MVPS HOSTS file update

[siljaline 41]

[b][color="red"]Blocking Unwanted Parasites with a Hosts File[/color][/b][url="http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm"]http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm[/url][url="http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.zip"]http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.zip[/url] (57 kb)[url="http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.txt"]http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.txt[/url] (252 kb)Note: The "text" version also make a good reference for determining culprit URLs.Regards,[b]Silj[/b]

[LilBambi 3,279]

Thanks for the update siljaline!Already downloaded ... Impressive..I see it not only has the new googkle.com things but the culprits behind them as well!

[siljaline 41]

[quote name='LilBambi' date='May 3 2005, 08:03 PM']Thanks for the update siljaline!Already downloaded ... Impressive..I see it not only has the new googkle.com things but the culprits behind them as well![right][post="145954"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]Most welcome, enjoy the file Regards,[b]Silj[/b]

[epp_b 0]

Thanks! :)Why on Earth has this not been made into a consolidated sticky thread? [url="http://forums.scotsnewsletter.com/index.php?showtopic=11796"]http://forums.scotsnewsletter.com/index.php?showtopic=11796[/url]

[Ed_P 8]

[quote]Why on Earth has this not been made into a consolidated sticky thread?[/quote]Because everytime it gets updated it automatically floats to the top of the list and if it was a sticky it wouldn't get noticed when updated?

[ian 0]

Bookmarked, subscribed, dowloaded, implemented.Thank you very much. The timing could not have been better. I have to open ports for some BitTorrent testing and am in the process of double checking all my security measures before I start the tests.I have got interested in podcasting over the last while and torrents look like only long term solution to anticipated exponential growth in traffic. Busy working with some casters and hosters to test services.Figure if I stay way from warez, etc I should be safe, but, can never be too sure. Edited May 4, 2005 by ian

[epp_b 0]

[quote name='EdP' date='May 3 2005, 11:42 PM']Because everytime it gets updated it automatically floats to the top of the list and if it was a sticky it wouldn't get noticed when updated?[right][post="145972"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]Sure, but I still think it would be nicer if it was consolidated.

[LilBambi 3,279]

It's all stickied now and I changed the heading so we can change the latest updated [date] as each one comes out. :)siljaline,Please PM me if you have trouble editing the topic header and I will fix it for you when new updates are added.Thanks so much!

[siljaline 41]

[quote name='LilBambi' date='May 4 2005, 08:19 PM']It's all stickied now and I changed the heading so we can change the latest updated [date] as each one comes out. :)siljaline,Please PM me if you have trouble editing the topic header and I will fix it for you when new updates are added.Thanks so much![right][post="146118"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]I'll edit the header or atempt to and then change it back to the current. Thanks all for the stickie [img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v330/siljaline/073.gif[/img][b]Silj[/b]

[LilBambi 3,279]

let me know how it goes.

[epp_b 0]

Yeeeeeah! W00T for the sticky!

[LilBambi 3,279]

LOL!

[TeMerc 0]

[color="red"][b]6/2/2005[/b][/color]Blocking Unwanted Parasites with a Hosts File [url="http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm"]http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm[/url] [url="http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.zip"]http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.zip[/url] (61 kb) [url="http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.txt"]http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.txt[/url] (274 kb) Note: the "text" version also make a good reference for determining culprit URLs Edited June 2, 2005 by TeMerc

[LilBambi 3,279]

Got it thanks!Also, I have found that Hostman works great for easily getting the host file to the proper location.I just save the zip file to the desktop, and use Hostman to import (on the file menu) the host file ... don't even have to unzip it.Also allows easy disabling of dns caching, and you can view the file to make sure it imported the new one if you are the skeptical type (like me) right in Hostman.I also use it to lock the host file (Icon) and on the drop down menu, I make it read only.The link to Hostman 1.2 is on the MVP page, or you can get to it from here as well:Hostman 1.2:[url="http://www.abelhadigital.com/"]http://www.abelhadigital.com/[/url]I do not use the Beta but it sounds like it will be very good as well when it comes out of Beta.Thanks for the update TeMerc

[siljaline 41]

[quote name='LilBambi' date='Jun 2 2005, 12:47 PM']Got it thanks!Also, I have found that Hostman works great for easily getting the host file to the proper location.I just save the zip file to the desktop, and use Hostman to import (on the file menu) the host file ... don't even have to unzip it.Also allows easy disabling of dns caching, and you can view the file to make sure it imported the new one if you are the skeptical type (like me) right in Hostman.I also use it to lock the host file (Icon) and on the drop down menu, I make it read only.The link to Hostman 1.2 is on the MVP page, or you can get to it from here as well:Hostman 1.2:[url="http://www.abelhadigital.com/"]http://www.abelhadigital.com/[/url]I do not use the Beta but it sounds like it will be very good as well when it comes out of Beta.Thanks for the update TeMerc[right][post="148972"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote][url="http://www.abelhadigital.com/"]HostsMan[/url] is known to re-name "HOSTS" to lower-case - I advise using with caution. Regards,[b]Silj[/b]

