Modifying the HOSTS file
Quick info for experts, sample HOSTS file:
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- This will interfere with the way the browser interacts with some web sites, since some or all of their web pages and/or graphics (ads) will no longer display in your browser (there may be a big blank area where the banner ad "should" be).
- Warnings:
- web sites and/or their directories in your HOSTS list will become inaccessible; although this is probably why many people edit their HOSTS file.
- For example, if there are web sites which you consider to have objectionable material, just put them in your HOSTS file, and your browser will no longer be able to access them.
- The following instructions are not recommended for Netscape users
- The reason being it takes Netscape longer to "not connect" to sites in your HOSTS file than it does to download the graphics.
- web sites and/or their directories in your HOSTS list will become inaccessible; although this is probably why many people edit their HOSTS file.
- Win98, 98ME: c:\windows\hosts
- WinNT4, Win2K: c:\winnt\system32\drivers\etc\hosts
- WinXP: c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts
- This allows you to "point" whatever web sites you want to a "blank" address.
- The address for your computer is 127.0.0.1 (this is also known as LOCALHOST).
- To over-simplify, this is the way your browser refers to your computer. By pointing web sites and/or directories to 127.0.0.1, you are disabling those sites/directories from being accessed.
- Note that on some browsers, this will cause a "time-out" delay, and will slow down the rendering of some web pages; although this works pretty darned well on Internet Explorer.
- Generally, it's a good idea to make a backup of any files before making changes.
- Start up Windows Explorer, go to the \Windows\ Directory, find the HOSTS file, and make a copy of it, or rename it to HOSTS.BK0, or copy it to a BACKUP folder... just make a backup easy to remember.
- The existing HOSTS (or, sometimes, HOSTS.SAM) file probably already contains the following (lines with "#" are ignored after the "#")
- 127.0.0.1 localhost
- Here are a couple of sample HOSTS files (FYI: to save files, right-click Save-As in IE, or right-click Save-Target-As in Netscape)
- Small: HOSTS-sample.txt (1K)
- Big: HOSTS-big.txt (19K)
- More HOSTS files: Someone Who Cares, Mike's ad-blocking
- Relevant sections can either be copy/pasted into the existing HOSTS file, or either file can be renamed to HOSTS (without an extension). To work, the HOSTS file must be in the \Windows\ folder ( it's usually in /etc/hosts if you're running Linux and/or another *nix).
- Note that the HOSTS file should have no file-name extension. This is possible in NotePad, and most other programs, by using Save-As and entering HOSTS. (HOSTSperiod) as the file name.
- See also:
- SSMedia
- Mike's HOSTS file
- eDexter
- Privoxy - proxy software
- If you're uncomfortable editing configuration files, see the cookie-disabling instructions; or take a look at the privacy-related programs in Web programs.