Privoxy

Privoxy: A reliable proxy server lets you safeguard your computer against unwanted web content

Privoxy is a modern proxy server that lets you create several rules to limit the kind of online data your computer can transmit and receive. For example, it lets you prevent cookies from being saved on your machine, block specific websites and turn off JavaScript on potentially malicious pages.

Furthermore, the tool lets you block access to certain web pages for your computer users – a common practice in business environments as well as a method of parental control.

In the configuration files, you can customize each rule in detail, although some of the options are intended for experienced individuals, such as network administrators. Even so, Privoxy comes with comprehensive documentation available in the configuration files, regarding both syntax and parameters needed to customize the rules.

The application can change portions of a webpage to give you relevant information – one of the uses of this capability would be to remove ad banners and replace them with blank content to optimize bandwidth.