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.
it is... but a pop-under is not anywhere near as annoying as pop-up ads...
Uh, aside from a web browser, can you name another application that would make requests to ad sites?
^^ Raises Hand ^^
Another vote for Firefox’s extentions, NoScript and AdBlockPlus. Have both, and they work great.
Concur about shutting off the notifications, or some sites will drive you nuts! :)
You said — “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...”
I do have that selected (not the private browsing...). But, there are a very few that still get through that blocker. It still has happened with me (maybe about 1/4 of a percent of the time or less...).
The thing that the Hosts file does for you is also block the ads that are on the web pages, not just the pop-ups, though. I haven’t seen that Safari blocks ads on the web page itself, like the list that is provided with the Hostal program. There’s a whole bunch already pre-listed for you and you can ad more as you go along. At any time, you can “turn off” the Hosts file (so to speak) and then turn it back on.
For some reason I found that I had something in that list which blocked my Software Update from functioning properly. I might have done it myself, or it may have been in the list. So, when I do a Software Update, I just turn off the Hosts file (through the program Hostal).
It does have its uses...
Editors Note: in most cases a large HOSTS file (over 135 kb) tends to slow down the machine. This only occurs in W2000/XP/Vista. Windows 98 and ME are not affected.I used this technique with Windows ME, which iw probably why I didn't get as exceited about Win XP as many others did.
Sure. Any number of freeware applications:
I could go on, but the point is that a whole BUNCH of applications can request network access...and can report your usage...even if you don't think of them necessarily as web browsers.
From my experience, it becomes an issue particularly when a machine doesn't have an adequate amount of RAM. Otherwise, it shouldn't be a concern too much.
The hosts file is a simple and effective layer of security to add to most computers. The size of the hosts file will in some cases impact performance. I have used a hosts file on a number of Windows 98, Windows 2000 Pro and Windows XP Pro computers. Only the Windows 2000 Pro computers bogged down.
Firefox
Noscript
Adblock
Run that for a while and you'll be like me, asking are websites still using popups?
A weak strategy towards popups,banner ads and third party cookies. Not comprehensive.
Come on man!
Give it a break this HOSTS file setup is perpetually out of date and is not robust enough to work as a solid solution
to a great many of these and greater problems.
If that was the only thing I was doing within my network, you'd be right.
Give it a break this HOSTS file setup is perpetually out of date and is not robust enough to work as a solid solution to a great many of these and greater problems.
They say that virus definitions are out of date before they are pushed out...doesn't mean that we shouldn't use an antivirus program. You know that vulnerabilities are usually not published on bugtraq until after the vendor has a patch. Doesn't mean we shouldn't look at bugtraq.
You choose not to use the HOSTS file hack on your system, that's your business. Not my network. But if you deride me for using a layer 3 solution when, apparently, you are putting all of your eggs in a layer 7 basket (and one that isn't even comprehensive beyond mozilla apps), you'll forgive me if I choose not to take your advice.
My No-Script has it blocked off; not because of FR, but all the other sites that use it. Google has already said they use it to 'target' the information they feed back to you on info searches you do, and I personally resent that. JMHO.
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