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Firefox
Extensions You Can’t Live Without.
As more people dump the “big-name” Web browsers in favor of
Mozilla Firefox, we’re finding more and more extensions.
These user-created add-ons customize your Web browser and
add functions that make your surfing experience easier,
safer and faster – among other things.
Adblock Plus is a vital extension that allows you to filter
and block ads from Web sites. The less unwanted “stuff”
Firefox loads, the faster you’ll surf – and the less annoyed
you’ll be by those inane, flashing ads claiming that you’ve
just won something.
Download Statusbar is a great way to organize multiple
downloads. This extension eliminates the download status
window that pops up by default. Instead, track your incoming
files through tabs at the bottom of your browser screen.
NoScript is a great security tool. By default, no Web site
is allowed to run JavaScript without your consent. When you
see the NoScript icon instead of the site’s script, click
once and the script loads.
Some Webmasters have gotten around your ad blocks by showing
Flash instead of embedded, HTML versions. Combat this with
Flashblock: an extension that replaces the site’s Flash with
a giant Play button. If you want to see the Flash, hit the
button. If you don’t, ignore the button and keep browsing.
For sites that refuse to load in any browser but Microsoft’s
Internet Explorer, download IE Tab. This extension emulates
IE in the Firefox window. Click one icon at the bottom of
your Firefox screen and the current site will reload with IE
formatting and programming. This is also a great tool for
Webmasters: you can view your site in two different browsers
even though you’re only running Firefox.
Session Manager is a fast and convenient way to get back to
what you were doing if you have to kill Firefox because of
an error. This extension lets you reload the last saved
state – even if you had several open tabs.
When you’ve run out of sites to visit and you’re tired of
randomly searching, install StumbleUpon. This toolbar asks
you to pick your favorite categories – anything from cats to
books to art to music. Click the “Stumble” button and watch
your browser load a random site. You can also rate the sites
that you’re shown, connect with other users and even blog if
you so desire.
If you love to jam while you surf, install Foxytunes. This
is basically a new set of controls for your media player.
Instead of clicking back and forth between the player and
Firefox, you can control your music directly from your
browser.
Installing the Wikipedia Toolbar allows you to search this
online encyclopedia directly from Firefox’s toolbar –
instead of going to the Wikipedia site and then entering a
search term.
Visit Firefox’s Web site for more information on these
extensions. You’ll also find countless more extensions to
serve almost every one of your browsing needs.
One thing to remember, though, is that many of these
extensions take up space at the bottom of your Firefox
browser. If you install too many of these, you won’t be able
to see – or easily use – the extensions on the end. Keep
your extension installation in check and only use the ones
that are the most helpful or entertaining for you.
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Why Mozilla
Firefox is so popular
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Firefox the New
Browser of Choice
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FireFox Extensions you can't live without
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