Here is a little list of what I PERSONALLY feel are the add ons/plug ins you should have if you are using Firefox for your browser:


Access to ALL of these items can be reached by opening Firefox, go to the tools tab and then select Add-Ons. Once that screen appears select "Get Add-ons", and click on "browse all add-ons". That takes you to the home page of the catalog. (there are literally HUNDREDS of them!) Left hand side has a break down of types from which to choose, but if you are searching of one particular program, plug it into the search box.


For safety in browsing these should be added right out of the box:

Web Of Trust. VERY handy when you do a search engine search as it will mark those links to bogus or untrusted sites and make it easy to stay away from them!

No Script. Keeps scripting from sites from loading and allows YOU, the user, to decide what you want to have pop up. (you can decrease the amount of blocked scripts if needed to "click" on an item and move on .. stops you from getting those re-directed scripts by accident! It takes a bit of "getting used to", but in the long run, it makes for much faster surfing and much safer surfing. You can also grant PERMANANT permission on sites such as eBay (which uses 3 resident scripts) and Firefox will remember and not block again (even after an upgrade of both browser and No Script!)
FULL instructions for it's usage are on the pop up page that will show up after you have installed and re-launched Firefox.

Ad Block Plus. Does just as it says, it blocks pop up advertisements on web pages. It has it's own "catalog" of pop ups that it will block depending on the region in the world that you select. Really speeds things up a bunch!!


Now for some Ad Ons that make life sweet:
(The descriptions on the add on page tell most of it, so will not repeat much of it.

PDF Download. Replaces Adobe Reader with the added benifit of being able to CREATE a PDF file.

Dictionary. Choose your poison. It will localize the built in spell checker for spelling. IE: US vs UK spellings of the same word.

FireFTP. Replaces WS_FTP PRO(a paid program) in WINDOWS with a freebie that has virtually the same look and feel and capability. Really nice FTP client, and really the only one you need for either Windows or Linux. For uploading to the web for your auction pictures, etc!

myibay Firefox extension. IF you are using a paid sniping tool for eBay, a freebie that replaces it! First off, it places a "snipe it now" icon on every eBay page you have in your watch list! AND, if you choose to place a snipe bid, the default time is 6 seconds, but you can adjust it LOWER if you so desire. I have used it an have yet to have it fail. Only drawback is that you get no eMail confirmations of either "bid ready to be placed" or if you get outbid or PRE outbid .. but eBay covers it if you win .. same as always!

THEN IF you do a lot of downloading, you should install some downloading tools:

FlashGot & Download Helper
Embedded Objects
Flash Video Resources Downloader
Download Status Bar .. not needed in any way, but nice to have!

There are many, many, many more add ons/plug ins available. Some are cool toys such as "Easy Gestures" that "super charges" your mouse.

And do NOT forget the obligitory plug ins!
The players and the Adobe items that make it more complete. (the same items you have to install if you use IE.) These items are all grouped on one page of the catalog. BUT, since they are 3rd party programs, installation requires jumping through hoops to do so.
Not as many hoops if you are running Firefox in Windows, but a LOT of hoops if you want to run this stuff instead of the alternatives in Firefox in Linux. (IMO the alternatives are just fine in Linux!)

Whatever you decide to install, remember that un-installing is just as easy and works off of the same menu. You don't have to go to another location on your computer to deal with the Firefox items.