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16 <h1 class="TITLE"><a name="AEN2" id="AEN2">Privoxy Frequently Asked
18 <p class="PUBDATE"><sub><a href="copyright.html">Copyright</a> �
19 2001-2016 by <a href="https://www.privoxy.org/" target="_top">Privoxy
20 Developers</a></sub><br></p>
21 <p class="PUBDATE">$Id: faq.sgml,v 2.135 2017/03/27 10:22:27 fabiankeil
24 <div class="ABSTRACT">
25 <a name="AEN9" id="AEN9"></a>
26 <p>This FAQ gives quick answers to frequently asked questions about
27 <a href="https://www.privoxy.org/" target="_top">Privoxy</a>. It is
28 not a substitute for the <a href="../user-manual/index.html"
29 target="_top"><i class="CITETITLE">Privoxy User Manual</i></a>.</p>
30 <p>What is Privoxy?</p>
31 <p>Privoxy is a non-caching web proxy with advanced filtering
32 capabilities for enhancing privacy, modifying web page data and
33 HTTP headers, controlling access, and removing ads and other
34 obnoxious Internet junk. Privoxy has a flexible configuration and
35 can be customized to suit individual needs and tastes. It has
36 application for both stand-alone systems and multi-user
38 <p>Privoxy is Free Software and licensed under the GNU GPLv2.</p>
39 <p>Privoxy is an associated project of Software in the Public
41 <p>Helping hands and donations are welcome:</p>
45 "https://www.privoxy.org/faq/general.html#PARTICIPATE" target=
46 "_top">https://www.privoxy.org/faq/general.html#PARTICIPATE</a></p>
49 <p><a href="https://www.privoxy.org/faq/general.html#DONATE"
51 "_top">https://www.privoxy.org/faq/general.html#DONATE</a></p>
54 <p>Please note that this document is a work in progress. This copy
55 represents the state at the release of version 3.0.27. You can find
56 the latest version of the document at <a href=
57 "https://www.privoxy.org/faq/" target=
58 "_top">https://www.privoxy.org/faq/</a>. Please see the <a href=
59 "contact.html">Contact section</a> if you want to contact the
67 <dt><b>Table of Contents</b></dt>
68 <dt>1. <a href="general.html">General Information</a></dt>
71 <dt>1.1. <a href="general.html#WHO-USES">Who should give
72 <span class="APPLICATION">Privoxy</span> a try?</a></dt>
73 <dt>1.2. <a href="general.html#BESTCHOICE">Is Privoxy the best
74 choice for me?</a></dt>
75 <dt>1.3. <a href="general.html#PROXYMORON">What is a <span class=
76 "QUOTE">"proxy"</span>? How does Privoxy work?</a></dt>
77 <dt>1.4. <a href="general.html#OTHERSTUFF">Does Privoxy do
78 anything more than ad blocking?</a></dt>
79 <dt>1.5. <a href="general.html#NEWJB">What is this new version of
80 <span class="QUOTE">"Junkbuster"</span>?</a></dt>
81 <dt>1.6. <a href="general.html#WHYPRIVOXY">Why <span class=
82 "QUOTE">"Privoxy"</span>? Why change the name from Junkbuster at
84 <dt>1.7. <a href="general.html#DIFFERS">How does Privoxy differ
85 from the old Junkbuster?</a></dt>
86 <dt>1.8. <a href="general.html#WHATSANAD">How does Privoxy know
87 what is an ad, and what is not?</a></dt>
88 <dt>1.9. <a href="general.html#MISTAKES">Can Privoxy make
89 mistakes? This does not sound very scientific.</a></dt>
90 <dt>1.10. <a href="general.html#CONFIGORNOT">Will I have to
91 configure Privoxy before I can use it?</a></dt>
92 <dt>1.11. <a href="general.html#LAN">Can Privoxy run as a server
93 on a network?</a></dt>
94 <dt>1.12. <a href="general.html#BROWSERS2">My browser does the
95 same things as Privoxy. Why should I use Privoxy at all?</a></dt>
96 <dt>1.13. <a href="general.html#WHYTRUST">Why should I trust
98 <dt>1.14. <a href="general.html#LICENSE">Is there is a license or
