Favorite Firefox Add-ons

What are your favorite (top 3 or 4) Firefox add-on's and why, please?

I'm mostly thinking of "Security-type" add-ons/extensions (not really sure if I know the difference between an "add-on" and an "extension"?)

I think maybe (?) I could do better with what I have, and am looking to eliminate or add some, based-on recommendations here (along with my other security programs, I may possibly have "double coverage" against some security threats, yet not enough against others?).

Thanks in advance...

 

My favorite security add-ons are few and here they are:

NoScript, I consider it the best, no scripting without my consent.
AdBlock Plus (not really security, but eliminates advertising and possible clicking on ads we should not touch)
WOT, safer browsing

That's it. Here's a link to Mozilla's Privacy & Security add-ons: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/browse/type:1/cat:12

Well, we know that one of the best security out there is the person between the back of the chair and the keyboard eh?

 

Just to add to what OMA states...

No Script : GOOD!
WOT : Good.
Better Privacy : Good.
Ad Block Plus : Meh. (just4ad's)
Ghostery : Good.
Privacy Choice : Good.

You can find a whole list of add-on's just by using the link OMA has left4you.
Happy hunting.

 

Like the others, NoScript, WOT and AdBlock Plus,

Flashblock and LinkExtend also.

Consider Keyscrambler too.

From there on, it depends on the way you use your 'net ...

 

Thanks to all.

I have utilized NoScript & AdBlockPlus for years (though I am sure I'm not getting the full benefits of either, due to not understanding all the tech/complexity), and I've utilized WOT over the past year so.

Does anyone think WOT is much better/different than McAfee's Site Advisor?).

I recently tried-out Better Privacy, but found it a bit cumbersome in that I had to tend to it everytime I closed my browser.

I'm wondering if Better Privacy does anything more than SpywareBlaster does, with me having the Flash Kill in SpywareBlaster set to "on"?

 

Since you all have more than amply covered what would have been my recommendations...

I use the IE Tab plugin/extension more from a functionality perspective (I lost MSIE when WinUpdate upgraded me to IE8, and many of my institution's web apps are optimized for MSIE).

But until I came across this thread, I hadn't thought about it from a security perspective.

Would there be any difference?

 

Search Google and a dozen other search engines simultaneously:
Firefox Search Sidebar by Paul Millar


On the fly enable/disable JavaScript and Flash and Iframes and Gif and .... with one mouse click: Toolbar Buttons - https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/2377 by Michael B.

NoScript is overly complex for common users ... toggle scripting on/off on the fly is much easier.

The single greatest complaint I get from users of Fox is slow startup times. This is not really a Mozilla issue rather MS DRM addons.
Tools > addons > Plugins disable anything with ‘Microsoft DRM’ in its name.
Disable Windows Presentation Foundation unless you need all the eye-candy.
Also; about:config > set to false ‘network.prefetch-next’
For the paranoid; about:config > set to false ‘geo.enabled’

Although not my default browser, 3.6 is a fantastic release. If not for Fox we would still be using IE6 SP0. Competition is great!



____________________________
If you don't want to be replaced by a computer, don't act like one.

Making fun of AOL users is like making fun of the kid in the wheel chair.

 

Thanks. What will this --> "about:config > set to false ‘geo.enabled’", do exactly please?

 

First Google analytics now Fox is spying on you. Really!
Disabling this "feature" prevents Fox from approximating your location with a simple IP lookup. Although, it’s always best to piggy-back off of your neighbors wireless for anonymity. Helps if you live near a college where bandwidth is plentiful. rolleyes

 

Hi Bala, could you possibly let me know what the "about:config > set to false ‘network.prefetch-next’" does??,
Many thanks

 

As far as favorite add ons go, I keep mine to a minimum as I have read that too many can slow down FF considerably, mine are.....

AdblockPlus
NoScript
DownloadHelper
BetterPrivacy (I only recently found out about LSOs etc.)
Vacuum Places Improved (defrags the places.sqlite database)

 

I would like to add Download Statusbar.

Though not exactly a security feature in it's own right, it can call the quick scanner of your anti-virus of choice on each and every download you make in Firefox.

 

Scrub that question, I have looked it up now and fully understand what it does etc..
However, Bala (or anyone else), I have toggled the setting from true to false from within 'about:config' but it is not being saved after a browser restart, it's going back to false, any ideas about this???

 

Of those using WOT, did you install (are you also using their) "Web Security Guard" toolbar?

I tried it once before, and seem to recall it causing some sort of trouble (slowdown?) on my PC's.

Thanks in advance...

 

Ghostery : Not so good as it leaves FF .exe running in task manager in 3.5.7 and 3.6 !

 

No. I'm no friend of toolbars. Didn't register either.

 

DownloadHelper is all for me. I see no need for those ad-blockers etc. as I find no use for them except to hurt sites like this that depend on the revenue generated to pay the bills. The ones that are over the top with ads, then I don't visit them, simple as that!

The sites that I normally visit are all mindful of the amount of ads they display to not force people to use these apps. If anyone uses these ad-blockers, I'll assume that Mg's et al are on an exception list.

 

I've the WOT add-on installed but no "Web Security Gaurd" toolbar. Didn't know there was a toolbar for WOT. Thought the "Web Security Guard" toolbar was part of Crawler/Spyware Terminator.

"Does anyone think WOT is much better/different than McAfee's Site Advisor?"

Yes, think it's better, more up to date on ratings, more accurate, seems to be a little faster too but, not infallible.

 

Thanks. I believe you are correct, the toolbar is Crawler, with WOT integrated within it. The toolbar installs into IE (apparently not a Moz/Firefox option...yet).

Interesting note: Awhile back, I had BOTH WOT and Site Advisor installed & running, and occasionally (I'd say maybe 5-10% of the time) they would bring back slightly different results (ratings) for the exact same sites.

I never saw one giving, say, a "Red" rating, whilst the other showed "Green", but often saw one give "Yellow", whilst the other was displaying Green, and vice-versa...

Thanks again!

 

Yeah, one exe... It can be safely killed tho'.

 

But you shouldn't have to be killing the exe every time you exit firefox, ghostery should be trying to find a solution, it's a bit like adobe, if they keep ignoring it for too long, people will move on !

 

Can't argue with that. LMAO :-D