Privoxy Frequently Asked Questions

This FAQ gives users and developers alike answers to frequently asked - questions about This FAQ gives quick answers to frequently asked questions about + Privoxy - . +>. + It is not a substitute for the + Privoxy 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.

What is Privoxy?

Privoxy is based on the code of the - Internet Junkbuster (tm). - Junkbuster was originally written by JunkBusters - Corporation, and was released as free open-source software under the GNU GPL. - Stefan Waldherr made many improvements, and started the SourceForge project - to continue development.

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 continues the - Junkbuster tradition, but adds many - refinements, enhancements and new features.

Privoxy is Free Software and licensed under the GPL2.

Privoxy is an associated project of Software in the Public Interest (SPI). + Donations are welcome.

You can find the latest version of the document at Please note that this document is a work in progress. This copy represents + the state at the release of version 3.0.15. + 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. + 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 Who should give Privoxy? a try?

1.2. Why "Privoxy"? Why a name change at all?Is Privoxy the best choice for +me?

1.3. How does Privoxy differ -from the old Junkbuster?What is a "proxy"? How does +Privoxy work?

1.4. What are some of the new features?Does Privoxy do anything more than ad blocking?

1.5. What is a "proxy"? How does +HREF="general.html#NEWJB" +>What is this new version of Privoxy work?"Junkbuster"?

1.6. How does Privoxy know what is -an ad, and what is not?Why "Privoxy"? Why change the name from +Junkbuster at all?

1.7. Can Privoxy make mistakes? -This does not sound very scientific.How does Privoxy differ +from the old Junkbuster?

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

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

1.10. Will I have to configure Privoxy + before I can use it?

1.11. Can Privoxy run as a server on a network?

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

1.9. 1.13. Why should I trust Privoxy?

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

1.10. I would like to help you, what do I do?1.15. Can Privoxy remove spyware? Adware? Viruses?

1.16. Can I use Privoxy with other ad-blocking software?

1.17. I would like to help you, what can I do?

1.10.1. Money Money Money1.17.1. Would you like to participate?
1.10.2. You want to work with us?1.17.2. Would you like to donate?

2.1. Which browsers are supported by Privoxy?Which browsers are supported by Privoxy?

2.2.

2.3. Can I install - Privoxy over Junkbuster?Can I use Privoxy with my email client?

2.4. I just installed Privoxy. Is there anything +HREF="installation.html#FIRSTSTEP" +>I just installed Privoxy. Is there anything special I have to do now?

2.5. What is the proxy address of Privoxy?What is the proxy address of Privoxy?

2.6. I just installed Privoxy, and nothing is happening. +HREF="installation.html#NOTHING" +>I just installed Privoxy, and nothing is happening. All the ads are there. What's wrong?

2.7. I get a "Privoxy is not being used" dummy page although +Privoxy is running and being used.

3.1. Can I use my old config files?
3.2. What is an What exactly is an "actions" file?
3.3. 3.2. The .
3.4. 3.3. How are actions files configured? What is the easiest way to do this?
3.4. There are several different "actions" files. What are +the differences?
3.5. What are the differences between -intermediate.action, basic.action, etc.?Where can I get updated Actions Files?
3.6. Why can I change the configuration with a -browser? Does that not raise security issues?Can I use my old config files?
3.7. What is "default.filter"?Why is the configuration so complicated?
3.8. How can I set up Privoxy to act as a proxy for my - LAN?How can I make my Yahoo/Hotmail/Gmail account work?
3.9. Instead of ads, now I get a checkerboard pattern. I don't want to see anything.What's the difference between the +"Cautious", "Medium" and "Advanced" defaults?
3.10. Why would anybody want to see a checkerboard pattern?Why can I change the configuration +with a browser? Does that not raise security issues?
3.11. I see large red banners on some pages that say -What is the default.filter file? What is a "Blocked". Why and how do I get rid of this?"filter"?
3.12. I cannot see all of the "Blocked" page banner. All I -see is a bright red square.How can I set up Privoxy to act as a proxy for my + LAN?
3.13. Can Privoxy run as a service -on Win2K/NT?Instead of ads, now I get a checkerboard pattern. I don't want to see anything.
3.14. Why would anybody want to see a checkerboard pattern?
3.15. I see some images being replaced with text +instead of the checkerboard image. Why and how do I get rid of this?
3.16. Can Privoxy run as a service +on Win2K/NT/XP?
3.17. How can I make Privoxy work with other -proxies like Squid?How can I make Privoxy work with other +proxies like Squid or Tor?
3.18. Can I just set Privoxy to use port 80 +and thus avoid individual browser configuration?
3.19. Can Privoxy run as a "transparent" proxy?
3.20. Can Privoxy run as a "intercepting" proxy?
3.21. How can I configure Privoxy for use with Outlook?
3.22. How can I have separate rules just for HTML mail?
3.23. I sometimes notice cookies sneaking through. How?
3.24. Are all cookies bad? Why?
3.25. How can I allow permanent cookies for my trusted sites?
3.26. Can I have separate configurations for different users?
3.27. Can I set-up Privoxy as a whitelist of +"good" sites?
3.28. How can I turn off ad-blocking?
3.29. How can I have custom template pages, like the +BLOCKED page?
3.30. How can I remove the "Go There Anyway" link from +the BLOCKED page?

