[Update] Hosts.zip - Updated 03-14-05

[Mel]

The Hosts file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. This
file is loaded into memory at startup, then Windows checks the Hosts
file before it queries any DNS servers, which enables it to override
addresses in the DNS. This prevents access to the listed sites by
redirecting any connection attempts back to the local machine. Another
feature of the HOSTS file is it's ability to block other applications
from connecting to the Internet, as long the the entry exists.

You can use a HOSTS file to block ads, banners, cookies, web bugs, and
even most hijackers. This is accomplished by blocking the Server that
supplies these little gems.

http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.zip

 

[Roger Johansson]

You can use a HOSTS file to block ads, banners, cookies, web bugs, and
even most hijackers. This is accomplished by blocking the Server that
supplies these little gems.

http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.zip

Yes, a good hosts file is a good idea.
But where can we find a good hosts file?

The one you recommend is useless for most people because it blocks a lot
of sites just because they use a click counter or are commercial sites.

Is there a host file which only blocks really dangerous virus sites?
Where to find such a hosts file?

 

[Zo]

The Hosts file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. This
file is loaded into memory at startup, then Windows checks the Hosts
file before it queries any DNS servers, which enables it to override
addresses in the DNS. This prevents access to the listed sites by
redirecting any connection attempts back to the local machine. Another
feature of the HOSTS file is it's ability to block other applications
from connecting to the Internet, as long the the entry exists.

You can use a HOSTS file to block ads, banners, cookies, web bugs, and
even most hijackers. This is accomplished by blocking the Server that
supplies these little gems.

http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.zip

In case anyone is interested, here is the url to the home site:

http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/

The purpose of this site is to provide the PC user looking to troubleshoot
Windows ME/XP with a one-stop place for quality technical support
assistance.

Zo

 

[Zo]

Yes, a good hosts file is a good idea.
But where can we find a good hosts file?

The one you recommend is useless for most people because it blocks a lot
of sites just because they use a click counter or are commercial sites.

Is there a host file which only blocks really dangerous virus sites?
Where to find such a hosts file?

Try visiting this site, should help:

http://www.everythingisnt.com/hosts.html

Zo

 

[/3iff //ullins]

Yes, a good hosts file is a good idea.
But where can we find a good hosts file?

The one you recommend is useless for most people because it blocks a lot
of sites just because they use a click counter or are commercial sites.

that is exactly why you should be using a .pac in lieu of a hosts:
http://www.schooner.com/~loverso/no-ads/

or even better, a combonation of a .pac and a minimalistic hosts
containing only intellitxt info. ;-)

 

[Roger Johansson]

Try visiting this site, should help:

http://www.everythingisnt.com/hosts.html

No, sorry, it doesn't help. The hosts file on that site is even worse.

I need a hosts file which is not created by technically incompetent
paranoid moralists, and it should have been updated this year, not in
2003. It should be documented in a way which makes it clear what kind of
domains are included and why, and when it was last updated.

The first recommended list is sorted alfabetically, which makes it very
hard to remove all entries which are not virus related, and it hasn't
been updated since 2003. Had it been sorted according to type of reason
it would have been a lot easier to remove everything not virus related.

But it has the advantage that is clearly marks the sites which are virus
related, or were virus related in 2003, to be more precise.

It would take hours to edit that file into a usable shape. So I am
looking for a hosts list made by more competent people, and which is
continously updated when needed.

 

[Mel]

You can use a HOSTS file to block ads, banners, cookies, web bugs, and

Yes, a good hosts file is a good idea.
But where can we find a good hosts file?

The one you recommend is useless for most people because it blocks a lot
of sites just because they use a click counter or are commercial sites.

Is there a host file which only blocks really dangerous virus sites?
Where to find such a hosts file?

If this Hosts file doesn't meet your needs, then don't use it.

Since you don't have knowledge of a more effective Hosts file, what is
you point?

 

[/3iff //ullins]

I need a hosts file which is not created by technically incompetent
paranoid moralists

then what you want is that .pac file i mentioned in my other post.

it only blocks the ad-serving portions of sites, not entire sites. ;-)

 

[Larry Sabo]

[snip]

I need a hosts file which is not created by technically incompetent
paranoid moralists, and it should have been updated this year, not in
2003. It should be documented in a way which makes it clear what kind of
domains are included and why, and when it was last updated.

The first recommended list is sorted alfabetically, which makes it very
hard to remove all entries which are not virus related, and it hasn't
been updated since 2003. Had it been sorted according to type of reason
it would have been a lot easier to remove everything not virus related.

But it has the advantage that is clearly marks the sites which are virus
related, or were virus related in 2003, to be more precise.

It would take hours to edit that file into a usable shape. So I am
looking for a hosts list made by more competent people, and which is
continously updated when needed.

http://www.mvps.org/PracticallyNerded/Files/SetupHM.exe

....updates itself upon startup. I'm not sure if this is the same as
the MVP HOSTS file suggested in the beginning, or not. I find it
excellent.

Larry

 

[me]

Is there a host file which only blocks really dangerous virus sites?
Where to find such a hosts file?

Does the hosts file additions that Spybot adds not do what you want? The
option to add the entries is in the tools that are available once you
enable advanced use.

 

[Roger Johansson]

http://www.mvps.org/PracticallyNerded/Files/SetupHM.exe

...updates itself upon startup. I'm not sure if this is the same as
the MVP HOSTS file suggested in the beginning, or not. I find it
excellent.

I installed this to see what "updated" hosts file it installs and the
text in that hosts file begins with these comments

# Installed by HOSTS Manager© 200576 Checksum 2957021
# This MVPS HOSTS file is a free download from: #
# http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/ #

# ------------------Updated: 03-14-05---------------------#

It has the same problem, it blocks a lot of sites I do not want to block,
because they are no danger to my security and often come in the way of my
web surfing. It blocks realmedia sites for example, not because they are
dangerous in any way but because the author of the hosts file is paranoid
about being tracked somehow.

Many other entries are of the type clickcash.com, a counter which gives
cash to the web designer, and the web sites I want to visit which use
such pay systems are blocked. They are no danger to me in any way.
Again it is the risk of being tracked which haunts the author of the hosts file.

The entries I want to keep are the sites which try to infect my computer
with viruses via javascripts etc..

 

[w.a.k.e_u.p_r.o.g.e.r]

It has the same problem, it blocks a lot of sites I do not want to block

as i said in two previous posts, THEN USE A .PAC FILE:

http://www.schooner.com/~loverso/no-ads/

hth. hand.

/3iff

 

[T0M]

Roger Johansson a écrit:

Maybe http://www.accs-net.com/hosts/Downloads/hosts127001.zip

T0M

 

[Roger Johansson]

Maybe http://www.accs-net.com/hosts/Downloads/hosts127001.zip

Thank you for trying to help, but this is not a host file I would use.

It has no explanations to the reasons why certain entries are included,
no sorting in groups for different reasons, and it looks like most if not
all entries are of the clickcash type.

That means it will block a lot of sites which get revenue from clicks,
which is something I don't care about at all and it doesn't hurt me one
bit. There are no entries for sites which spread virus via scripts and
other nasty sites. It is very big, half a megabyte. They have probably
included every clickcash type of server they have found.

And it is two years old.

I looked at the web page for this hosts file:

It is obviously put together by somebody who is concerned about getting
tracked, which I don't care a bit about, they can track me as much as
they like.