What are the "Must Have" extensions for Firefox

[luciddream]

I used to use BetterPrivacy too, but now that Firefox is able to detect & remove flash cookies, it rendered the addon unnecessary to me.

Also I use an about:config tweak to handle referrers instead of RefControl. But certainly if you want per case/granular control, it's a useful addon. I personally block all.

[luciddream]

I just realized that that "one popup" I used to get is indeed covered by EasyList now. Not to mention I don't use that site anymore. The Adblock Plus Pop-up Addon has been removed... that's one more down, shortening my list to 9 things.

I've also removed the "Antisocial" sub. list. After further review, I'm just not on sites that have buttons to link that stuff often enough to justify having that list. Those Facebook/Twitter buttons do annoy me, but I rarely see them.

So my list is now:

Adblock Plus (EasyList & EasyPrivacy filters only)
CS Lite Mod
Element Hiding Helper for Adblock Plus
Ghostery (3pes blocking only)
HTTPS-Everywhere
Keyscrambler
NoScript
RequestPolicy
WOT (negative results only, no popups)

... and I think these are all keepers.

I can even tell a slight difference with 1 less addon and 2 less sub lists. A tad snappier.

[wat0114]

NoScript
LastPass

BTW, I find no compelling reason to use AB Plus if NoScript is carefully and strategically configured. In my own setup, I see very few ads or adverts. Sure, I could block a few more but the tradeoff of running another extension to do so is not worth it, at least imho. Doesn't running fewer extensions increase the browser's speed and stability? Also, With a few exceptions, 3rd party cookies are blocked.

[moontan]

Originally Posted by wat0114

NoScript
LastPass

BTW, I find no compelling reason to use AB Plus if NoScript is carefully and strategically configured. In my own setup, I see very few ads or adverts. Sure, I could block a few more but the tradeoff of running another extension to do so is not worth it, at least imho. Doesn't running fewer extensions increase the browser's speed and stability? Also, With a few exceptions, 3rd party cookies are blocked.

my feelings exactly.
the only addon i run is NoScript.
the less of these things running the better.

both for performance and security.

[bo elam]

NoScript does block most of the contents that I want to block but sometimes Adblock becomes handy when I cant use NoScript to block something. NoScript doesn't block annotations on Youtube videos, something that I cant stand. Thanks to an Adblock filter, I am able to block them. The result is a clean video with no ads, suggestions or messages written on them.

"Must have"
NoScript
Adblock

Bo

[wat0114]

Originally Posted by moontan

both for performance and security.

Right, the security aspect is another good reason

[Amit]

I agree with Bo. The must have extensions for me are AdBlock Plus & NoScript.

[Pedro]

Originally Posted by Pinga

Google/Yandex search link fix 1.4
by Wladimir Palant

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/fir...arch-link-fix/

Alternatively, Straight Google user script, apparently written by Alex from A Clockwork Orange.

I'm also enjoying this one, Google Hit Hider by Domain (Search Filter / Block Sites).

Block unwanted sites from your Google search results.

[luciddream]

Disabled Element Hiding Helper for ABP since I rarely use it anymore. Already have annoying stuff blocked on all sites I frequent. Once in a long while something new pops up. So I have 8 running now:

ABP (EasyList, EasyPrivacy)
CS Lite Mod (Cookies denied globally)
Ghostery (3P only)
HTTPS-Everywhere
Keyscrambler
NoScript (Default Deny)
RequestPolicy
WOT (negative results only, no popups)

I don't see myself trimming it down any more than this.

[Amit]

Originally Posted by luciddream

Disabled Element Hiding Helper for ABP since I rarely use it anymore. Already have annoying stuff blocked on all sites I frequent. Once in a long while something new pops up. So I have 8 running now:

ABP (EasyList, EasyPrivacy)
CS Lite Mod (Cookies denied globally)
Ghostery (3P only)
HTTPS-Everywhere
Keyscrambler
NoScript (Default Deny)
RequestPolicy
WOT (negative results only, no popups)

I don't see myself trimming it down any more than this.

