><H3
CLASS="SECT2"
><A
-NAME="AEN351"
+NAME="ACTIONSFILE"
>3.1. What exactly is an <SPAN
CLASS="QUOTE"
>"actions"</SPAN
TARGET="_top"
>actions</A
>"</SPAN
->
+>
that are used to manipulate and control web page data.
<A
HREF="../user-manual/actions-file.html"
>3.2. The <SPAN
CLASS="QUOTE"
>"actions"</SPAN
-> concept confuses me. Please list
+> concept confuses me. Please list
some of these <SPAN
CLASS="QUOTE"
>"actions"</SPAN
><H3
CLASS="SECT2"
><A
-NAME="AEN374"
+NAME="ACTCONFIG"
>3.3. How are actions files configured? What is the easiest
way to do this?</A
></H3
>View &
change the current configuration</A
>"</SPAN
-> from the menu. Note
- that this feature must be explicitly enabled in the main config file
+> from the menu. Note
+ that this feature must be explicitly enabled in the main config file
(see <A
HREF="../user-manual/config.html#ENABLE-EDIT-ACTIONS"
TARGET="_top"
><H3
CLASS="SECT2"
><A
-NAME="AEN383"
+NAME="AEN419"
>3.4. There are several different <SPAN
CLASS="QUOTE"
>"actions"</SPAN
the differences?</A
></H3
><P
-> Three actions files
- are being included by the developers, to be used for
- different purposes: These are
- <TT
-CLASS="FILENAME"
->default.action</TT
->, the <SPAN
-CLASS="QUOTE"
->"main"</SPAN
-> actions file
- which is actively maintained by the <SPAN
-CLASS="APPLICATION"
->Privoxy</SPAN
->
- developers and typically sets the default policies, <TT
-CLASS="FILENAME"
->user.action</TT
->,
- where users are encouraged to make their private customizations.
- Please see <A
+> Please have a look at the <A
HREF="../user-manual/actions-file.html"
TARGET="_top"
>the actions chapter</A
HREF="../user-manual/index.html"
TARGET="_top"
>User Manual</A
-> for a more
- detailed explanation.</P
-><P
-> Earlier versions included three different versions of the
- <TT
-CLASS="FILENAME"
->default.action</TT
-> file. The new scheme allows for
- greater flexibility of local configuration, and for browser based
- selection of pre-defined <SPAN
-CLASS="QUOTE"
->"aggressiveness"</SPAN
-> levels.</P
+> for a detailed explanation.</P
></DIV
><DIV
CLASS="SECT2"
>3.5. Where can I get updated Actions Files?</A
></H3
><P
-> Based on your feedback and the continuing development, updates of
+> Based on your feedback and the continuing development, updates of
<TT
CLASS="FILENAME"
>default.action</TT
> will be
made available from time to time on the <A
-HREF="http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=11118"
+HREF="https://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=11118"
TARGET="_top"
>files section</A
> of
our <A
-HREF="http://sf.net/projects/ijbswa/"
+HREF="https://sourceforge.net/projects/ijbswa/"
TARGET="_top"
>project page</A
>.
CLASS="APPLICATION"
>Privoxy</SPAN
> or the actions file, <A
-HREF="http://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/ijbswa-announce/"
+HREF="https://lists.privoxy.org/mailman/listinfo/privoxy-announce"
TARGET="_top"
>subscribe
to our announce mailing list</A
->, ijbswa-announce@lists.sourceforge.net.
+>, privoxy-announce@lists.privoxy.org.
</P
></DIV
><DIV
> <SPAN
CLASS="QUOTE"
>"Complicated"</SPAN
-> is in the eye of the beholder. Those that are
- familiar with some of the underlying concepts, such as regular expression
- syntax, take to it like a fish takes to water. Also, software that tries
- hard to be <SPAN
-CLASS="QUOTE"
->"user friendly"</SPAN
->, often lacks sophistication and
- flexibility. There is always that trade-off there between power vs.
- easy-of-use. Furthermore, anyone is welcome to contribute ideas and
- implementations to enhance <SPAN
-CLASS="APPLICATION"
->Privoxy</SPAN
->.
+> is in the eye of the beholder.
+ </P
+><P
+> Privoxy is currently mainly written by and for people who are already
+ familiar with the underlying concepts like regular expressions, HTTP and HTML,
+ or are willing to become familiar with them to be able to get the most
+ out of a powerful and flexible tool such as Privoxy.
+ </P
+><P
+> While everybody is expected to be able to get a Privoxy default installation
+ up and running, fine-tuning requires a certain amount of background
+ information and Privoxy's documentation mainly concentrates on the
+ Privoxy-specific parts while only providing references to the rest.
