My very first blog post was on the overwhelming benefits of using Mozilla’s Firefox browser. I briefly discussed add-ons and how they can be used to customize your browsing experience and improve your efficiency online. Today I will share my list of Firefox extensions which are essential to enhancing the Internet. All of these can be found in the Add-ons section of Mozilla’s website.

Tab Mix Plus

Whenever I install Firefox, the first extension I add is Tab Mix Plus. TMP adds increased functionality and customization to Firefox’s tab system. You can set certain events to trigger certain options and also control how and when new tabs open. For example, when I double-click on a tab, it refreshes that page. Or, when I type a URL in the address bar, that page will load in a new tab. The add-on also allows a multi-row display of tabs that greatly improves the default of a scrolling tab bar. You can choose how the tabs themselves look by changing color, style, focus, and close buttons. With TMP, you can find a system that works for you, saving you time and keeping you organized.

Easy DragToGo

This extension may sound gimmicky, but after using Easy DragToGo, you will wish every computer had it. It allows you to drag hyperlinks to open them in new tabs. You can customize the gestures so that dragging in different directions changes how the tab opens (ex. Focused or Background). Another feature allows you to drag highlighted text to do a Google search of it in a new tab. This add-on has increased my browsing efficiency more than any other. I guarantee that using Easy DragToGo will become so second-nature that you will try to use it on computers without it out of habit, but unsuccessfully.

Adblock Plus

This add-on does one thing: Blocks Ads. After using Adblock Plus, the Internet will start to look different to you. It removes almost every single advertisement on the web. Most importantly it removes banners, text ads, and the paid ads subtly placed with search results. Even if you do come across an advertisement, you can right-click it and select “Adblock Image” to prevent its future appearance. Not only does it remove the abundant eyesores placed everywhere on the internet, but it improves speed and load time.

Linkification and Copy Link Name

These two extensions are small, but greatly improve two elements of browsing. Linkification automatically creates a hyperlink of any text formatted as a URL. For example, the following text: http://blog.tatstore.com would automatically become a clickable, working link, saving you the time of copying it and pasting it in the address bar. I often find myself trying to copy linked test. Another example: you have to carefully highlight the text TatStore Blog without clicking on it in order to copy it. With Copy Link Name, you can right-click a text hyperlink and select Copy Link Name to avoid tricky highlighting.

Others

If you enjoy Firefox and wish to share your favorite add-ons, please leave them in the comments. I’m always looking for a new way to improve my Internet experience.