99 fee? What about a warranty? Registration?</a></dt>
100 <dt>1.15. <a href="general.html#SPYWARE">Can Privoxy remove
101 spyware? Adware? Viruses?</a></dt>
102 <dt>1.16. <a href="general.html#OTHERADS">Can I use Privoxy with
103 other ad-blocking software?</a></dt>
104 <dt>1.17. <a href="general.html#HELP-THE-DEVELOPERS">I would like
105 to help you, what can I do?</a></dt>
108 <dt>1.17.1. <a href="general.html#PARTICIPATE">Would you like
109 to participate?</a></dt>
110 <dt>1.17.2. <a href="general.html#DONATE">Would you like to
114 <dt>1.18. <a href="general.html#SPONSOR">How can I become a
115 sponsor and get my logo or link on privoxy.org?</a></dt>
118 <dt>2. <a href="installation.html">Installation</a></dt>
121 <dt>2.1. <a href="installation.html#WHICHBROWSERS">Which browsers
122 are supported by Privoxy?</a></dt>
123 <dt>2.2. <a href="installation.html#WHICHOS">Which operating
124 systems are supported?</a></dt>
125 <dt>2.3. <a href="installation.html#EMAIL-CLIENT">Can I use
126 Privoxy with my email client?</a></dt>
127 <dt>2.4. <a href="installation.html#FIRSTSTEP">I just installed
128 Privoxy. Is there anything special I have to do now?</a></dt>
129 <dt>2.5. <a href="installation.html#LOCALHOST">What is the proxy
130 address of Privoxy?</a></dt>
131 <dt>2.6. <a href="installation.html#NOTHING">I just installed
132 Privoxy, and nothing is happening. All the ads are there. What's
134 <dt>2.7. <a href="installation.html#NOTUSED">I get a <span class=
135 "QUOTE">"Privoxy is not being used"</span> dummy page although
136 Privoxy is running and being used.</a></dt>
139 <dt>3. <a href="configuration.html">Configuration</a></dt>
142 <dt>3.1. <a href="configuration.html#ACTIONSFILE">What exactly is
143 an <span class="QUOTE">"actions"</span> file?</a></dt>
144 <dt>3.2. <a href="configuration.html#ACTIONSS">The <span class=
145 "QUOTE">"actions"</span> concept confuses me. Please list some of
146 these <span class="QUOTE">"actions"</span>.</a></dt>
147 <dt>3.3. <a href="configuration.html#ACTCONFIG">How are actions
148 files configured? What is the easiest way to do this?</a></dt>
149 <dt>3.4. <a href="configuration.html#AEN420">There are several
150 different <span class="QUOTE">"actions"</span> files. What are
151 the differences?</a></dt>
152 <dt>3.5. <a href="configuration.html#GETUPDATES">Where can I get
153 updated Actions Files?</a></dt>
154 <dt>3.6. <a href="configuration.html#NEWCONFIG">Can I use my old
155 config files?</a></dt>
156 <dt>3.7. <a href="configuration.html#DIFFICULT">Why is the
157 configuration so complicated?</a></dt>
158 <dt>3.8. <a href="configuration.html#YAHOO">How can I make my
159 Yahoo/Hotmail/Gmail account work?</a></dt>
160 <dt>3.9. <a href="configuration.html#CONFIGFILES">What's the
161 difference between the <span class="QUOTE">"Cautious"</span>,
162 <span class="QUOTE">"Medium"</span> and <span class=
163 "QUOTE">"Advanced"</span> defaults?</a></dt>
164 <dt>3.10. <a href="configuration.html#BROWSECONFIG">Why can I
165 change the configuration with a browser? Does that not raise
166 security issues?</a></dt>
167 <dt>3.11. <a href="configuration.html#FILTERFILE">What is the
168 <tt class="FILENAME">default.filter</tt> file? What is a
169 <span class="QUOTE">"filter"</span>?</a></dt>
170 <dt>3.12. <a href="configuration.html#LANCONFIG">How can I set up
171 Privoxy to act as a proxy for my LAN?</a></dt>
172 <dt>3.13. <a href="configuration.html#NOSEEUM">Instead of ads,
173 now I get a checkerboard pattern. I don't want to see
175 <dt>3.14. <a href="configuration.html#WHYSEEUM">Why would anybody
