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Privoxy
What it is
Privoxy is free, non-caching web proxy software for privacy controls, access rules, and changes to HTTP headers and web pages. It can filter page content using text replacements, remove banners and web bugs, and filter HTML annoyances. HTTPS inspection lets it filter HTTPS requests and responses, and it can be chained with other proxies. A browser-based configuration and control utility includes rule tracing and remote toggling. Privoxy can serve multiple clients on a network or LAN gateway. It runs on Windows, Linux, macOS, and other systems including Haiku, BSD variants, Solaris, and other Unix flavors. The software is licensed under the GNU GPL version 2 or later. A basic configuration comes with a new installation, while many advanced features are disabled until activated. Privoxy handles HTTP and HTTPS proxying, not FTP, SMTP, instant messaging, IRC, or ICQ. It is not designed to remove malware, and the default configuration does not filter malware. The project says it has no trusted build infrastructure; packages are built and uploaded by individual members or external contributors.
For and against
For
- Filters web pages and modifies HTTP headers.
- HTTPS inspection filters requests and responses.
- Can be chained with other proxies.
- Browser utility includes rule tracing and remote toggling.
- Free software under GNU GPL version 2 or later.
Against
- Many advanced features are disabled by default.
- Does not proxy FTP, SMTP, messaging, IRC, or ICQ.
- Default configuration does not filter malware.
- Project says it has no trusted build infrastructure.
The verdict
Privoxy offers configurable HTTP and HTTPS proxy filtering, including page modifications and access controls. It is not a malware-removal tool, and advanced options require activation.
Who it suits
Privoxy suits people seeking privacy controls, access rules, or fine-grained control of web traffic. It may also suit network administrators who want a proxy serving multiple clients.
Plans and prices
Free Software
GPLv2-or-later software · self-hosted proxy
Read 15 Oct 2026 · privoxy.org
Privoxy free software
no warranty · no registration
Read 1 Oct 2026 · privoxy.org
On the record
- Ad blocking
- Privoxy blocks advertisements and can remove banners and other page annoyances.privoxy.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- API and extensibility
- Privoxy exposes a browser-accessible CGI control interface and supports external filters, configurable actions, and client tags.privoxy.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Associated organization
- The project identifies itself as associated with Software in the Public Interest.privoxy.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Browser control
- Privoxy includes an integrated browser-based configuration and control utility with rule tracing and remote toggling.privoxy.org · read 1 Oct 2026
- Browser control interface
- An integrated browser interface at config.privoxy.org (also p.p) provides configuration, tracing, and remote toggling.privoxy.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Browser support
- multiple-browsersprivoxy.org · read 21 Sep 2026
- Build security
- The project says it has no trusted build infrastructure and that binary packages are built and uploaded by individual project members or external contributors.privoxy.org · read 1 Oct 2026
- Build trust limitation
- Privoxy states that it has no trusted build infrastructure and that binaries are uploaded by project members or external contributors.privoxy.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Click tracking
- Privoxy can bypass many click-tracking scripts by avoiding script redirection.privoxy.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Configuration
- A new installation includes a basic configuration, while many advanced features are disabled by default and require activation.privoxy.org · read 1 Oct 2026
- Cookie management
- The user manual lists cookie management as a core capability.privoxy.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Customization
- The project says its configuration is flexible and can be tailored for individual users or multi-user networks.privoxy.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Developer contribution
- Contributors are directed to the privoxy-devel mailing list, Git repository, GNU build tools, and SourceForge patch tracker.privoxy.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Device coverage
- desktopprivoxy.org · read 21 Sep 2026
- Documentation depth
- The project publishes user, FAQ, developer, installation, configuration, and man-page documentation.privoxy.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Filtering
- Privoxy provides web-page filtering, text replacements, banner removal, web-bug removal, and HTML annoyance filtering.privoxy.org · read 1 Oct 2026
- GIF de-animation
- The software can de-animate GIF images.privoxy.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Header manipulation
- Actions and filters can modify both client and server headers.privoxy.org · read 15 Oct 2026
