MVPS HOSTS File Update 06.14.07

siljaline

Blocking Unwanted Parasites with a Hosts File

http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.zip (140 kb)
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.txt (591 kb)
Note: the "text" version makes a good reference for determining possible
culprits

How To: Download and Extract the HOSTS file
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts2.htm

HOSTS File - Frequently Asked Questions
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hostsfaq.htm

Sign up for HOSTS file update notices
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm#contribute

Visit the Hosts News blog
http://msmvps.com/blogs/hostsnews/default.aspx

Silj

kryyst

This technique does work, it works very well. The downside is that the bigger the hosts file gets the slower every network application runs as it's constantly referencing the hosts file.

I've found that using google's toolbar and/or firefox's adblock work as well, aren't static and don't slow other things down with a bloated hosts file.

While modifying your hosts file is absolute and will work, in a modern system it's no longer practical nor meaningful.

mtrox

I use it all the time on many computers (esp ones I know kids are going to use) and have never seen a slow down. If you do, you can disable the DNS client as described here.

I'm not familiar with how Google's toolbar works. Does it work differently so that it doesn't add a layer of database on top of DNS?

kryyst

The degree of slow down will depend on the computer and the size of the hosts file.

Google toolbar is like any other add blocker in that it renders the page looking for add sites before displaying them. So that your web browsing is potentially slower. The difference is that it's only effects web browsing. A large Hosts file affects any network activity.

Again nothing wrong with editing your hosts file, but it can have side effects.

primesuspect

I'd clarify it a little and say a huge hosts file will affect lookup performance, not general network activity. Once the lookup is complete and the traffic starts to flow, having a huge hosts file won't affect performance.

mtrox

If there is a DNS slowdown, I'd say it's worth it. The HOSTS file is not the same as the Google pop-up blocker. When a kid clicks on a link that comes up in her AIM or an email, she can still get there with the Google pop-up blocker. With the HOSTS file, the computer just cannot get there, whether its in the form of a pop-up or a link.

HisChild

Yes the host file is a bit more secure but you have to keep it more updated.
The only thing it will slow down is the lookup.