Posted on 01/26/2009 2:59:32 AM PST by markomalley
If you don't like going to Drudge and dealing with popups or getting tracked by third party cookies, I would suggest that you visit the following site:
Blocking Unwanted Parasites with a Hosts File
This site maintains an updated "HOSTS" file that has a pretty comprehensive list of known ad and spyware sites and will cause your browser to not go to those sites if the page you are loading wants to get a banner ad, popup ad, webbug, or third party tracking cookie. The list of blocked sites is updated about once a month.
How does it work? When you type in "www.freerepublic.com" or "www.drudgereport.com," your computer first has to resolve that web URL to an IP address. It does this by first going to a file on your computer called the "HOSTS" file to see if there is a match and then goes to a server on the Internet called a "Domain Name Service" file.
The HOSTS file looks like this extract:
127.0.0.1 a.abnad.net
127.0.0.1 b.abnad.net
127.0.0.1 c.abnad.net #[eTrust.Tracking.Cookie]
127.0.0.1 d.abnad.net
127.0.0.1 e.abnad.net
127.0.0.1 t.abnad.net
127.0.0.1 z.abnad.net
127.0.0.1 banners.absolpublisher.com
127.0.0.1 tracking.absolstats.com
127.0.0.1 adv.abv.bg
127.0.0.1 bimg.abv.bg
127.0.0.1 www2.a-counter.kiev.ua
127.0.0.1 track.acclaimnetwork.com
127.0.0.1 accuserveadsystem.com
If you have a URL listed in the HOSTS file, it will automatically resolve to the corresponding IP address. You'll note that the above URLs all resolve to 127.0.0.1 -- 127.0.0.1 is the standard address for your local computer. So, what this file does, in essence, is to tell your browser to not do anything at all when it sees one of the URL listed in the HOSTS file.
Pretty comprehensive instructions for updating your HOSTS file are in the page I link to, above. There are special instructions for dealing with Vista and getting around various security software (such as Norton and Zone Alarm). Please read the instructions before actually doing the update.
Hope the above is of value to folks.
Another vote for No Script.
Just make sure you uncheck the “Show message about blocked scripts” and “Audio feedback when scripts are blocked” buttons in the options/notifications box. Otherwise, noscript will be very annoying.
bookmark
What is this “popup” of which you speak?
Sounds like a delicious breakfast pastry.
Now that I think about it, I don’t think I’ve had one in years.
Not to say anything against a Firefox add-on, but they all operate on the aapplication layer...the HOSTS hack operates on the network socket layer, . As a result, it will work regardless of the application (Mozilla or otherwise).
Including apps that you may not think of as Internet apps...
I use adblocker on Firefox. No banner ads etc. Works great.
bookmark
...
That works well on Macintosh computers, too (of course), for those who are interested.
To make it easy to do and have a little “program” help you along, in addition to a “huge list” of URLs to “can” — use “Hostal” (*only* for Macintosh)...
http://www.northernsoftworks.com/hostal.html
It’s a reliable little software company. (again *only* for Macintosh...)
Made in Alaska... Interesting. How often do you dump cookies or do you?
Tech Bump...
You asked — “Made in Alaska... Interesting. How often do you dump cookies or do you?”
I deal with cookies by blocking them, except from certain sites... On the sites that I do use the cookies (for instance, signing in here...) I leave them alone.
I’ll also clean out the various caches that the browser uses, too, periodically, as I think about it.
Instead of manually maintaining a hosts file, just use Firefox and install the Adblock+ extension. It automatically keeps an up-to-date list of ad sites to block.
I can’t tell you from my own knowledge, as I don’t use it. But, don’t all these various browsers have their user boards where people can ask questions like that? I would think so..., and if so, that would be the place to start for asking that question.
Also, a quick google search might do, too...
[I use Safari, on the Macintosh, and also Firefox...]
Bookmark
See post #25 above.
Reminder bump. Thanks! ;-)
In Safari, all you have to do is click “Block Pop-up Windows” under the Safari Menu. I haven’t seen a pop-up ad in years. You can also turn on Private Browsing...
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