Why would you need Ghostery when you've got ABP, NoScript and RequestPolicy? Also do you write your HTTPS EveryWhere rules yourself? If not why no HTTPS Finder?

[tlu]

Originally Posted by luciddream

CS Lite Mod (Cookies denied globally)

Interesting! In my experience, blocking cookies globally breaks far too many sites. That's why I only block 3rd party cookies globally and allow session cookies by default with a couple of exceptions defined with Coookie Monster.

[Amit]

Originally Posted by tlu

Interesting! In my experience, blocking cookies globally breaks far too many sites. That's why I only block 3rd party cookies globally and allow session cookies by default with a couple of exceptions defined with Coookie Monster.

True. Gmail for instance will break without cookies and will ask you to enable cookies in your browser.

[d0t]

I don't think many of you use Facebook. Anyway, theres an addon called "facebookfastdeletemessages". It delete all your in-box messages at once saves a lot of time.

edit: also avaliable for Chrome

[luciddream]

Originally Posted by tlu

Interesting! In my experience, blocking cookies globally breaks far too many sites. That's why I only block 3rd party cookies globally and allow session cookies by default with a couple of exceptions defined with Coookie Monster.

I've never had a site break by denying cookies. Naturally, to do things like sign into web mail you'll need to allow them, and I do (temporarily). Or to order stuff from Amazon. Those are about the only reasons I ever have to allow cookies.

I disabled the Element Hiding Helper for ABP since I rarely use it. Once in awhile a new (annoying) element pops up on a site I frequent. Until then I'll just keep it off. So that's now 8 running:

Adblock Plus (EasyList & EasyPrivacy)
CS Lite Mod (Cookies denied globally)
Ghostery (3pes blocking only)
HTTPS-Everywhere
Keyscrambler
NoScript
RequestPolicy
WOT

[moontan]

Originally Posted by tlu

Interesting! In my experience, blocking cookies globally breaks far too many sites. That's why I only block 3rd party cookies globally and allow session cookies by default with a couple of exceptions defined with Coookie Monster.

indeed.

i got Firefox to auto-delete everything on exit anyway.

but it's my experience as well that blocking ALL cookies breaks way too many websites.

[luciddream]

I see a lot of people mention that blocking cookies & scripts breaks a bunch of stuff, and/or is a monumental inconvenience. My browsing habits are obviously vastly different, because I very rarely need either (scripts or cookies) for the sites I visit to function adequately... not even 1'st party.

I was just able to log onto Wilders and make this post here without allowing either, for instance.

Different strokes for different folks

[luciddream]

Originally Posted by Amit

Why would you need Ghostery when you've got ABP, NoScript and RequestPolicy? Also do you write your HTTPS EveryWhere rules yourself? If not why no HTTPS Finder?

Same reason I use RequestPolicy despite already having NS. I came to find it still blocked a lot of things the other(s) missed. Now if I were using Fanboys Lists (namely the tracking/stats blocking), then Ghostery would probably be too much overlap to use. I decided I'd get more benefit from Ghostery + the 2 lists I use than from a bunch of lists.

Also I don't use the pre-arranged whitelists that come with RP. People that do, I don't doubt see very little benefit from it.

[Amit]

Originally Posted by luciddream

Same reason I use RequestPolicy despite already having NS. I came to find it still blocked a lot of things the other(s) missed. Now if I were using Fanboys Lists (namely the tracking/stats blocking), then Ghostery would probably be too much overlap to use. I decided I'd get more benefit from Ghostery + the 2 lists I use than from a bunch of lists.

Also I don't use the pre-arranged whitelists that come with RP. People that do, I don't doubt see very little benefit from it.

I use ABP with Fanboy's Ultimate List and NoScript with no whitelists. I do not need Ghostery. It's less hassle. You could try that sometime.

