MUST READ: Congress demands answers from Google over Glass privacy concerns

Topic: Collaboration

How to use Google or Google Chrome to view Wikipedia articles during the SOPA blackout

Summary: Here are a couple of ways you can access Wikipedia.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

By for Hardware 2.0 |

The SOPA blackout protest is now under way, but it seems that a lot of you would still like access to Wikipedia during this blackout period (maybe you've left your assignment until the last minute or something!). Is it possible?

Yes it is.

Gallery - Black Wednesday: The Day the Web went dark

Here are a couple of ways you can access Wikipedia.

  • Use the Google cache Do your Wikipedia search through Google (for example, 'Wikipedia SOPA'). When the search results come up, find the link to the Wikipedia article then hover over it until a set of arrows pointing to the right appear and then click on the 'cached' link. This is fine for reading a single article, but if you want to click on links within Wikipedia it's no use because you'll hit the blackout wall each time.

  • Disable JavaScript for the Wikipedia site in the Google Chrome browser: - Click the Wrench icon - Click Options - Click Under the Hood - Click Content Settings... under Privacy - Click Manage Exceptions under JavaScript - Type en.wikipedia.org in the Hostname Pattern box - Select Block from the Behavior dropdown box - Enjoy Wikipedia!

That's two ways ... there are more, but they're what I'm using.

Related:

Topics: Collaboration, Apps, Browser, Google

Kick off your day with ZDNet's daily email newsletter. It's the freshest tech news and opinion, served hot. Get it.

Talkback

10 comments
Log in or register to join the discussion

  • RE: How to use Google or Google Chrome to view Wikipedia articles during the SOPA blackout

    Will Bing work?
    Return_of_the_jedi
    Reply Vote

  • think

    it's not possible.., my friend's mom makes $76 hourly on the computer. She has been out of a job for 9 months but last month her pay was $7454 just working on the computer for a few hours. Read more here... makecash16.com
    DaltonDee
    Reply Vote

  • RE: How to use Google or Google Chrome to view Wikipedia articles during the SOPA blackout

    Sorry. I thought the point of the Wikipedia blackout was to try to force people to consider how their lives would be inconvenienced by SOPA, and not how they can find work-arounds to get to the same information. For one day, perhaps people can just consider the implications instead of hastily ignoring Wikipedia's point against SOPA?
    IAmJustJoshing
    Reply Vote

    • It's kind of ironic

      @IAmJustJoshing

      The same Internet openness that people are fearing would be negatively impacted by laws such as SOPA can be used to skirt self-imposed restrictions by web sites themselves. In a way, those work-arounds are proving how little impact something like SOPA would really have - people won't be nearly as "inconvenienced" as the doomsayers are making out.

      Not to say that I'm in favor of laws like SOPA, because I'm not. But it wouldn't be the end of the Internet world.
      rapson
      Reply Vote

    • RE: How to use Google or Google Chrome to view Wikipedia articles during the SOPA blackout

      @IAmJustJoshing
      zdnet is owned by CBS and CBS supports SOPA. Lessening the effect of the blackout is in their interest.
      Jean-Pierre-
      Reply Vote

  • All you have to do

    is do a search starting from a non-Wikipedia page (the search bar in Firefox works) and hit the stop button after your search page loads but before the overlay loads. You have to be quick though. Hit refresh and try again if you don't do it fast enough the first time.
    Michael Kelly
    Reply Vote

  • RE: How to use Google or Google Chrome to view Wikipedia articles during the SOPA blackout

    Use a non English language version (Italian seems blacked out) then use Google or another translator. They are not translated English versions but articles written by different editors. I have done this before because it is interesting to to see different perspectives and emphases.<br><br>Then contact your representatives.
    edkollin
    Reply Vote

  • RE: How to use Google or Google Chrome to view Wikipedia articles during the SOPA blackout

    Seriously! A blogger who exercises free speech online posts a work-around to mock the very websites that promote free speech and information.....if you don't support the protests, that's one thing, but to mock the solidarity of what folks believe in is below the belt. Shame on you Adrian.
    rssarma
    Reply Vote

  • RE: How to use Google or Google Chrome to view Wikipedia articles during the SOPA blackout

    I support what Wikipedia is doing and I will not use ways to view Wiki content, I am sure it can wait one day!
    wpgsgeekygirl
    Reply Vote

  • RE: How to use Google or Google Chrome to view Wikipedia articles during the SOPA blackout

    WTF!?! You think working around political action is going to help? Go ahead, it's a free world, show them you're really not interested in protecting your rights and don't support people speaking out about how that issue impacts their rights.

    The purpose of the blackout was to boycott the internet, not find ways to hack it. Big media wants to control what you see and take away your right to innovate media.

    Pull your head out and get some sun.
    skrabler
    Reply Vote
CNET Join | Log In | Privacy | Cookies Close