176 want to see a checkerboard pattern?</a></dt>
177 <dt>3.15. <a href="configuration.html#BLOCKEDBYTEXT">I see some
178 images being replaced with text instead of the checkerboard
179 image. Why and how do I get rid of this?</a></dt>
180 <dt>3.16. <a href="configuration.html#SRVANY">Can Privoxy run as
181 a service on Win2K/NT/XP?</a></dt>
182 <dt>3.17. <a href="configuration.html#OTHERPROXY">How can I make
183 Privoxy work with other proxies?</a></dt>
184 <dt>3.18. <a href="configuration.html#PORT-80">Can I just set
185 Privoxy to use port 80 and thus avoid individual browser
186 configuration?</a></dt>
187 <dt>3.19. <a href="configuration.html#TRANSPARENT">Can Privoxy
188 run as a <span class="QUOTE">"transparent"</span> proxy?</a></dt>
189 <dt>3.20. <a href="configuration.html#INTERCEPTING">Can Privoxy
190 run as a <span class="QUOTE">"intercepting"</span>
192 <dt>3.21. <a href="configuration.html#OUTLOOK">How can I
193 configure Privoxy for use with Outlook?</a></dt>
194 <dt>3.22. <a href="configuration.html#OUTLOOK-MORE">How can I
195 have separate rules just for HTML mail?</a></dt>
196 <dt>3.23. <a href="configuration.html#SNEAKY-COOKIES">I sometimes
197 notice cookies sneaking through. How?</a></dt>
198 <dt>3.24. <a href="configuration.html#EVIL-COOKIES">Are all
199 cookies bad? Why?</a></dt>
200 <dt>3.25. <a href="configuration.html#ALLOW-COOKIES">How can I
201 allow permanent cookies for my trusted sites?</a></dt>
202 <dt>3.26. <a href="configuration.html#MULTIPLES">Can I have
203 separate configurations for different users?</a></dt>
204 <dt>3.27. <a href="configuration.html#WHITELISTS">Can I set-up
205 Privoxy as a whitelist of <span class="QUOTE">"good"</span>
207 <dt>3.28. <a href="configuration.html#NO-ADBLOCK">How can I turn
208 off ad-blocking?</a></dt>
209 <dt>3.29. <a href="configuration.html#TEMPLATES">How can I have
210 custom template pages, like the <span class="emphasis"><i class=
211 "EMPHASIS">BLOCKED</i></span> page?</a></dt>
212 <dt>3.30. <a href="configuration.html#BLOCKALL">How can I remove
213 the <span class="QUOTE">"Go There Anyway"</span> link from the
214 <span class="emphasis"><i class="EMPHASIS">BLOCKED</i></span>
218 <dt>4. <a href="misc.html">Miscellaneous</a></dt>
221 <dt>4.1. <a href="misc.html#SLOWSME">How much does Privoxy slow
222 my browsing down? This has to add extra time to
224 <dt>4.2. <a href="misc.html#LOADINGTIMES">I notice considerable
225 delays in page requests. What's wrong?</a></dt>
226 <dt>4.3. <a href="misc.html#CONFIGURL">What are
227 "http://config.privoxy.org/" and "http://p.p/"?</a></dt>
228 <dt>4.4. <a href="misc.html#NEWADS">How can I submit new ads, or
229 report problems?</a></dt>
230 <dt>4.5. <a href="misc.html#NEWADS2">If I do submit missed ads,
231 will they be included in future updates?</a></dt>
232 <dt>4.6. <a href="misc.html#NOONECARES">Why doesn't anyone answer
233 my support request?</a></dt>
234 <dt>4.7. <a href="misc.html#IP">How can I hide my IP
236 <dt>4.8. <a href="misc.html#ANONFORSURE">Can Privoxy guarantee I
237 am anonymous?</a></dt>
238 <dt>4.9. <a href="misc.html#PROXYTEST">A test site says I am not
239 using a Proxy.</a></dt>
240 <dt>4.10. <a href="misc.html#TOR">How do I use Privoxy together
242 <dt>4.11. <a href="misc.html#SITEBREAK">Might some things break
243 because header information or content is being altered?</a></dt>
244 <dt>4.12. <a href="misc.html#CACHING">Can Privoxy act as a
245 <span class="QUOTE">"caching"</span> proxy to speed up web
247 <dt>4.13. <a href="misc.html#FIREWALL">What about as a firewall?
