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Privoxy

what is it?

Privoxy is a Web proxy. A proxy is a middle-man between yourself and your final destination. Your Web browser would send a request for a Web site and then the proxy would fetch the Web page, filter it, then send it to the Web browser. The default setup of Privoxy will filter out advertising from Web sites. If you really get into it you can set Privoxy to filter just about anything you want.

how to use

Privoxy is pretty simple to use. All you need to know is how to access the network settings of your Web browser.

Firefox

  1. In Firefox, click on the Tools menu then select Options.
  2. Along the top, click on the Advanced icon.
  3. Now click on the Network folder tab.
  4. Press the Settings button.
  5. Choose Manual proxy configuration.
  6. Next to HTTP Proxy: type in 127.0.0.1.
  7. Change the port number to 8118.
  8. Remove anything that may be in the No Proxy for: field. It probably contains localhost, 127.0.0.1.
  9. OK button your way out.

Internet Explorer

  1. Click on the Tools menu then select Internet Options.
  2. Click on the Connections tab.
  3. Press the LAN settings button.
  4. Place a check mark in the box for Use a proxy server for your LAN.
  5. In the Address: field type in 127.0.0.1.
  6. In the Port: field type in 8118.
  7. OK button your way out.

Opera

  1. Click on the Tools menu then select Preferences.
  2. Click on the Advanced tab.
  3. Click on Network in the left column near the bottom.
  4. Press the Proxy Servers button that appears on the right.
  5. Fill in 127.0.0.1 for each protocol and 8118 for the port number.
  6. Place a check mark next to Enable HTTP 1.1 for proxy.
  7. OK button your way out.

Google Chrome

  1. Click on the wrench then select Options.
  2. Click on Under the Hood along the top.
  3. Scroll down to the Network section and press the Chnage proxy settings button.
  4. Press the LAN settings button.
  5. Place a check mark in the box for Use a proxy server for your LAN.
  6. In the Address: field type in 127.0.0.1.
  7. In the Port: field type in 8118.
  8. OK button your way out.