+ </P
+><P
+> If you or anyone you know has the skills, time and energy to
+ reduce the barrier of entry, please <A
+HREF="general.html#PARTICIPATE"
+>get involved</A
+>.
</P
></DIV
><DIV
HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Browser_cookie"
TARGET="_top"
>cookies</A
->
+>
temporary, so that your browser will forget your
login credentials in between browser sessions. If you would like not to have to log
in manually each time you access those websites, simply turn off all cookie handling
> file. An example for yahoo might
look like:
</P
-><P
-> <TABLE
+><TABLE
BORDER="0"
BGCOLOR="#E0E0E0"
WIDTH="100%"
></TD
></TR
></TABLE
->
- </P
><P
-> These kinds of sites are often quite complex and heavy with
+> These kinds of sites are often quite complex and heavy with
<A
HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Javascript"
TARGET="_top"
>Javascript</A
-> and
+> and
thus <SPAN
CLASS="QUOTE"
>"fragile"</SPAN
CLASS="EMPHASIS"
>still</I
></SPAN
-> a problem,
+> a problem,
we have an <A
HREF="../user-manual/actions-file.html#ALIASES"
TARGET="_top"
> just for such
sticky situations:
</P
-><P
-> <TABLE
+><TABLE
BORDER="0"
BGCOLOR="#E0E0E0"
WIDTH="100%"
></TD
></TR
></TABLE
->
- </P
><P
> Be sure to flush your browser's caches whenever making these kinds of
changes, just to make sure the changes <SPAN
</P
><P
> Make sure the domain, host and path are appropriate as well. Your browser can
- tell you where you are specifically and you should use that information for
- your configuration settings. Note that above it is not referenced as
+ tell you where you are specifically and you should use that information for
+ your configuration settings. Note that above it is not referenced as
<TT
CLASS="LITERAL"
>gmail.com</TT
>User
Manual</I
></A
-> for a list of actions, and how the default
+> for a list of actions, and how the default
profiles are set.
</P
><P
>"problem"</SPAN
> sites are included, but in
general, the more aggressive your default settings are, the more exceptions
- you will have to make later. New users are best to start off in
+ you will have to make later. New users are best to start off in
<SPAN
CLASS="QUOTE"
>"Cautious"</SPAN
-> setting. This is safest and will have the fewest
+> setting. This is safest and will have the fewest
problems. See the <A
HREF="../user-manual/index.html"
TARGET="_top"
> It should be noted that the <SPAN
CLASS="QUOTE"
>"Advanced"</SPAN
-> profile (formerly known
+> profile (formerly known
as the <SPAN
CLASS="QUOTE"
>"Adventuresome"</SPAN
> profile) is more
- aggressive, and will make use of some of
+ aggressive, and will make use of some of
<SPAN
CLASS="APPLICATION"
>Privoxy's</SPAN
CLASS="SECT2"
><A
NAME="BROWSECONFIG"
->3.10. Why can I change the configuration
+>3.10. Why can I change the configuration
with a browser? Does that not raise security issues?</A
></H3
><P
>Privoxy</SPAN
> for multiple untrusted users (e.g. in
a LAN) or aren't entirely in control of your own browser, you will probably want
- to make sure that the the web-based editor and remote toggle features are
+ to make sure that the web-based editor and remote toggle features are
<SPAN
CLASS="QUOTE"
>"off"</SPAN
><H3
CLASS="SECT2"
><A
-NAME="AEN478"
+NAME="FILTERFILE"
>3.11. What is the <TT
CLASS="FILENAME"
>default.filter</TT
>
action</A
> in one of the actions files. Content filtering is automatically
- disabled for inappropriate MIME types, but if you now better than Privoxy
+ disabled for inappropriate MIME types, but if you know better than Privoxy
what should or should not be filtered you can filter any content you like.</P
><P
> Filters should
is a completely different action, and is more typically used to block ads and
unwanted sites.</P
><P
-> If you are familiar with regular expressions, and HTML, you can look at
+> If you are familiar with regular expressions, and HTML, you can look at
the provided <TT
CLASS="FILENAME"
>default.filter</TT
> with a text editor and define
your own filters. This is potentially a very powerful feature, but
- requires some expertise in both regular expressions and HTML/HTTP.
- You should
- place any modifications to the default filters, or any new ones you create
+ requires some expertise in both regular expressions and HTML/HTTP.
+ You should
+ place any modifications to the default filters, or any new ones you create
in a separate file, such as <TT
CLASS="FILENAME"
>user.filter</TT
->, so they won't
- be overwritten during upgrades.
