Hosts file

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Hubird
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Hosts file

Post by Hubird »

In the days before I knew about Firefox & ABP I used a modified HOSTS file to block adds. I still use this method today together with ABP (old habits die hard). Is there any point or detrimental effects in doing this (Apart for blocking Adds in IE which I rarely use now)?

WinXP sp2
Firefox 2.0.0.3
Adblock Plus 0.7.5 with the following filters:
Easyelement + Easylist
ABP Tracking Filter
JamiePlucinski.com
Wladimir Palant

Post by Wladimir Palant »

The hosts file means doesn't prevent connections. The browser still tries to connect, and this slows you down (as compared to Adblock Plus of course, connecting to the actual ad server would probably still be slower).
JamesA

Post by JamesA »

You can use eDexter from here

what this program does is pretend to be a webserver (only accessible from your own PC) but only serves a clear gif image (or you can choose one of your own) its the perfect complement to a Hosts file and makes browsing fast as you dont have to wait for each blocked site to time out
release notes on what it does here

i use eDexter + adblockplus + hostsfile and i havent seen an advert/banner in a very long time
JamesA

Post by JamesA »

from the release notes
Second, it will act as a limited personal web server, which will operate only
on your local machine (IP 127.0.0.1). Whenever the filter has been activated,
instead of the unacceptable data being retrieved from the web, eDexter will
intercept the search and act as if IT were the site, and quickly return a
small image to be inserted in the present loading page. Your page loads
faster, with less objectionable material on it. No time is wasted searching
for the site (DNS search), waiting to connect, and downloading the request.
Also no tracking software at the offsite location has been given any
information about you. Your privacy is improved.

Using Hosts as a filter, without eDexter, will cause your browser to a wait
for the file to load, from your own machine, and because the file is not
there, your browser will eventually time out. This may take 10-30 seconds or
more and would be repeated for each requested image on that page. If there are
20 loads from an objectionable site on one page, you will have to wait 20
times as long. Using eDexter will almost eliminate that delay.
that should cure any slow issues
Wladimir Palant

Post by Wladimir Palant »

JamesA: Never link directly to executable files unless you want your posts immediately removed. I corrected the link above.
JamesA

Post by JamesA »

oops my bad, thanks for reminder
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