[encus]

Definitely Adblock Plus with Easy List English subscription.
BTW, can I use more than 1 subscription mixed as 1 (like Easy List & Fanboy)?
Thanks.

[Amit]

Originally Posted by encus

Definitely Adblock Plus with Easy List English subscription.
BTW, can I use more than 1 subscription mixed as 1 (like Easy List & Fanboy)?
Thanks.

No. But you could use:

Originally Posted by Fanboy homepage

Fanboy Adult List

This subscription specifically blocks Adult websites, *not* required if you're using the Fanboy Adblock list. The Adult list is only required if you're using a 3rd party subscription such as Easylist.

Add Fanboy Adult list

[AMIGA500]

i use adblock,noscript and WOT.any suggestions for any good others i may need,?
Regards,

[encus]

Originally Posted by Amit

No. But you could use:

What if I subscribed to Easy List & Fanboy but I only use 1 of them? Is this possible?
Thanks.

[Amit]

Originally Posted by encus

What if I subscribed to Easy List & Fanboy but I only use 1 of them? Is this possible?
Thanks.

You should not add all subscriptions you can get — each filter subscription contains filters that will in some cases block something that is not an advertisement, this is unavoidable. Usually, this will never be an issue for you, but you will be far more likely to hit this problem if you add too many filter subscriptions. As a rule of thumb, you should not use filter subscriptions with overlapping competencies. For example, using EasyList (mainly targeted at English-language sites) with an EasyList supplement for your region (like RuAdList for Russian sites) is fine. However, Fanboy's List (another list with main focus on English-language sites) shouldn't be used in combination with EasyList.

You can always change the filter subscriptions that you use by opening Adblock Plus preferences (press Ctrl+Shift+E). You can remove any filter subscriptions you have in that list, and you can add a new subscription by going to menu Filters / Add filter subscription. Once you are done with your changes click OK.

[privacyrights4all]

Disconnect.me: Stop all tracking software, I love it. Great mission statement, really good team behind it.
Dashlane: It's a password manager that works as an extension in your browser. I use it in FF and also in Chrome. Super-smart semantic analysis intelligently fills out any form for you -- logins, buying, registering, etc.

[luciddream]

I just took the axe to Ghostery. It was indeed mostly overlap, not to mention the fact that I only used half of it to begin with because I deny cookies globally. Plus, I just haven't completely trusted the thing all this time... the artist formerly known as Better Advertising.

After removing Ghostery, Firefox now boots up twice as fast... and that's no exaggeration. Though I notice no diff. in actual browsing speed.

I "may" add another ABP list in the future to make up for it, but can't decide on one that wouldn't be a huge overlap with EasyList & EasyPrivacy. Fanboy's List would be. But I wonder, is Fanboy's Tracking/Stats blocking different enough from the 2 lists I have to make it worth it? Maybe also take care of some of the things Ghostery was blocking for me?

So now it's down to 6 running addons:

Adblock Plus (EasyList & EasyPrivacy)
CS Lite Mod (Cookies denied globally)
HTTPS-Everywhere
NoScript (Scripts denied globally)
RequestPolicy (No default whitelist)
WOT (negative results only, no popups)

Installed but disabled: Element Hiding Helper for Adblock Plus

RequestPolicy is a keeper though. I see it blocking a lot of things. One site in particular, people post a lot of pictures linked from image sharing sites in the threads, practically every other post. It may not be a big deal for people with uber fast connections, but here with 1.5 (down) it makes a huge difference... instead of waiting for those pics to pop up there's a nice little box with a flag in it instead. And the page loads instantly. The addon may be worth it for the time it saves me on that site alone.

I am considering doing away with KeyScrambler altogether though. Sure it's neat to have it "just in case", but really... how likely is it that just in case scenario will happen with this hardened box of mine & D+?... That's really the only other thing left I'd consider parting with. The rest are keepers.

Update: It is done... KeyScrambler = gone. And then there were 6.