4.1. How much does Privoxy slow my browsing down? This +HREF="misc.html#AEN721" +>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?I notice considerable +delays in page requests. What's wrong?
4.3. What is the "http://p.p/"?What are "http://config.privoxy.org/" and +"http://p.p/"?
4.4. Do you still maintain the blocklists?How can I submit new ads, or report +problems?
4.5. How can I submit new ads?If I do submit missed ads, will +they be included in future updates?
4.6. How can I hide my IP address?Why doesn't anyone answer my support +request?
4.7. Can Privoxy guarantee I am anonymous?How can I hide my IP address?
4.8. Might some things break because header information is -being altered?Can Privoxy guarantee I am anonymous?
4.9. Can Privoxy act as a "caching" proxy to -speed up web browsing?A test site says I am not using a Proxy.
4.10. What about as a firewall? Can Privoxy protect me?How do I use Privoxy + together with Tor?
4.11. The Privoxy logo that replaces ads is very blocky -and ugly looking. Can't a better font be used?Might some things break because header information or +content is being altered?
4.12. I have large empty spaces now where ads used to be. -Why?Can Privoxy act as a "caching" proxy to +speed up web browsing?
4.13. How can Privoxy filter Secure (HTTPS) URLs?What about as a firewall? Can Privoxy protect me?
4.14. Privoxy runs as a I have large empty spaces / a checkerboard pattern now where +ads used to be. Why?
4.15. How can Privoxy filter Secure (HTTPS) URLs?
4.16. Privoxy runs as a "server". How secure is it? Do I need to take any special precautions?
4.15. 4.17. How can I temporarily disable PrivoxyCan I temporarily disable Privoxy?
4.18. When "disabled" is Privoxy totally +out of the picture?
4.19. How can I tell Privoxy to totally ignore certain sites?
4.20. My logs show Privoxy "crunches" +ads, but also its own internal CGI pages. What is a "crunch"?
4.16. 4.21. Can Privoxy effect files that I download +from a webserver? FTP server?
4.22. I just downloaded a Perl script, and Privoxy +altered it! Yikes, what is wrong!
4.23. Should I continue to use a "HOSTS" file for ad-blocking?
4.24. Where can I find more information about Privoxy +>Where can I find more information about Privoxy and related issues?
4.25. I've noticed that Privoxy changes "Microsoft" to +"MicroSuck"! Why are you manipulating my browsing?
4.26. Does Privoxy produce "valid" HTML (or XHTML)?

5.1. I just upgraded and am getting I cannot connect to any websites. Or, I am getting +"connection refused" -with every web page? message with every web page. Why?
5.2. I just added a new rule, but the steenkin ad is -still getting through. How?Why am I getting a 503 Error (WSAECONNREFUSED) on every page?
5.3. One of my favorite sites does not work with Privoxy. -What can I do?I just added a new rule, but the steenkin ad is +still getting through. How?
5.4. Where can I get help? Report bugs? Feature Requests? Etc?One of my favorite sites does not work with Privoxy. +What can I do?
5.5. What time is it?After installing Privoxy, I have to log in +every time I start IE. What gives?
5.6. I cannot connect to any FTP sites. Privoxy + is blocking me.
5.7. In Mac OS X, I can't configure Microsoft Internet Explorer to use + Privoxy as the HTTP proxy.
5.8. In Mac OS X, 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.
5.9. In Mac OS X Panther (10.3), images often fail to load and/or I + experience random delays in page loading. I'm using + localhost as my browser's proxy setting.
5.10. I get a completely blank page at one site. "View Source" + shows only: <html><body></body></html>. Without + Privoxy the page loads fine.
5.11. My logs show many "Unable to get my own hostname" lines. +Why?
5.12. When I try to launch Privoxy, I get an +error message "port 8118 is already in use" (or similar wording). +Why?
5.13. Pages with UTF-8 fonts are garbled.
5.14. Why are binary files (such as images) corrupted when Privoxy + is used?
5.15. What is the "demoronizer" and why is it there?
5.16. Why do I keep seeing "PrivoxyWindowOpen()" in raw source code?
5.17. I am getting too many DNS errors like "404 No Such Domain". Why + can't Privoxy do this better?
5.18. At one site Privoxy just hangs, and starts taking + all CPU. Why is this?
5.19. I just installed Privoxy, and all my +browsing has slowed to a crawl. What gives?
5.20. Why do my filters work on some sites but not on others?
5.21. On some HTTPS sites my browser warns me about unauthenticated content, + the URL bar doesn't get highlighted and the lock symbol appears to be broken. + What's going on?
5.22. I get selinux error messages. How can I fix this?
5.23. I compiled Privoxy with Gentoo's portage and it appears to be very slow. Why?

7. 6. Contacting the developers, Bug Reporting and Feature Requests

6.1. Get Support

6.2. Reporting Problems

8. 6.2.1. Reporting Ads or Other Configuration Problems
6.2.2. Reporting Bugs

6.3. Request New Features

6.4. Other

7. Copyright and HistoryPrivoxy Copyright, License and History

8.1. Copyright7.1. License
8.2. 7.2. History