Hosts File

So yesterday I talked about using OpenDNS to block unwanted sites. I currently use it to block known phishing sites. Another way to block sites is to add them to your hosts file, and point them to 127.0.0.1, your localhost.

Your hosts file tells your computer the IP address of websites. If you tell them their IP is 127.0.0.1, it will block them because that IP points to your computer.

This is a good way to block spyware, phishing, and any other malicious sites. But where do you find what sites to block? Right here. This site has a HUGE hosts file that block just about everything bad. You just download it, do a search on your computer for a hosts file with no extension, and replace it with the one you downloaded.

The one downside is that it blocks most ads too. Now a lot of people might like that too, but I don’t really like blocking ads because that’s how people make their money. I actually click on ads if I see them on people’s sites that I want to help out. For this reason I only chance the hosts file on my Windows computer. I am not to worried about spyware and viruses on my Macs.