Slashdot Mirror
Ask Slashdot: Most Useful Browser Extensions?
An anonymous reader writes: One of the most powerful features of modern browsers is the ability to install third-party extensions. They allow third-party developers to work on really useful niche functionality, and let users customize their browser with the tools they need. Unfortunately, this environment has the same discover-ability and security problems as standalone software. Thus, my question: what are your most useful (and safe) browser extensions? I can't live without some privacy basics like NoScript, AdBlock, and Ghostery. I also find FoxyProxy helpful for getting around geolocation requirements for media streaming. OneTab works pretty well for saving groups of browser tabs, and Pushbullet keeps getting better at managing my phone while I'm at my PC.
Adblock, Flashblock, uBlock, Ghostery all pick up slightly different items to block which combined do a pretty good job of breaking things like Facebook (whitelisted) and news sites with embedded non-youtube videos. I just don't watch embedded videos anymore, the article is typically better anyways.
Now that Youtube is HTML5 by default for 99.99% of their videos you can safely enable flashblock for 100% of all sites, the only one I have whitelisted anymore is Pandora because they're stuck in 2007.
moox. for a new generation.
Adblock and Ghostery work on an opt-out basis, which is semi-adequate for ads and totally inadequate for tracking. Request Policy is my #1 mandatory extension.
The creatures outside looked from Alt-Right to Antifa; but already it was impossible to say which was which.
Is there an extension that blocks these "We'd like your feedback" messages that seem to be popping up on every single site lately? Or a way to block them easily with AdBlock?
As well, why not have a neutral platform you can build on to your needs instead of introducing bloat that only some people will like/use.
Firefox:
- AdBlock Plus + Element Hiding Helper
- Chatzilla (IRC Chat)
- FireFTP
- SnapLinks Plus (right click multi-link select/copy/open)
- Firebug
- HTTPS Everywhere
- Quickdrag (drag drop links into white space to open in new tab, drag drop images to download them)
- SQLite Manager (manually browse and fix Mozilla's privacy blunders)
- TableTools2 (manage table data when site options don't offer it)
- YouTube HD (forces specific sizes when possible)
- Live HTTP Headers (see what's really being sent)
So you're saying that the customer demands cross-site scripting hell, where to look at a simple article I have to have fifteen different sites' javascript enabled, including probably half a dozen ad/tracking sites that have nothing to do with reading text on a screen?
Yes.
uBlock and AdBlock do indeed block the same stuff, but if you're going to pick one, go with uBlock, since it's significantly more efficient.