[siljaline 41]

[b]MVPS HOSTS file update [06-25-05][/b][b][color="red"]Blocking Unwanted Parasites with a Hosts File[/color][/b][url="http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm"]http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm[/url][url="http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.zip"]http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.zip[/url] (61 kb)[url="http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.txt"]http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.txt[/url] (274 kb)Note: The "text" version also make a good reference for determining culprit URLs.[b]Silj[/b]

[LilBambi 3,279]

[quote name='siljaline' date='Jun 25 2005, 01:42 AM'][url="http://www.abelhadigital.com/"]HostsMan[/url] is known to re-name "HOSTS" to lower-case - I advise using with caution. Regards,[b]Silj[/b][right][post="151693"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]Darn!You are right ... I went in and changed it for myself to HOSTS.Everytime you just open Hostman it renames it to lowercase. Drat!Do you know if the beta version 2 does that too?In the meantime, I also downloaded the MVP HOSTS Manager and although it is sparce and doesn't allow you to look at and/or change the file manually within the program (which I like to do), it doesn't change the file to lowercase.So right now I am manually changing the file itself after changing the read only bit, and then changing it back.Always something.... thanks for the heads up!

[LilBambi 3,279]

BTW: I love the MVP's HOST Manager's ability to update the HOSTS file ... that's very nice indeed.

[epp_b 0]

BTW, is there anyway I can lock this file (with a password) from being edited by an unauthorized user?

[siljaline 41]

[quote name='epp_b' date='Jun 25 2005, 02:42 PM']BTW, is there anyway I can lock this file (with a password) from being edited by an unauthorized user?[right][post="151739"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]To my knowledge, no - but you may lock HOSTS with a batch file and hide the batch files and/or when using MS-Anti Spyware the real-time protection System Agents flag any changes to HOSTS. Batch files, here; (O/S as Appropriate)XP/Win2K >[url="http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/lockhost.bat"]http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/lockhost.bat[/url][url="http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/unlockhost.bat"]http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/unlockhost.bat[/url][b]Silj[/b]

[LilBambi 3,279]

However, I did find that the HOSTS Manager (MVP) does allow password protection against disabling the HOSTS file though.[quote]Password protection in the Hosts Manager© is only used when someone wants to disable the HOSTS file.  You do not have to use password protection but you may find that it is rather handy if you have friends or family members using your computer to go to sites that you do not want then visiting.  Password protection is enabled by selecting "Manage Passwords" and then clicking "OK".[/quote]BTW: Spy Sweeper also offer protection on changes to the HOSTS file. Spy Sweeper has a two step HOSTS file protection. I use the MVP HOSTS file and the first step of Webroot's Spy Sweeper HOSTS protection which is notification and prompt to allow/disallow a change to the HOSTS file. Almost as good a password protecting it.The free version of WinPatrol does protects against changes to the HOSTS file too if I remember correctly. Edited June 25, 2005 by LilBambi

[siljaline 41]

[quote name='LilBambi' date='Jun 25 2005, 03:04 PM']However, I did find that the HOSTS Manager (MVP) does allow password protection against disabling the HOSTS file though.BTW: Spy Sweeper also offer protection on changes to the HOSTS file. Spy Sweeper has a two step HOSTS file protection. I use the MVP HOSTS file and the first step of Webroot's Spy Sweeper HOSTS protection which is notification and prompt to allow/disallow a change to the HOSTS file. Almost as good a password protecting it.The free version of WinPatrol does protects against changes to the HOSTS file too if I remember correctly.[right][post="151746"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]Never got around to using the any of the "HOSTS" managers, actually, I should. I'm used to using the old HOSTS Editor, works great, and let MSAS watch HOSTS for me. As much as I like WinPatrol, I don't run it presently (much Kudos to BillP for his efforts with the program, though) - many of the features in MS anti-spyware are duplicated, more-or-less. Since I'm running a bit RAM-challenged, I can't have too much running in the background. Regards,[b]Silj[/b]

[LilBambi 3,279]

If it were just for me, I wouldn't bother. But I am looking for easy ways to update them for clients. So trying out many of them myself to see what works the easiest.Still looking really.

[siljaline 41]

I just drop a new one in my client's machines at next visit - the geeks, well, I show them how [b]Silj[/b]

[siljaline 41]

[b]MVPS HOSTS File Updated [07-13-05][/b][b][color="red"]Blocking Unwanted Parasites with a Hosts File[/color][/b][url="http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm"]http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm[/url][url="http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.zip"]http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.zip[/url] (67 kb)[url="http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.txt"]http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.txt[/url] (299 kb)Note: the "text" version also make a good reference for determining culprit URLs.[b]Silj[/b]