- The ability to define multiple filter files
+>, so they won't
+ be overwritten during upgrades.
+ The ability to define multiple filter files
in <TT
CLASS="FILENAME"
>config</TT
> is a new feature as of v. 3.0.5.</P
><P
-> There is no GUI editor option for this part of the configuration,
- but you can disable/enable the various pre-defined filters of the included
+> There is no GUI editor option for this part of the configuration,
+ but you can disable/enable the various pre-defined filters of the included
<TT
CLASS="FILENAME"
>default.filter</TT
><P
> If you intend to develop your own filters, you might want to have a look at
<A
-HREF="http://www.fabiankeil.de/sourcecode/pft/"
+HREF="https://www.fabiankeil.de/sourcecode/pft/"
TARGET="_top"
>Privoxy-Filter-Test</A
>.</P
CLASS="SECT2"
><A
NAME="LANCONFIG"
->3.12. How can I set up Privoxy to act as a proxy for my
+>3.12. How can I set up Privoxy to act as a proxy for my
LAN?</A
></H3
><P
> By default, <SPAN
CLASS="APPLICATION"
>Privoxy</SPAN
-> only responds to requests
+> only responds to requests
from <TT
CLASS="LITERAL"
>127.0.0.1</TT
>Privoxy</SPAN
> on port 8118, this line
should look like:</P
-><P
-> <TABLE
+><TABLE
BORDER="0"
BGCOLOR="#E0E0E0"
WIDTH="100%"
></TD
></TR
></TABLE
-></P
><P
> Save the file, and restart <SPAN
CLASS="APPLICATION"
>Privoxy</SPAN
->. Configure
+>. Configure
all browsers on the network then to use this address and port number.</P
><P
> Alternately, you can have <SPAN
CLASS="APPLICATION"
>Privoxy</SPAN
-> listen on
+> listen on
all available interfaces:</P
-><P
-> <TABLE
+><TABLE
BORDER="0"
BGCOLOR="#E0E0E0"
WIDTH="100%"
></TD
></TR
></TABLE
-></P
><P
> And then use <SPAN
CLASS="APPLICATION"
>Privoxy's</SPAN
->
+>
<A
HREF="../user-manual/config.html#PERMIT-ACCESS"
TARGET="_top"
>permit-access</A
->
- feature to limit connections. A firewall in this situation is recommended
+>
+ feature to limit connections. A firewall in this situation is recommended
as well.</P
><P
> The above steps should be the same for any TCP network, regardless of
><H3
CLASS="SECT2"
><A
-NAME="AEN529"
+NAME="NOSEEUM"
>3.13. Instead of ads, now I get a checkerboard pattern. I don't want to see anything.</A
></H3
><P
> to <SPAN
CLASS="QUOTE"
>"blank"</SPAN
->. This can be done by editing the
+>. This can be done by editing the
<TT
CLASS="FILENAME"
>user.action</TT
><H3
CLASS="SECT2"
><A
-NAME="AEN546"
+NAME="WHYSEEUM"
>3.14. Why would anybody want to see a checkerboard pattern?</A
></H3
><P
is rather smart, it will make occasional mistakes. The checkerboard image is visually
decent, and it shows you where images have been blocked, which can be very
helpful in case some navigation aid or otherwise innocent image was
- erroneously blocked. It is recommended for new users so they can
+ erroneously blocked. It is recommended for new users so they can
<SPAN
CLASS="QUOTE"
>"see"</SPAN
><H3
CLASS="SECT2"
><A
-NAME="AEN552"
+NAME="BLOCKEDBYTEXT"
>3.15. I see some images being replaced with text
instead of the checkerboard image. Why and how do I get rid of this?</A
></H3
or (i)layers, and these external HTML documents are blocked. Being non-images
they get replaced by a substitute HTML page rather than a substitute image,
which wouldn't work out technically, since the browser expects and accepts
- only HTML when it has requested an HTML document. </P
+ only HTML when it has requested an HTML document.</P
><P
> The substitute page adapts to the available space and shows itself as a
miniature two-liner if loaded into small frames, or full-blown with a
CLASS="SECT2"
><A
NAME="SRVANY"
->3.16. Can Privoxy run as a service
+>3.16. Can Privoxy run as a service
on Win2K/NT/XP?</A
></H3
><P
CLASS="CITETITLE"
>User Manual</I
></A
-> for details on how to install and configure
+> for details on how to install and configure
<SPAN
CLASS="APPLICATION"
>Privoxy</SPAN
>srvany.exe</B
>.
