Helpful add-ons

Once you've got it configured, the next thing I would recommend is to get a handy plugin called NoScript which you can find at addons.mozilla.org

What this great add-on does is to stop sites running scripts without you knowing.

What is a script? As we mentioned above, a script is a small computer program that is embedded in a webpage. When you load the webpage, all browsers automatically look at this program (a list of instructions) and does what it says. Usually this is something good - this website relies on scripts (written in a language called Javascript) to do things like play games. Sometimes, though, a site may try to do something bad with a script like to try and get access to your personal files or make your browser go to a website that you don't want to go to (for example to steal your bank details). Unfortunately, your browser doesn't tell you it is using a script. This handy Firefox extension stops this happening. You tell the add-on which sites you trust the scripts on and it stops the other ones.

To install this add-on, use the link above to go to the installation page and click the Install Now green button. If you followed the steps in the Setting it up section above, then you should now have a highlighted yellow bar at the top of the webpage. This should say something like To protect your computer, Firefox prevented this site (addons.mozilla.org) from installing software on your computer. Click on the Edit Options... button and it should open the Preferences window at the Content section. Click the Exceptions button to the right of the label Warn me when websites try to install extensions or themes, then type the following in the box marked Address of website:

addons.mozilla.org

Then click the Allow button, then go back to the webpage and click on the Install Now button again. This should pop up another window to confirm if you want to transfer it into your computer (load) it. Once you have agreed and installed it you must exit Firefox and then start it again. Read the text below first to see what to do!

When you restart Firefox and go to a website that uses scripts, you will see a new highlighted bar appear at the bottom of the webpage like the one shown below:

Click on the Options... button and a menu will pop up which allows you to turn on scripts for a particular site. For Puzzle Pixies, you will not see the Pixies fly in until you do and you won't be able to play games! You can also see that we use google-analytics to analyse which pages are the most popular. You can leave this disabled if you wish, but it does allow us to focus on relevant content.

Notice that there is now also an "S" icon at the bottom right of you browser. This is used to show if you are allowing scripts on a website that you are viewing. It will change from a "no entry" type symbol to an open S if you are allowing scripts.