The Hosts-Supertrick
Hosts-Supertrick Instructions
This trick STOPS spyware, adware, advertisements and pop-ups on your computer. It is very simple to install, simply put the HOSTS file in the correct folder:
Windows 95/98/Me c:\windows\
-Windows NT/2000/XP c:\windows\system322\drivers\etc\
Or: c:\winnt\system32\drivers\etc\
-Linux /etc
That's all you need to do.
Hosts-Supertrick FAQ
1) How do I block ads and pop-ups?
By using this simple trick. By editing a file called HOSTS you can completely block access to certain websites. Using this trick you can block websites that serve ads or ones that might compromise your privacy and security. This trick also speeds up the loading time of websites, because the ads don't have to be downloaded.
2) How exactly does the HOSTS file work?
The short answer is that the HOSTS file is like an address book. When you type an address like www.yahoo.com into your browser, the HOSTS file is consulted to see if you have the IP address, or "telephone number," for that site. If you do, then your computer will "call it" and the site will open. If not, your computer will ask your ISP's (internet service provider) computer for the phone number before it can "call" that site. Most of the time, you do not have addresses in your "address book," because you have not put any there. Therefore, most of the time your computer asks for the IP address from your ISP to find sites.
If you put ad server names into your HOSTS file with your own computer's IP address (Localhost: 127.0.0.1), your computer will never be able to contact the ad server. It will try to, but it will be simply calling itself and get sort of a "busy signal". Your computer will then give up calling the ad server and no ads will be loaded, nor will any tracking take place. Your choices for blocking sites are not just limited to blocking ad servers. You may block sites that serve advertisements, sites that serve objectionable content, or any other site that you choose to block. Also would it be possible to redirect a website to another website by using that website's IP address instead of your computers IP address.
3) Where can I find that HOSTS file you are talking about?
This HOSTS file is located here:
-Windows 95/98/Me c:\windows\ p;
-Windows NT/2000/XP c:\windows\system322\drivers\etc\
Or: c:\winnt\system32\drivers\etc\
-Linux /etc
NOTE: The HOSTS file does NOT have an extension (extensions are the .exe, .txt, .doc, etc. endings to filenames). HOSTS.sam is just a sample file, not the file you need to edit.
4) Where can I get the Hosts-Supertrick file?
If you do not have a HOSTS file yet, you may download one here:
http://www.oocities.org/hostssupertrick
5) How can I edit the HOSTS file?
You can open the HOSTS file by right clicking on it and selecting "open with". Then select Notepad.
After that you can edit it similar as you would with a normal text file.
6) What should I put into the HOSTS file to block the KaZaA Website and stuff like that?
Add the following lines:
127.0.0.1 desktop.kazaa.com
127.0.0.1 www.altnetp2p.com
127.0.0.1 shop.kazaa.com
127.0.0.1 alpha.kazaa.com
Note: the hosts file which you can download from this website already contains these lines.
7) What should I put into the HOSTS file to block the pop-ups in KaZaA?
127.0.0.1 ad.ca.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1 ad.de.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1 ad.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1 ad.es.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1 ad.fr.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1 ad.it.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1 ad.jp.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1 ad.kr.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1 ad.nl.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1 ad.no.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1 ad.se.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1 ad.uk.doubleclick.net
Note: Replace XX with your country code in ad.XX.doubleclick.net if it is not listed above.
Note: the hosts file which you can download from this website already contains these lines.
8) How do I block a website/server?
Just add one or more lines to the hosts file like this:
127.0.0.1 desktop.kazaa.com
Just 127.0.0.1 followed by a space followed by the server you want to block
9) What can I do to help end the scourge of spyware,
adware, advertisements and pop-ups?
Tell everyone about the Hosts-Supertrick and give this file to all your friends with these instructions!
Also direct people to this website:
http://www.oocities.org/hostssupertrick
Good Luck!