The Lonely and Powerful Hosts File

Today surfing the internet is a bit like walking blindfolded in a room filled with thumbtacks on the floor (OUCH). Yeah, it can be that bad. On the many computers I've helped fix I've noticed one thing in common. People are constantly getting bombarded with different pop-ups, adware, spyware etc... Despite their use of the programs available, some people seem to keep losing out somehow. (Programs you should have on your computer will be in a later article)
Little do most people know there exists a little file on your computer than can significantly help you block a lot of unwanted traffic. What is this file you ask? It's a hidden little file on your computer called the Hosts file. This file tells your computer what sites are okay to connect to and what sites are not. For example: ads.doubleclick.net is a site that i have seen my computer attempt to connect to many different times. This is a nasty little site that always pops up dumb advertisement windows when you least expect it. A properly configured Hosts file will block this traffic and not allow your computer to connect to it. The small downside is it might slow down the loading of some pages, but it is a small price to pay for not seeing the pop-up ad.
At this point you might be asking yourself, "How do i get a properly configured Hosts file?" The answer is simple there are really 2 ways to do this. For our purposes we will call them the easy way and the hard way. Now to get the hard way explained first.

Warning: The following procedure should be done by people who are fairly comfortable navigating around the Windows file system. Back your original hosts file before you attempt any of this...Just in case.

The Hard Way: The Hosts file is typically found in C:\(Windows Directory)\System32\drivers\etc. (Note: I forgot whether or not it is by default a hidden file, but if memory serves me correctly it isn't. But make sure that under the Windows Explorer (Found in Start>Programs>Accessories) folder options (Found under the tools menu) you have it set to show hidden files and folders) Once you locate the hosts file open it with a test viewer (either Notepad or Wordpad will suffice). The Hosts file will have some instructions on how to add different sites for you to block. You can then proceed to manually input as many sites as you know of to start blocking.

And Now:

The Easy Way: For those that just want a quick an easy solution, there is one out there. It's called Hostsman. A small little program that can keep your hosts file updated and filled with hundreds (if not over a thousand) different websites that are known to show different pop-ups, spread spyware/adware, etc... Hostsman can be found at http://hostsman.abelhadigital.com
It's a really simple program to use. Once you download it, install it and run it. Select the hosts pull down menu and select "Check for Updates". (Note: You must be connected to the internet for the next part of the process to work) The program will now download an updated version of the Hosts file. Once that's done go to the main Hostsman screen and for security purposes click the lock icon to lock your Hosts file. Locking your hosts file will prevent any sites/adware/spyware from altering your file and allowing it to be changed.

You are now protected from connecting to many different web sites. HOWEVER....
If you are using Hostsman you will eventually notice that some sites like music.aol.com, and other fairly common user websites, are on the Hosts list of restricted sites. But unless you are into using some of AOL's services, it's not really a necessary website to have your computer randomly connecting to. In the event that you are trying to connect to a website that is on the list and you know what is going to be found on the website, feel free to alter the Hosts file to suit your needs. Hostsman has a very easy way to edit the file so that you can allow your computer to connect to these sites. A little toying with the program you will find it. It's very easy.
Editing your hosts file isn't a sure-fire way to prevent from getting pop-ups, adware etc... So please do not use the hosts file as your primary defense. However, the hosts file does a pretty darn good job in blocking a lot of unwanted site connections. It's a little known file that can potentially be very powerful. Along with the right combination of software on your computer, you can have a web-friendly computer.

To Be Continued...