Privoxy Frequently Asked Questions

Copyright © 2001-2011 by Privoxy Developers

$Id: faq.sgml,v 2.92 2013/03/01 17:44:24 fabiankeil Exp $

This FAQ gives quick answers to frequently asked questions about Privoxy. It is not a substitute for the Privoxy User Manual.

What is Privoxy?

Privoxy is a non-caching web proxy with advanced filtering capabilities for enhancing privacy, modifying web page data and HTTP headers, controlling access, and removing ads and other obnoxious Internet junk. Privoxy has a flexible configuration and can be customized to suit individual needs and tastes. It has application for both stand-alone systems and multi-user networks.

Privoxy is Free Software and licensed under the GNU GPLv2.

Privoxy is an associated project of Software in the Public Interest (SPI).

Helping hands and donations are welcome:

Please note that this document is a work in progress. This copy represents the state at the release of version 3.0.21. 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.

Table of Contents
1. General Information
1.1. Who should give Privoxy a try?
1.2. Is Privoxy the best choice for me?
1.3. What is a "proxy"? How does Privoxy work?
1.4. Does Privoxy do anything more than ad blocking?
1.5. What is this new version of "Junkbuster"?
1.6. Why "Privoxy"? Why change the name from Junkbuster at all?
1.7. 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?
1.13. Why should I trust Privoxy?
1.14. Is there is a license or fee? What about a warranty? Registration?
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?
1.17.1. Would you like to participate?
1.17.2. Would you like to donate?
2. Installation
2.1. Which browsers are supported by Privoxy?
2.2. Which operating systems are supported?
2.3. Can I use Privoxy with my email client?
2.4. I just installed Privoxy. Is there anything special I have to do now?
2.5. What is the proxy address of Privoxy?
2.6. 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. Configuration
3.1. What exactly is an "actions" file?
3.2. The "actions" concept confuses me. Please list some of these "actions".
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. Where can I get updated Actions Files?
3.6. Can I use my old config files?
3.7. Why is the configuration so complicated?
3.8. How can I make my Yahoo/Hotmail/Gmail account work?
3.9. What's the difference between the "Cautious", "Medium" and "Advanced" defaults?
3.10. Why can I change the configuration with a browser? Does that not raise security issues?
3.11. What is the default.filter file? What is a "filter"?
3.12. How can I set up Privoxy to act as a proxy for my LAN?
3.13. 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?
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. Miscellaneous
4.1. How much does Privoxy slow my browsing down? This has to add extra time to browsing.
4.2. I notice considerable delays in page requests. What's wrong?
4.3. What are "http://c