Frequently asked questions

Q: I cannot install the proxy.

A: Please read and follow the installation instructions. They are quite detailed and should help you out. Sometimes, new versions require some more software packages to be installed, so check if you have all required software for WebCleaner installed.

Q: I installed everything ok, but the proxy does not start up.

A: Please read the startup error message and mail it to me along with your system configuration. Under Unix systems, error messages will be printed in /var/service/webcleaner/log/main/current. Under Windows systems, where WebCleaner is installed as NT service, look in the application log in the NT event log viewer.

Q: The filter is not working - I still see some advertisings that are definitely filtered out.

A: Write a bug report and I will add a filter rule for it.

Q: The URL I am surfing at is not rendered correctly, it is blank, it misses some tags or is completely crippled.

A: First, try to disable the WebCleaner proxy by using the configuration shortcut http://localhost:8080/config.html?disablefilter=1. Then look at the page again. If it renders ok, you most likely have encountered a bug in WebCleaner. Please write a bug report and include the URL you have problems with.

Q: I am seeing the error "client sent data in state receive".

A: Your client was sending data when it shouldn't have. This is mostly a broken HTTP proxy (eg. when WebCleaner is parent proxy of Oops).

Q: Are there security concerns running this proxy?

A: Yes.

Q: I get "zlib error" entries in my error log.

A: Some b0rked servers are sending Content-Type: gzip for pages that are not compressed. In this case WebCleaner switches to non-compressing filtering and prints the above error.

Q: I am paranoid. What should I do besides running WebCleaner?

A: The default config of WebCleaner is strict when it comes to passing private information, so there is not more that can be done (except adding new filters yourself). Here are some more tips for browser settings: