Do I need a script blocker since I'm using mint 8 and firefox 3.5.6?

[madokie]

I know when I was loading mint it said I had no need for antivirus software or most of the things that you need with windows.

[RoyGBiv]

1. I would use one ...

"Need" may boil down to personal preference. You're not going to get infected with the same kinds of things that a Windows user might, but the javascript itself can do nasty things. A web browser provides a platform that levels the playing field, so to speak.

If nothing else, a script blocking will kill a lot of obnoxious ads and pop-ups.

[madokie]

3. thanks

At first it annoyed me but either I'm coming around or noscript is because it doesn't seem to be so obnoxious now or we're learning to live with each other. I vote for the latter. I'm blocking google even though I use google and that seems to have sped things up a tad. I'm on a slow dsl, 520 meg is what it test out to be most times, so I'm always looking for something that helps to make things more bearable but not the kind that promises you the moon but puts trash on your computer instead, kind.
Is there any of the settings in options that I really need to set any particular way?

[RoyGBiv]

5. Settings ...

Not really. If you can figure it out, you can play with the XSS exceptions. I don't understand it, the syntax of the exceptions list, well enough myself to explain it.

XSS refers to cross-site scripting, which NoScript blocks by default.

There's really no good reason for a website to use this, but some rather big ones have started to do so. It's used in some billing situations, where it really can be dangerous, and academic libraries or similar sites that act as a portal to other content. As an example of the latter, I have access to a university library's online research system, and it gives me access to things like Newsbank, Lexis-Nexis, etc. Cross-site scripting is sometimes used while providing that access. Oh, and it shows up when using a lot of Facebook apps.

Anyway, this can be annoying. You can turn it off entirely or try to add exceptions that allow the content you need. I turn it off when I know I'm going to be using the library, for instance, because trying to wade through adding all those exceptions is a chore. NoScript doesn't provide an automated way to do this.

Other than that, it's mostly just building up your whitelist of allow domains. Once you've done that for the sites you visit most often, you tend not to notice it.

[ConsAreLiars]

2. Yes.

Scripts do things like let google map your web habits, put crap all over the screen, and worse.

The NoScript addon for Firefox widely regarded as most excellent.

[madokie]

4. Thats good enough for me

thanks. We do seem to be getting along a little better now. As I was asking Roy I'll ask you the same is there any of the settings I need to be setting any particular way, I'm kinda new to this firefox way of doing things. I was raised:-)on ie and thought it to be the best until I switched to a linux machine and it no longer is an option so I have to use firefox or one of the others and I find that I'm liking firefox better with each day and each new thing I learn about it. Any tips or tricks are more than welcome by me.

[ConsAreLiars]

6. If a site is known to be trustworthy

right click the icon at the bottom right or the hit the 'options' button, and select the 'allow' option; if uncertain select 'temporarily allow.' Same for the other sites that are running scripts on that page. Often embedded video and things like newsfeeds from third parties won't run until you allow the proper script to let run, like from Youtube or CBS. I always block google-analytics with no ill effects, although if you like seeing ad content tailored to match what google has tracked about your web interests you could allow it.

You can later undo any permissions if you wish. Enjoy. I'am also a recent fan of Linux Mint and am only beginning to appreciate how much it offer (like scrolling between multiple desktops) above what I had been using (various Windozes).