.p/">http://p.p/</ulink> will fail, and <ulink
+url="http://config.privoxy.org/">http://config.privoxy.org/</ulink> will
+return a web page telling you you're not running
+<application>Privoxy</application>.
</para>
<para>
If you have version 2.0.2, then the equivalent is
http://example.com/show-proxy-args (but you get far less information, and you
-should really consider upgrading to 2.9.x).
+should really consider upgrading to &p-version;).
</para>
-</sect3>
+</sect2>
<!--
FIXME: commented out until we have data. HB 03/18/02.
-<sect3 id="badfiledesc"><title>I get the message 'Bad File Descriptor', why?</title>
+<sect2 renderas="sect3" id="badfiledesc"><title>I get the message 'Bad File Descriptor', why?</title>
<para>
Fillme.
</para>
-</sect3>
+</sect2>
-<sect
3 id="proxy-chaining"><title>How do I chain <application>Privoxy</application> with other proxies
+<sect
2 renderas="sect3" id="proxy-chaining"><title>How do I chain <application>Privoxy</application> with other proxies
(e.g. squid)?</title>
<para>
Fillme.
</para>
-</sect3>
+</sect2>
-->
-<sect3 id="blocklist"><title>Do you still maintain the blocklists?</title>
+<sect2 renderas="sect3" id="blocklist"><title>Do you still maintain the blocklists?</title>
<para>
- No. The format of the blocklists has changed significantly in the versions
- 2.9.x. Once we have released the new version, there will again be
- blocklists that you can update automatically.
+ No. The format of the blocklists has changed significantly in versions
+ 2.9.x and later. <![%p-not-stable;[Once we have released the new stable
+ version, v3.0, there will again be blocklists that you can update
+ automatically.]]>
</para>
-</sect3>
+</sect2>
-<sect3 id="newads"><title>How can I submit new ads?</title>
+<sect2 renderas="sect3" id="newads"><title>How can I submit new ads?</title>
<para>
As of now, please discontinue to submit new ad blocking infos. Once we
have released the new version, there will again be a form on the website,
which you can use to contribute new ads.
</para>
-</sect3>
+</sect2>
-<sect3 id="ip"><title>How can I hide my IP address?</title>
+<sect2 renderas="sect3" id="ip"><title>How can I hide my IP address?</title>
<para>
You cannot hide your IP address with <application>Privoxy</application> or any other software, since
the server needs to know your IP address to send the answer to you.
url="http://www.multiproxy.org/anon_list.htm">multiproxy.org</ulink> and many
more through Google.
</para>
-</sect3>
+</sect2>
-<!-- <sect3 id="image"><title>What is the imagefile (simage.ini, etc.) for?</title> -->
+<!-- <sect2 renderas="sect3" id="image"><title>What is the imagefile (simage.ini, etc.) for?</title> -->
<!-- <para> -->
<!-- Anytime <application>Privoxy</application> determines (with the help of the blocklist) that a URL -->
<!-- contains an advertisement, it has to decide whether this advertisement is an -->
<!-- image or not. <application>Privoxy</application> uses the imagefile for that purpose. -->
<!-- </para> -->
-<!-- </sect3> -->
+<!-- </sect2> -->
-<sect3>
+<sect2 renderas="sect3">
<title id="anonforsure">Can <application>Privoxy</application> guarantee I am anonymous?</title>
<para>
No. Your chances of remaining anonymous are greatly improved, but unless you
<para>
<application>Privoxy</application> can remove various information about you,
and allows <emphasis>you</emphasis> more freedom to decide which sites
- you can trust. But it's still possible that web sites can find out who you
- are. Here's one way this can happen.
+ you can trust, and what details you want to reveal. But it's still possible
+ that web sites can find out who you are. Here's one way this can happen.
</para>
<para>
A few browsers disclose the user's email address in certain situations, such
Luke!
</para>
-</sect3>
+</sect2>
-<sect3>
+<sect2 renderas="sect3">
<title id="sitebreak">Might some things break because header information is
being altered?</title>
If you have problems with a site, you will have to adjust your configuration
accordingly. Cookies are probably the most likely adjustment that may
be required, but by no means the only one.
-
</para>
-</sect3>
+</sect2>
-<sect3>
+<sect2 renderas="sect3">
<title id="caching">Can <application>Privoxy</application> act as a <quote>caching</quote> proxy to
speed up web browsing?</title>
<para>
No, it does not have this ability at all. You want something like
<ulink url="http://www.squid-cache.org/">Squid</ulink> for this. And, yes,
before you ask, <application>Privoxy</application> can co-exist
- with other kinds of proxies like <quote>Squid</quote>.
+ with other kinds of proxies like <application>Squid</application>.
</para>
-</sect3>
+</sect2>
-<sect3>
+<sect2 renderas="sect3">
<title id="firewall">What about as a firewall? Can <application>Privoxy</application> protect me?</title>
<para>
Not in the way you mean, or in the way a true firewall can, or a proxy that
has this specific capability. <application>Privoxy</application> can help
protect your privacy, but not really protect you from intrusion attempts.