248 Can Privoxy protect me?</a></dt>
249 <dt>4.14. <a href="misc.html#WASTED">I have large empty spaces /
250 a checkerboard pattern now where ads used to be. Why?</a></dt>
251 <dt>4.15. <a href="misc.html#SSL">How can Privoxy filter Secure
252 (HTTPS) URLs?</a></dt>
253 <dt>4.16. <a href="misc.html#SECURE">Privoxy runs as a
254 <span class="QUOTE">"server"</span>. How secure is it? Do I need
255 to take any special precautions?</a></dt>
256 <dt>4.17. <a href="misc.html#TURNOFF">Can I temporarily disable
258 <dt>4.18. <a href="misc.html#REALLYOFF">When <span class=
259 "QUOTE">"disabled"</span> is Privoxy totally out of the
261 <dt>4.19. <a href="misc.html#TURNOFF2">How can I tell Privoxy to
262 totally ignore certain sites?</a></dt>
263 <dt>4.20. <a href="misc.html#CRUNCH">My logs show Privoxy
264 <span class="QUOTE">"crunches"</span> ads, but also its own
265 internal CGI pages. What is a <span class=
266 "QUOTE">"crunch"</span>?</a></dt>
267 <dt>4.21. <a href="misc.html#DOWNLOADS">Can Privoxy affect files
268 that I download from a webserver? FTP server?</a></dt>
269 <dt>4.22. <a href="misc.html#DOWNLOADS2">I just downloaded a Perl
270 script, and Privoxy altered it! Yikes, what is wrong!</a></dt>
271 <dt>4.23. <a href="misc.html#HOSTSFILE">Should I continue to use
272 a <span class="QUOTE">"HOSTS"</span> file for
273 ad-blocking?</a></dt>
274 <dt>4.24. <a href="misc.html#SEEALSO">Where can I find more
275 information about Privoxy and related issues?</a></dt>
276 <dt>4.25. <a href="misc.html#MICROSUCK">I've noticed that Privoxy
277 changes <span class="QUOTE">"Microsoft"</span> to <span class=
278 "QUOTE">"MicroSuck"</span>! Why are you manipulating my
280 <dt>4.26. <a href="misc.html#VALID">Does Privoxy produce
281 <span class="QUOTE">"valid"</span> HTML (or XHTML)?</a></dt>
282 <dt>4.27. <a href="misc.html#SURPRISE-PRIVOXY">How did you manage
283 to get Privoxy on my computer without my consent?</a></dt>
286 <dt>5. <a href="trouble.html">Troubleshooting</a></dt>
289 <dt>5.1. <a href="trouble.html#REFUSED">I cannot connect to any
290 websites. Or, I am getting <span class="QUOTE">"connection
291 refused"</span> message with every web page. Why?</a></dt>
292 <dt>5.2. <a href="trouble.html#ERROR503">Why am I getting a 503
293 Error (WSAECONNREFUSED) on every page?</a></dt>
294 <dt>5.3. <a href="trouble.html#FLUSHIT">I just added a new rule,
295 but the steenkin ad is still getting through. How?</a></dt>
296 <dt>5.4. <a href="trouble.html#BADSITE">One of my favorite sites
297 does not work with Privoxy. What can I do?</a></dt>
298 <dt>5.5. <a href="trouble.html#DUN">After installing Privoxy, I
299 have to log in every time I start IE. What gives?</a></dt>
300 <dt>5.6. <a href="trouble.html#FTP">I cannot connect to any FTP
301 sites. Privoxy is blocking me.</a></dt>
302 <dt>5.7. <a href="trouble.html#MACOSXIE">In Mac OS X, I can't
303 configure Microsoft Internet Explorer to use Privoxy as the HTTP
305 <dt>5.8. <a href="trouble.html#MACOSXUNINSTALL">In Mac OS X, I
306 dragged the Privoxy folder to the trash in order to uninstall it.
