Thread: Block Bad Websites

this solution is specifically for Windows
Block ad servers, malicious websites, hijackers, etc using the Windows Hosts file.

More info at
What is the Hosts file?
Blocking Unwanted Parasites with a Hosts File

There are HOSTs file that are already made that you can download which contain a large list of known ads servers, banner sites, sites that give tracking cookies, contain web bugs, or infect you with hijackers. Listed below are web sites that produce these types of hosts files:

http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.txt
[ HOSTS FILE PROJECT ]

To see the results instantly in web browsing, dns cache should be cleared by using yhe cmd
ipconfig /flushdns

By blocking ads and unnecessary clutter, it also increases net speed
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host files also can be used on (but file addressing structure may differ)
Apple - Macintosh OS8/OS9/OSX 10.1/Jaguar
Microsoft - Windows 95/98/ME/NT4 SP6/2K SP3*/XP (Pro/Home/Media)/2K3.NET/Vista/PocketPC
Unixes - BSD Linux/Mandrake/Debian/BeOs/SuSe/Knoppix/Red Hat

I think it has been posted earlier some where else in this forum. Any way its useful.

Actually i just found it today on net so i thought it would be useful, i didn't know it was already posted.

This trick also works for Linux. But I use Hosts file for original purpose only.

For Ubuntu

In terminal run

Code:

gksudo nautilus /etc/

Find the hosts file and edit it just like in Windows.

Originally Posted by Archer

This trick also works for Linux. But I use Hosts file for original purpose only.

i didn't understand original purpose only?

ok

Originally Posted by Archer

This trick also works for Linux. But I use Hosts file for original purpose only.

For Ubuntu

In terminal run

Code:

gksudo nautilus /etc/

Find the hosts file and edit it just like in Windows.

Thanks will use in linux as soon as i reinstall

This is the first paragraph from the link hitesh.07 given.

What is hosts file ?

The short answer is that the Hosts file is like an address book. When you type an address like www.yahoo.com into your browser, the Hosts file is consulted to see if you have the IP address, or "telephone number," for that site. If you do, then your computer will "call it" and the site will open. If not, your computer will ask your ISP's (internet service provider) computer for the phone number before it can "call" that site. Most of the time, you do not have addresses in your "address book," because you have not put any there. Therefore, most of the time your computer asks for the IP address from your ISP to find sites.

This explains it all.

The method used here is to block a web address by marking it's IP address as 127.0.0.1 in hosts file.

If you save this "127.0.0.1 google.com" in hosts files then, you won't be able to access the website.

But instead if you save the original IP address of "google.com" like "209.85.173.99 google.com" then, the website will load faster.

Same way, you can keep IP address of all your frequently used/favorite websites.

Find IP address of a website

Windows

Start -> Run -> type cmd & click enter.

In command prompt

Code:

ping website-address

example: ping google.com

In Linux (Ubuntu)

Same way in Linux. Except, run the "ping" code in Terminal.

Originally Posted by Archer

...
But instead if you save the original IP address of "google.com" like "209.85.173.99 google.com" then, the website will load faster.
...

Does this improve Ping ? Can it help getting low pings in gaming ?

Originally Posted by thats_me

Does this improve Ping ? Can it help getting low pings in gaming ?

No idea. I have never tried that.

Originally Posted by thats_me

Does this improve Ping ? Can it help getting low pings in gaming ?

No it will not imprrove Ping.

It is just the "domain name" to IP conversion without going upto DNS servers.

see this also What DNS do (Opendns users and accounts)

Originally Posted by thats_me

Does this improve Ping ? Can it help getting low pings in gaming ?

Ping is largely dependent upon the number of routers present between your pc and the other pc (on which u are trying to connect to). And this inturn is largely dependent upon the routing procedure adopted by the particular ISP. Its basically a hit or miss game, if its your lucky day the latency may be low and u may get good results in Online gaming. Most Indian ISPs route traffic through Singapore, hence it would be better if u play in India or Singapore servers.

Originally Posted by cool_techie_tvm

Ping is largely dependent upon the number of routers present between your pc and the other pc (on which u are trying to connect to). And this inturn is largely dependent upon the routing procedure adopted by the particular ISP. Its basically a hit or miss game, if its your lucky day the latency may be low and u may get good results in Online gaming. Most Indian ISPs route traffic through Singapore, hence it would be better if u play in India or Singapore servers.

@DM111PUSP,cool_techie_tvm
That whould have .... pretty much ruined OL gaming. But I played in some European servers with low ping. Ping depends on lots of stuff. Anyway I hope Garena adds more games soon.

Client - server games and p2p games make a huge difference too. Ping is largely a factor which has to be taken into consideration for client-server games. For p2p games, ping does play, but only a minor role.

Originally Posted by cool_techie_tvm

Client - server games and p2p games make a huge difference too. Ping is largely a factor which has to be taken into consideration for client-server games. For p2p games, ping does play, but only a minor role.

I've played without P2P client on low ping servers out side of asia. It's hard to find though.

^^ But there are games which implement p2p nature such as the little known (but fast recognised) Warrock. Its a CS clone. They have even setup a server in Mumbai to cater Indians.

I guess, BF series are also p2p in nature. Not sure about it though.

The freeware - Spybot Search & Destroy does quite well at blocking malicious websites.
It uses the method described here in the first post to automatically edit the hosts file.