</para>
-</sect3>
+</sect2>
-<sect3>
+<sect2 renderas="sect3">
<title id="logo">The <application>Privoxy</application> logo that replaces ads is very blocky
and ugly looking. Can't a better font be used?</title>
Given the above problem, we have decided to remove the logo option entirely
[as of v2.9.13].
</para>
-</sect3>
+</sect2>
-<sect3>
+<sect2 renderas="sect3">
<title id="wasted">I have large empty spaces now where ads used to be.
-Why does <application>Privoxy</application> leave these large gaps?</title>
+Why?</title>
<para>
It would be easy enough to just eliminate this space altogether, rather than
fill it with blank space. But, this would create problems with many pages
It is best left this way.
</para>
-</sect3>
+</sect2>
-<sect3>
+<sect2 renderas="sect3">
<title id="ssl">How can <application>Privoxy</application> filter Secure (HTTPS) URLs?</title>
<para>
This is a limitation since HTTPS transactions are encrypted SSL sessions
are embedded in the SSL stream though.
</para>
-</sect3>
+</sect2>
-<sect3>
+<sect2 renderas="sect3">
<title id="secure"><application>Privoxy</application> runs as a <quote>server</quote>. How
secure is it? Do I need to take any special precautions?</title>
<para>
<application>Privoxy</application> can run as a non-privileged
user, which is how we recommend it be run. Also, by default
<application>Privoxy</application> only listens to requests
- from <quote>localhost</quote>. It is not itself directly exposed to the
+ from <quote>localhost</quote>. The server aspect of
+ <application>Privoxy</application> is not itself directly exposed to the
Internet in this configuration. If you want to have
<application>Privoxy</application> serve as a LAN proxy, this will have to
be opened up to allow for LAN requests. In this case, we'd recommend
- you specify only the LAN gateway address, e.g. 192.168.1.1 in the main
+ you specify only the LAN gateway address, e.g. 192.168.1.1, in the main
<application>Privoxy</application> config file. All LAN hosts can then use
this as their proxy address in the browser proxy configuration. In this way,
<application>Privoxy</application> will not listen on any external ports.
Of course, a firewall is always good too. Better safe than sorry.
</para>
-</sect3>
+</sect2>
-<sect3 id="turnoff">
+<sect2 renderas="sect3" id="turnoff">
<title>How can I temporarily disable <application>Privoxy</application>?</title>
<para>
The easiest way is to access <application>Privoxy</application> with your
and select "Toggle Privoxy on or off" from that page.
</para>
-</sect3>
+</sect2>
+<sect2 renderas="sect3" id="seealso">
+<title>Where can I find more information about <application>Privoxy</application>
+and related issues?</title>
+<!-- Include seealso.sgml boilerplate: -->
+ &seealso;
+<!-- end boilerplate -->
+
+<!--
+<para>
+ Please see the
+ <ulink url="../user-manual/seealso.html">user-manual</ulink> for
+ others references.
+</para>
+-->
</sect2>
+</sect1>
+
<!-- ~~~~~ New section ~~~~~ -->
-<sect2>
-<title id="trouble">Troubleshooting</title>
+<sect1 label="5" id="trouble">
+<title>Troubleshooting</title>
-<sect3>
+<sect2 renderas="sect3">
<title id="refused">I just upgraded and am getting <quote>connection refused</quote>
with every web page?</title>
<para>
<application>Privoxy</application>.
</para>
-</sect3>
+</sect2>
-<sect3>
+<sect2 renderas="sect3">
<title id="flushit">I just added a new rule, but the steenkin ad is
still getting through. How?</title>
<para>
<para>
If this doesn't help, you probably have an error in the rule you
applied. Try pasting the full URL of the offending ad into <ulink
- url="http://www.privoxy.org/config/show-url-info">http://www.privoxy.org/config/show-url-info</ulink>
+ url="http://config.privoxy.org/show-url-info">http://config.privoxy.org/show-url-info</ulink>
and see if any actions match your new rule.
</para>
-</sect3>
+</sect2>
-<sect3>
+<sect2 renderas="sect3">
<title id="badsite">One of my favorite sites does not work with <application>Privoxy</application>.
What can I do?</title>
by disabling <application>Privoxy</application> filtering and blocking.
Go to <ulink url="http://p.p/">http://p.p/</ulink> and click on
<quote>Toggle Privoxy On or Off</quote>, then disable it. Now try that
- page again.
+ page again. It's probably a good idea to flush the browser cache as well.
</para>
<para>
being applied to the URL. Now, armed with this information, go to <quote>Edit
the actions list</quote>. Here you should see various sections that have
various <application>Privoxy</application> features disabled for specific
- sites. Disabled <quote>actions</quote> will have a <quote>-</quote> (minus
- sign) in front of them. Add your problem page URL to one of these sections
- that looks like it is disabling the feature that is causing the
- problem. Re-try the page. There might be some trial and error involved. This
- is discussed in a little more detail in the <ulink
- url="../user-manual/appendix.html#ACTIONSANAT">user-manual
- appendix</ulink>.
