Subject: Sharing again - re computers Author: stpete as shadetree/pete : member since January, 2006 : 1454 posts Posted on: 2007-10-14 16:14:40

I was rebuilding a PC for a client today and doing my 'standard load' of software to thwart internet bad guys and thought I would share this technique.

Here is a trick I use to keep a PC doing what I want it to do.
What happens? Well when you surf the internet you get redirected to another site that drops an ad or popup to you before you get to where you wanted to go. So you go to site A but first via B C D… to deliver junk. How to stop and thereby increase speed and protect from spyware etc being downloaded?
There is a file called HOSTS – usually in windowssystem32… depending on the OS. It is a ascii text file. A stock load of W2000 or XP has essentially no entries.
There are many files available on-line that do have entries, and Spybot15 (free) not only loads a spyware checker but a hosts file. You can download a hosts file and replace the default with the new one. What happens? Well those unwanted sites are listed but the url is 127.9.0.1 ie your machine. So when site A directs you to one of these ad-sites it checks Hosts and redirects to your machine which does nothing.
Cool.

93 740il,10/92
07 Silverado LTZ

• Sharing again - re computers - shadetree/pete 2007-10-14 16:14:40 (340 views)
  • oops. - mick 2007-10-15 09:09:15 (347 views)
    • Re: oops. that's it - shadetree/pete 2007-10-15 22:28:54 (304 views)
    • Use notepad, see this link - kfister 2007-10-15 12:35:51 (302 views)
      • tnx - will try & c what is added over current (nt) - shadetree/pete 2007-10-30 18:36:36 (321 views)
        • MOAH - Mother of all Hosts - shadetree/pete 2007-10-31 10:45:13 (308 views)
  • Re: Sharing again - re computers (nt) - mick 2007-10-15 08:53:06 (316 views)