Needed: a Firefox extension/script to filter out unwanted content (all GET reque
ID: 661008 • Letter: N
Question
Needed: a Firefox extension/script to filter out unwanted content (all GET requests including those done through redirects: documents, scripts, iframes, pictures, any MIME type, actually).
Already checked out Schuzak's SilentBlock - not really working, cumbersome editing without a GUI.
Features required:
Open source
Gratis
No 'dial home' features
Reliable work under Linux and Android
A simple GUI allowing adding new/editing existing regex'es in the browser
Optional features:
A list of sample regexes to filter out common ads.
Whitelist regexes.
Ability to fire certain blacklist/whitelist regexes based on the main document's address (e.g. allowing Google APIs on one site and disallowing it on others).
Note: ideally, the extension should prevent the browser from accessing the blocked resource.
Explanation / Answer
hmm I can't think of anything that does exactly what I think you want to do.
However I have a pretty close option; Adblock Plus.
To go over your requirements:
Open source: Yes.
Gratis: Yes.
No 'dial home' features: auto-updating is the norm for Firefox extensions; that can be disabled in Firefox; Adblock Plus also has filter lists that can be set to auto-update but that can be disabled as well. Other than those two caveats as far as I know ABP doesn't have any dial home functions.
Reliable work under Linux and Android: I haven't run it on anything other than Linux (Firefox) or Windows (Firefox and Chrome) but it is very reliable under those circumstances and I would expect it to be fine for other situations - it is advertised for Android at least.
A simple GUI allowing adding new/editing existing regex'es in the browser: I'd say it is pretty simple and easy.
Optional features:
A list of sample regexes to filter out common ads: Yes there are a bunch available - options of what one(s) to install are included in the install process.
Whitelist regexes: Yep white listing is done
Ability to fire certain blacklist/whitelist regexes based on the main document's address (e.g. allowing Google APIs on one site and disallowing it on others). hmmm... ah Yes you can.
Adblock Plus is not limited to GET requests and I don't think there is any switch on the rules to only apply to GET requests but I think it should still work well. It uses JavaScript Regexes - MDN docs should be helpful.
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