307 Now the finder tells me I don't have sufficient privileges to
308 empty the trash.</a></dt>
309 <dt>5.9. <a href="trouble.html#MACOSXIMAGES">In Mac OS X Panther
310 (10.3), images often fail to load and/or I experience random
311 delays in page loading. I'm using <tt class=
312 "LITERAL">localhost</tt> as my browser's proxy setting.</a></dt>
313 <dt>5.10. <a href="trouble.html#MACOSXACCOUNTDELETION">I just
314 upgraded to Mac OS X 10.9 (Mavericks) and now <span class=
315 "APPLICATION">Privoxy</span> has stopped working.</a></dt>
316 <dt>5.11. <a href="trouble.html#NOHOSTNAME">My logs show many
317 <span class="QUOTE">"Unable to get my own hostname"</span> lines.
319 <dt>5.12. <a href="trouble.html#INUSE">When I try to launch
320 Privoxy, I get an error message <span class="QUOTE">"port 8118 is
321 already in use"</span> (or similar wording). Why?</a></dt>
322 <dt>5.13. <a href="trouble.html#DEMORONIZER">Pages with UTF-8
323 fonts are garbled.</a></dt>
324 <dt>5.14. <a href="trouble.html#DEMORONIZER2">Why are binary
325 files (such as images) corrupted when Privoxy is used?</a></dt>
326 <dt>5.15. <a href="trouble.html#DEMORONIZER3">What is the
327 <span class="QUOTE">"demoronizer"</span> and why is it
329 <dt>5.16. <a href="trouble.html#WINDOWOPEN">Why do I keep seeing
330 <span class="QUOTE">"PrivoxyWindowOpen()"</span> in raw source
332 <dt>5.17. <a href="trouble.html#DNSERRORS">I am getting too many
333 DNS errors like <span class="QUOTE">"404 No Such Domain"</span>.
334 Why can't Privoxy do this better?</a></dt>
335 <dt>5.18. <a href="trouble.html#ALLCPU">At one site Privoxy just
336 hangs, and starts taking all CPU. Why is this?</a></dt>
337 <dt>5.19. <a href="trouble.html#SLOWCRAWL">I just installed
338 Privoxy, and all my browsing has slowed to a crawl. What
340 <dt>5.20. <a href="trouble.html#PREVENTCOMP">Why do my filters
341 work on some sites but not on others?</a></dt>
342 <dt>5.21. <a href="trouble.html#SSL-WARNINGS">On some HTTPS sites
343 my browser warns me about unauthenticated content, the URL bar
344 doesn't get highlighted and the lock symbol appears to be broken.
345 What's going on?</a></dt>
346 <dt>5.22. <a href="trouble.html#SE-LINUX">I get selinux error
347 messages. How can I fix this?</a></dt>
348 <dt>5.23. <a href="trouble.html#GENTOO-RICERS">I compiled
349 <span class="APPLICATION">Privoxy</span> with Gentoo's portage
350 and it appears to be very slow. Why?</a></dt>
351 <dt>5.24. <a href="trouble.html#TAINTED-SOCKETS">What are tainted
352 sockets and how do I prevent them?</a></dt>
353 <dt>5.25. <a href="trouble.html#PCRE-STACK-LIMIT">After adding my
354 custom filters, <span class="APPLICATION">Privoxy</span> crashes
355 when visitting certain websites</a></dt>
358 <dt>6. <a href="contact.html">Contacting the developers, Bug
359 Reporting and Feature Requests</a></dt>
362 <dt>6.1. <a href="contact.html#SUFFICIENT-INFORMATION">Please
363 provide sufficient information</a></dt>
364 <dt>6.2. <a href="contact.html#CONTACT-SUPPORT">Get
366 <dt>6.3. <a href="contact.html#REPORTING">Reporting
370 <dt>6.3.1. <a href="contact.html#CONTACT-ADS">Reporting Ads
371 or Other Configuration Problems</a></dt>
372 <dt>6.3.2. <a href="contact.html#CONTACT-BUGS">Reporting
376 <dt>6.4. <a href="contact.html#SECURITY-CONTACT">Reporting
377 security problems</a></dt>
378 <dt>6.5. <a href="contact.html#MAILING-LISTS">Mailing
380 <dt>6.6. <a href="contact.html#SF-TRACKERS">SourceForge support
384 <dt>7. <a href="copyright.html">Privoxy Copyright, License and
388 <dt>7.1. <a href="copyright.html#AEN1507">License</a></dt>
389 <dt>7.2. <a href="copyright.html#AEN1516">History</a></dt>
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408 <td width="33%" align="right" valign="top">General Information</td>