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Steve's One Best Tip for the Web

Most people browse the web using the default web browser that came with their machine.

However, using this, most people will see websites cluttered with advertisements, many flashing or blinking or in garish colour. Yuk.

Many of these advertisements will also be offering to “Scan your machine for viruses”, or even saying “You are infected!!” – and you, or anyone using your machine, clicks on one of these links then you are very likely to end with some type of “malware” (a virus, trojan, rootkit, keylogger or whatever).

Bad, bad stuff. So, what is the answer?

THE ANSWER = Adblock Plus + Firefox

Here’s what you need to do:



  • Download Firefox from http://getfirefox.com/


  • Install Firefox, and say YES when prompted to “Make Firefox your default browser”


  • Import all your old settings and Favourites via File, Import. Your “favourites” become Firefox “bookmarks”


  • Install Adblock Plus by: Tools, Add-ons, Get Add-ons and search for “Adblock”. Select “Adblock Plus” – the icon is a stop sign with “ABP”


  • You will be prompted to choose/confirm a Subscription. It is essential that you do this to make sure that Ablock Plus keeps up-to-date. The default subscription will normally be “EasyList (USA)”. Confirm this and restart Firefox when prompted. There will now be a red ABP “stop sign” at the top right or bottom left of your browser window to show that you’re protected


Enjoy your much saner and safer browsing experience!

Occasionally you will find that you have to turn off Adblock Plus to view a site, or a video. Only do this for sites you trust, and ensure that you turn in off just for that site – do this: Click on the Red ABP “stop sign” in your browser window, and choose “Disable of this page only”, or perhaps “Disable on www.mybank.com”, but NOT “Disable everywhere”. The “stop sign” will now be grey from that page, and advertisements will be displayed.

Notes for nitpickers:



  • Chrome and Chromium from Google are also good browser choices, and Adblock Plus can be installed (under Tools, Extensions)


  • Adblock Plus for isn’t available for either Opera or Internet Explorer, and while there are “similar” addons for these browsers they are rubbish by comparison


  • Internet Explorer was extremely unsafe in earlier versions. If you really need to use for some reason, then at least make sure you run version 8 or higher


  • Yes, antivirus software is probably also a good idea
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