See the discussion at <A
-HREF="http://sourceforge.net/tracker/?func=detail&atid=361118&aid=485617&group_id=11118"
+HREF="https://sourceforge.net/tracker/?func=detail&atid=361118&aid=485617&group_id=11118"
TARGET="_top"
->http://sourceforge.net/tracker/?func=detail&atid=361118&aid=485617&group_id=11118</A
+>https://sourceforge.net/tracker/?func=detail&atid=361118&aid=485617&group_id=11118</A
>,
for details, and a sample configuration.</P
></DIV
CLASS="SECT2"
><A
NAME="OTHERPROXY"
->3.17. How can I make Privoxy work with other
-proxies like Squid or Tor?</A
+>3.17. How can I make Privoxy work with other proxies?</A
></H3
><P
> This can be done and is often useful to combine the benefits of
<SPAN
CLASS="APPLICATION"
>Privoxy</SPAN
-> with those of a another proxy.
+> with those of a another proxy,
+ for example to cache content.
See the <A
HREF="../user-manual/config.html#FORWARDING"
TARGET="_top"
TARGET="_top"
>User Manual</A
> which
- describes how to do this, and the <A
+ describes how to do this. If you intend to use Privoxy with Tor,
+ please also have a look at
+ <A
HREF="misc.html#TOR"
-> How do I use Privoxy together with
- Tor</A
-> section below.</P
+>How do I use Privoxy together with Tor</A
+>.</P
></DIV
><DIV
CLASS="SECT2"
and thus avoid individual browser configuration?</A
></H3
><P
-> No, its more complicated than that. This only works with special kinds
+> No, its more complicated than that. This only works with special kinds
of proxies known as <SPAN
CLASS="QUOTE"
>"intercepting"</SPAN
-> proxies (see below).</P
+> proxies
+ (<A
+HREF="configuration.html#INTERCEPTING"
+>see below</A
+>).</P
></DIV
><DIV
CLASS="SECT2"
>"intercepting proxy"</SPAN
>. If you are one of them,
please read the <A
-HREF="#intercepting"
-TARGET="_top"
+HREF="configuration.html#INTERCEPTING"
>next entry</A
>.</P
></DIV
CLASS="LITERAL"
>Host</TT
>
- header is present.
+ header is present.
</P
><P
> As the <TT
case of <SPAN
CLASS="APPLICATION"
>Outlook Express</SPAN
-> (see above), OE uses
+> (see above), OE uses
IE anyway, and there is no way for <SPAN
CLASS="APPLICATION"
>Privoxy</SPAN
-> to ever
+> to ever
be able to distinguish between them (nor could any other proxy type application for
that matter).</P
><P
-> For a good discussion of some of the issues involved (including privacy and
- security issues), see
+> For a good discussion of some of the issues involved (including privacy and
+ security issues), see
<A
-HREF="http://sourceforge.net/tracker/?func=detail&atid=211118&aid=629518&group_id=11118"
+HREF="https://sourceforge.net/tracker/?func=detail&atid=211118&aid=629518&group_id=11118"
TARGET="_top"
->http://sourceforge.net/tracker/?func=detail&atid=211118&aid=629518&group_id=11118</A
+>https://sourceforge.net/tracker/?func=detail&atid=211118&aid=629518&group_id=11118</A
>.</P
></DIV
><DIV
HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Browser_cookie"
TARGET="_top"
>Cookies</A
-> can be
- set in several ways. The classic method is via the
+> can be
+ set in several ways. The classic method is via the
<TT
CLASS="LITERAL"
>Set-Cookie</TT
easy one to manipulate, such as the <SPAN
CLASS="APPLICATION"
>Privoxy</SPAN
-> concept of
+> concept of
<A
HREF="../user-manual/actions-file.html#SESSION-COOKIES-ONLY"
TARGET="_top"
>session-cookies-only</A
>.
- There is also the possibility of using
+ There is also the possibility of using
<A
HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Javascript"
TARGET="_top"
>3.24. Are all cookies bad? Why?</A
></H3
><P
-> No, in fact there are many beneficial uses of
+> No, in fact there are many beneficial uses of
<A
HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Browser_cookie"
TARGET="_top"
method that browsers can use to store data between pages, or between browser
sessions. Sometimes there is a good reason for this, and the user's life is a
bit easier as a result. But there is a long history of some websites taking
- advantage of this layer of trust, and using the data they glean from you and
+ advantage of this layer of trust, and using the data they glean from you and
your browsing habits for their own purposes, and maybe to your potential
detriment. Such sites are using you and storing their data on your system.