+ sites. Most disabled <quote>actions</quote> will have a <quote>-</quote> (minus
+ sign) in front of them. Some aliases are used just to disable other actions,
+ e.g. <quote>shop</quote> and <quote>fragile</quote>, and won't necessarily
+ use a <quote>+</quote> or <quote>-</quote> sign. Add your problem page
+ URL to one of these sections that looks like it is disabling the feature that
+ is causing the problem. Rember to flush your browser's caches when making
+ such changes! As a last resort, try <quote>fragile</quote> which
+ disables most actions. Now re-try the page. There might be some trial and
+ error involved. This is discussed in a little more detail in the <ulink
+ url="../user-manual/appendix.html#ACTIONSANAT">user-manual appendix</ulink>.
</para>
the same thing by editing the appropriate <quote>actions</quote> file.
</para>
-</sect3>
+</sect2>
-<sect3>
+<sect2 renderas="sect3" id="bugs">
+<title>Where can I get help? Report bugs? Feature Requests? Etc?</title>
+<para>
+ Feedback is encouraged, whether good, bad or ugly. Please see the contact
+ page in the <ulink url="../user-manual/contact.html">user-manual</ulink> for
+ details.
+
+</para>
+
+</sect2>
+
+<sect2 renderas="sect3">
<title id="time">What time is it?</title>
<para>
Time for you to go!
</para>
-</sect3>
-
</sect2>
</sect1>
-
+<!--
+</sect1>
+-->
<!-- ~~~~~ New section ~~~~~ -->
<!--
</sect1>
-->
-<!-- ~~~~~ New section ~~~~~ -->
-<!--
-
-This is referenced in the doc header already. HB 03/25/02
+ <!-- ~~~~~ New section ~~~~~ -->
+ <sect1 id="contact"><title>Contacting the developers, Bug Reporting and Feature Requests</title>
+<!-- Include contacting.sgml -->
+ &contacting;
+<!-- end contacting -->
+ </sect1>
+
+ <!-- ~~~~~ New section ~~~~~ -->
+ <sect1 id="copyright"><title>Copyright and History</title>
+
+<sect2><title>Copyright</title>
+<!-- Include copyright.sgml -->
+ ©right;
+<!-- end -->
+</sect2>
-<sect1 id="contact"><title>Contact the developers</title>
-<para>Please see the user manual for information on how to contact the developers.
-</para>
-</sect1>
--->
-<!-- ~~~~~ New section ~~~~~ -->
-<sect1 id="copyright"><title>Copyright and History</title>
-<para>Please see the user manual for information on Copyright and History.
-</para>
-</sect1>
+<sect2><title>History</title>
+<!-- Include history.sgml -->
+ &history;
+<!-- end -->
+</sect2>
+ </sect1>
+
<!-- ~~~~~ New section ~~~~~ -->
+<!--
<sect1 id="seealso"><title>See also</title>
-<para>Please see the user manual for information on references.
-</para>
+-->
+<!-- Include seealso.sgml -->
+<!--
+ &see;
+-->
+<!-- end -->
+<!--
</sect1>
+-->
<!-- hhmts end -->
<!--
Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307, USA.
$Log: faq.sgml,v $
+Revision 1.44 2002/04/07 21:24:29 hal9
+Touch up on name change.
+
+Revision 1.43 2002/04/04 21:59:53 hal9
+Added NT/W2K service/icon situation.
+
+Revision 1.42 2002/04/04 18:46:47 swa
+consistent look. reuse of copyright, history et. al.
+
+Revision 1.41 2002/04/04 06:48:37 hal9
+Structural changes to allow for conditional inclusion/exclusion of content
+based on entity toggles, e.g. 'entity % p-not-stable "INCLUDE"'. And
+definition of internal entities, e.g. 'entity p-version "2.9.13"' that will
+eventually be set by Makefile.
+More boilerplate text for use across multiple docs.
+
+Revision 1.40 2002/04/03 04:22:03 hal9
+Fixed several typos.
+
+Revision 1.39 2002/04/03 03:53:03 hal9
+Revert some changes, and then make some news, to layout, and appearance.
+
+Revision 1.38 2002/04/02 03:49:10 hal9
+Major changes to doc structure and layout. Sections are not automatically
+numbered now. TOC is on page by itself.
+
+Revision 1.37 2002/04/01 16:24:07 hal9
+-Rework of supported Q/A.
+-Set up entities to include boilerplate text.
+
+Revision 1.36 2002/03/31 23:18:47 hal9
+More on dealing with BLOCKED.
+
+Revision 1.35 2002/03/30 04:14:19 hal9
+Fix privoxy.org/config links.
+
+Revision 1.34 2002/03/29 04:35:56 hal9
+Touch ups.
+
+Revision 1.33 2002/03/29 01:31:48 hal9
+Several new Q/A's and other touch ups.
+
+Revision 1.32 2002/03/27 00:57:03 hal9
+Touch ups for name change.
+
+Revision 1.31 2002/03/26 22:29:55 swa
+we have a new homepage!
+
Revision 1.30 2002/03/25 16:39:22 hal9
A few new sections. Made all links relative to user-manual.
projects / privoxy.git / blobdiff