Firefox can be
further enhanced by installing new Extensions, small
add-ons that can add new functionalities, and Plugins
which allow websites to provide content to you and have
it appear in your browser. The possibilities available
by using these are immensely varied. The
GetRight download
manager can install a plugin (NPGetRt.dll) that allows it to
monitor clicks and catch any downloads in Firefox. Not happy
with the search engines included by default? Go to
Mycroft and
download additional search engine Plugins.
For starters you may
wish to consider some of the following extensions, suggested
by me and other TechSpot staff members:
Flashblock.
Flashblock is an extension for the Mozilla and Firefox
browsers that takes a pessimistic approach to dealing with
Macromedia Flash content on a webpage and blocks ALL Flash
content from loading. It then leaves a placeholder on the
page that allows you to click to view the Flash content.
Netcraft Toolbar.
The Toolbar community is effectively a giant
neighbourhood watch scheme, empowering the most alert and
most expert members to defend everyone within the community
against phishing frauds. Once the first recipients of a
phishing mail have reported the target URL, it is blocked
for community members as they subsequently access the URL.
Widely disseminated attacks (people constructing phishing
attacks send literally millions of electronic mails in the
expectation that some will reach customers of the bank)
simply mean that the phishing attack will be reported and
blocked sooner.
SessionSaver.
Restores your browser exactly as you left it, every
start-up, every time. Not even a crash will phase it.
Windows, tabs, cookies + scrolling -- they're all saved.
Mouse Gestures.
Mouse Gestures are a fast way to execute commands without
using the keyboard, menus or toolbars. Instead, the user
holds down a mouse button (usually the right one), moves the
mouse in a certain way to form a gesture, then releases the
mouse button. In web browsers like Mozilla Firefox or the
Mozilla Suite, gestures are used to go back or forward a
page, switch between tabs, open multiple links at once,
control text or image size, and numerous other functions.
ForecastFox.
Forecastfox is an extension that brings international
weather from AccuWeather to your Firefox web browser. You
can use your US zip code or you can easily find your town or
city by using the built in search tool. It is unobtrusive
and lightweight, yet can be customized to display nearly as
much data as the leading desktop weather programs!
Web Developer.
The Web Developer extension for Mozilla Firefox and
Mozilla adds a menu and a toolbar to the browser with
various web developer tools.
FoxyTunes.
FoxyTunes is an Extension for Mozilla Firefox. It also
supports the Mozilla Suite and Mozilla Thunderbird. It
allows you to control your favorite media player without
leaving the browser. The controls are positioned on the
status bar or one of the toolbars, so no extra space is
wasted. FoxyTunes has several nice features. You can control
the playback, adjust the volume, see what's playing, and
more.
Greasemonkey.
Greasemonkey is a Firefox extension which lets you to add
bits of DHTML ("user scripts") to any web page to change its
behavior. In much the same way that user CSS lets you take
control of a web page's style, user scripts let you easily
control any aspect of a web page's design or interaction.
Beyond those
suggestions, the main listing of Firefox plugins/extensions
can be
found here. So be
sure to check it out, as there’s bound to be something
there that’ll interest you.
To view installed
extensions, load Firefox and click Tools,
Extensions.
Selecting an
extension allows you to Uninstall it, use the
Update button to check for any available updates, while
the Options button allows you to adjust any options
available for the extension.
Themes
If you are tired of
the standard Firefox looks, that’s another problem easily
solved – just download a new theme. The main listing of
Themes for Firefox can be
found here. To
view installed themes, load Firefox and click Tools,
Themes.
Selecting a theme
allows you to Uninstall it, use the Update
button to check for, and install, any available updates,
while the Use Theme button allows you to switch to
that theme.