That is why the privacy conscious watch from whom those cookies come, and why
></SPAN
> to be there.</P
><P
-> See the
+> See the
<A
HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Browser_cookie"
TARGET="_top"
>3.25. How can I allow permanent cookies for my trusted sites?</A
></H3
><P
-> There are several actions that relate to cookies. The default behavior is to
+> There are several actions that relate to cookies. The default behavior is to
allow only <SPAN
CLASS="QUOTE"
>"session cookies"</SPAN
>, which means the cookies only last
- for the current browser session. This eliminates most kinds of abuse related
+ for the current browser session. This eliminates most kinds of abuse related
to cookies. But there may be cases where you want cookies to last.</P
><P
> To disable all cookie actions, so that cookies are allowed unrestricted,
both in and out, for <TT
CLASS="LITERAL"
>example.com</TT
->: </P
-><P
-> <TABLE
+>:</P
+><TABLE
BORDER="0"
BGCOLOR="#E0E0E0"
WIDTH="100%"
></TD
></TR
></TABLE
-></P
><P
> Place the above in <TT
CLASS="FILENAME"
What you can do is run multiple instances of <SPAN
CLASS="APPLICATION"
>Privoxy</SPAN
->, each with
- a unique
+>, each with
+ a unique
<A
HREF="../user-manual/config.html#LISTEN-ADDRESS"
TARGET="_top"
each of these can have their own configurations. Think of it as per-port
configuration.</P
><P
->
- Simple enough for a few users, but for large installations, consider having
+> Simple enough for a few users, but for large installations, consider having
groups of users that might share like configurations.</P
></DIV
><DIV
>+block</A
> }
/ # Block *all* URLs
-
+
############################################################
# Whitelist
############################################################
></TR
></TABLE
><P
-> This allows access to only those three sites by first blocking all URLs, and
+> This allows access to only those three sites by first blocking all URLs, and
then subsequently allowing three specific exceptions.</P
><P
> Another approach is <SPAN
CLASS="APPLICATION"
>Privoxy's</SPAN
->
+>
<TT
CLASS="LITERAL"
>trustfile</TT
-> concept, which incorporates the notion of
+> concept, which incorporates the notion of
<SPAN
CLASS="QUOTE"
>"trusted referrers"</SPAN
> Ad blocking is achieved through a complex application of various <SPAN
CLASS="APPLICATION"
>Privoxy</SPAN
->
+>
<A
HREF="../user-manual/actions-file.html"
TARGET="_top"
>actions</A
->. These
- actions are deployed against simple images, banners, flash animations,
+>. These
+ actions are deployed against simple images, banners, flash animations,
text pages, JavaScript, pop-ups and pop-unders, etc., so its not as simple as
just turning one or two actions off. The various actions that make up
<SPAN
CLASS="APPLICATION"
>Privoxy</SPAN
> is interested in this
- particular feature.
+ particular feature.
</P
><P
> If you want to do without this, there are several approaches you can take:
following very simple rule in your <TT
CLASS="FILENAME"
>user.action</TT
->:
+>:
</P
-><P
-> <TABLE
+><TABLE
BORDER="0"
BGCOLOR="#E0E0E0"
WIDTH="100%"
></TD
></TR
></TABLE
-></P
-><P
->
- Or even a more comprehensive reversing of various ad related actions:</P
><P
-> <TABLE
+> Or even a more comprehensive reversing of various ad related actions:</P
+><TABLE
BORDER="0"
BGCOLOR="#E0E0E0"
WIDTH="100%"
></TD
></TR
></TABLE
-></P
><P
> This last <SPAN
CLASS="QUOTE"
CLASS="SECT2"
><A
NAME="TEMPLATES"
->3.29. How can I have custom template pages, like the
+>3.29. How can I have custom template pages, like the
<SPAN
CLASS="emphasis"
><I
HREF="../user-manual/config.html#templdir"
TARGET="_top"
>templdir</A
-> option. </P
+> option.</P
></DIV
><DIV
CLASS="SECT2"
>3.30. How can I remove the <SPAN
CLASS="QUOTE"
>"Go There Anyway"</SPAN
-> link from
+> link from
the <SPAN
CLASS="emphasis"
><I
CLASS="APPLICATION"
>Privoxy</SPAN
> from source, and disable various features that are
- available as compile-time options. You should
+ available as compile-time options. You should
<B
CLASS="COMMAND"
>configure</B
> the sources as follows:</P
-><P
-> <TABLE
+><TABLE
BORDER="0"
BGCOLOR="#E0E0E0"
WIDTH="100%"
></TD
></TR
></TABLE
-></P
><P
> This will create an executable with hard-coded security features so that
<SPAN