HOSTS file causing problems

jab119jab119
edited August 2005 in Science & Tech
I have been trying to find a fix to some ad server pop ups that are promprting for a login. When I started using a HOSTS file to block a lot of hte nasties out there, there was a side affect. A lot of sites that have ads on them that are blocked by the HOSTS file I get a pop up wanting me to login to the ad server.

I just renamed my HOSTS file to HOSTS.old and when I go surfing the pop ups are gone, but I get to see all the lovely ads imbeded in the web site.

I really dont want to NOT use my HOSTS file but again I dont want the annoying login prompt pop ups.

Any ideas on how to fix this

James

Comments

  • TheBaronTheBaron Austin, TX
    edited August 2005
    A) use firefox
    B) get the Adblock extension for firefox

    you'll find that MUCH less of a hassle than what you've been doing, and rather than having to figure out where ads are coming from, it lists them for you. definitely the way to go
  • jab119jab119
    edited August 2005
    i have firefox and use the adblock extension. I was getting these pop ups in both IE nd FF.

    I used FF 99.8% of the time with the exception of very few sites that require IE

    James
  • TheBaronTheBaron Austin, TX
    edited August 2005
    if you're using the adblock extension, lets say for example I open it up and I see this

    http://www.short-media.com/forum/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif

    as one of my choices. but lets say I never want to see ANYTHING from short-media ever again, I can delete most of that line and change it to

    *.short-media.* or www.short-media.com/* or *.short-media.com* in an effort to remove everything from short-media's domain
  • JonseyJonsey Microsoft Corporation
    edited August 2005
    The reason you're getting that logon is likely because you've routed the HOSTS file to your own IP/loopback.

    If that's the case, then you're generating loads of extra work for yourself.

    Perhaps you could redirect them to another IP on your same network that doesn't exist, and take the performance hit, or to another IP on your local network that will error out quickly & easily?

    Got a spare machine? Setup Apache on it, and just change the default error page to be blank.
  • jab119jab119
    edited August 2005
    Jonsey wrote:
    The reason you're getting that logon is likely because you've routed the HOSTS file to your own IP/loopback.

    If that's the case, then you're generating loads of extra work for yourself.

    Perhaps you could redirect them to another IP on your same network that doesn't exist, and take the performance hit, or to another IP on your local network that will error out quickly & easily?

    Got a spare machine? Setup Apache on it, and just change the default error page to be blank.

    ok this is a subject im not all that familiar with (networking). I have a linksys router that my workstation and my laptop connect to. I dont have a spare machine to set up.

    In my hosts file its pointing everything to I guess my local host (
    127.0.0.1) could I set my router up to be the "local host" and have the router block it before it gets to my machine?

    James
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