Information about Hosts File
The hosts file is a computer file used to store information on where to find a node on a computer network. This file maps hostnames to IP addresses. The hosts file is used as a supplement to (or instead of) the domain name system on networks of varying sizes. This file is (unlike DNS) under the control of the user who is using the computer.
The small size of the ARPANET permitted hosts files to be used with some convenience for some time. Network nodes typically had one address, and could have potentially many names. As individual TCP/IP computer networks started becoming popular, however, the hosts file became a large burden on system administrators — networks and network nodes were being added all the time — making maintenance of the hosts file a task which grew significantly.
127.0.0.1 localhost
An example can be found at [3].
A more important use of the hosts file is to block known dubious or criminal domains and servers (with spyware and other malware) in the same manner used for blocking ad-servers[4].
The hosts file can also be "hijacked", or used for malicious purposes. For example, adware, computer viruses, trojan horses, or other malware can edit the hosts file (particularly on Windows-based systems) to redirect traffic from a "safe" site (such as Google or Wikipedia) to sites hosting content that may be offensive or intrusive to the user or the user’s computer system. For example, a trojan (Qhosts) redirected traffic from search engines such as Google and AltaVista to a site specified by the author of the trojan horse. Mydoom.B (a malware program) blocked users from visiting sites regarding computer security and antivirus software, which also affected the Windows Update web site.
History
The ARPANET (predecessor to the Internet) had no domain name system for giving network nodes their own addresses. Because there was no centralized system for this purpose, each network node contained its own “map” of the network nodes that it needed to know about, and assigned them names that were memorable to the user. There was no system for ensuring that all systems on a network were called the same thing, nor was there a way to read some other user’s hosts file to automatically obtain their copy.The small size of the ARPANET permitted hosts files to be used with some convenience for some time. Network nodes typically had one address, and could have potentially many names. As individual TCP/IP computer networks started becoming popular, however, the hosts file became a large burden on system administrators — networks and network nodes were being added all the time — making maintenance of the hosts file a task which grew significantly.
Location and default content
The host file is located in different locations in different operating systems and even in different Windows versions.[1]:- Windows NT/2000/XP/Vista:
%SystemRoot%\system32\drivers\etc\is the default location, which may be changed. The actual directory is determined by the Registry key\HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\DataBasePath. - Windows 95/98/Me:
%WinDir%\ - Linux and other Unix-like operating systems:
/etc - Mac OS: System Folder: Preferences or System folder (format of the file may vary from Windows and Linux counterparts)
- Mac OS X:
/private/etc(uses BSD-style Hosts file) - OS/2 and eComStation:
"bootdrive":\mptn\etc\
127.0.0.1 localhost
An example can be found at [3].
Other uses for the hosts file
The hosts file has alternative uses, including filtering ads by having entries for known ad-servers redirect to machines without the advertising on them or more typically by redirecting references to ad-servers to the local address 127.0.0.1. This can save network bandwidth, as well, by eliminating a request to the DNS server normally used for obtaining address information, as well as by not downloading the advertisements. However, if the hosts file is to be used for this purpose, it must be kept up-to-date with lists of Internet servers known to host such content.A more important use of the hosts file is to block known dubious or criminal domains and servers (with spyware and other malware) in the same manner used for blocking ad-servers[4].
The hosts file can also be "hijacked", or used for malicious purposes. For example, adware, computer viruses, trojan horses, or other malware can edit the hosts file (particularly on Windows-based systems) to redirect traffic from a "safe" site (such as Google or Wikipedia) to sites hosting content that may be offensive or intrusive to the user or the user’s computer system. For example, a trojan (Qhosts) redirected traffic from search engines such as Google and AltaVista to a site specified by the author of the trojan horse. Mydoom.B (a malware program) blocked users from visiting sites regarding computer security and antivirus software, which also affected the Windows Update web site.
See also
- Adblock
- ARPANET
- Computer virus
- DNS
- Resolv.conf
- Malware
- Spyware
- TCP/IP
- Trojan horse (computing)
- Unix-like
- Windows
References and footnotes
External links
- How to Define Static hostnames for IP Addresses in Windows (counterpart of Linux's /etc/hosts file in Windows)
- Why Should You Wait for Internet Propagation? – An alternative use to the hosts file
- Using a hosts file to remove ads without getting broken images - Using hosts files with other tools makes viewing website content more pleasing.
- Custom hosts files
- Most Valuable Professional(MVP) site Updated monthly with free custom HOSTS file; information and instructions for installation. Focused on preventing unwanted advertisements & parasites. Numerous 3rd party awards and recognition(s).
- Dan Pollock's hosts file A well maintained hosts file with updates almost daily,
- Andrew Short’s Hosts file project – comprehensive hosts file
- HPHosts – An ad blocking hosts file
- The Security Now! podcast page on the hosts file
- Mikes Ad-Blocking hosts file – available as a direct download to merge in, or as an installer
- SCoooBY’s Hosts File – A large list of ad servers
- Ad Blocking Lists – Peter Lowe’s List
- (French) Airelle Lists – Hosts files with a large blacklist of 500,000 sites
- Spybot has an advanced setting that adds a blacklist to your hosts file.
- Applications to Manage Hosts Files
- Abelhadigital’s HostsMan 3.0.45 – A freeware application for hosts file management with auto-updates
- Kimberly's Hosts Manager – Freeware Microsoft Windows hosts file manager, on the forum B.I.S.S-Bluetack Internet Security Solutions
- Funkytoad’s HostsXpert v4.0 – A free application to arrange, and edit hosts files
- Mike Meyer’s HostsToggle 2.1 – An open source hosts file tool
- KH Blocker – A free Microsoft Windows application which manages an ad-blocking hosts file
- Ray Marron's Hostess – Freeware Microsoft Windows hosts file manager.
computer is a machine which manipulates data according to a list of instructions.
Computers take numerous physical forms. The first devices that resemble modern computers date to the mid-20th century (around 1940 - 1941), although the computer concept and various machines
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Computers take numerous physical forms. The first devices that resemble modern computers date to the mid-20th century (around 1940 - 1941), although the computer concept and various machines
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computer file is a block of arbitrary information, or resource for storing information, which is available to a computer program and is usually based on some kind of durable storage.
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A node is a device that is connected as part of a computer network. For example, a node may be a computer, personal digital assistant, cell phone, router, switch, or hub.
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as a college campus, industrial complex, or a military base. A CAN, may be considered a type of MAN (metropolitan area network), but is generally limited to an area that is smaller than a typical MAN.
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A hostname (occasionally also, a sitename) is the unique name by which a network-attached device (which could consist of a computer, file server, network storage device, fax machine, copier, cable modem, etc.) is known on a network.
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An IP address (Internet Protocol address) is a unique address that certain electronic devices use in order to identify and communicate with each other on a computer network utilizing the Internet Protocol standard (IP)—in simpler terms, a computer address.
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On the Internet, the Domain Name System (DNS) associates various sorts of information with so-called domain names; most importantly, it serves as the "phone book" for the Internet by translating human-readable computer hostnames, e.g. en.wikipedia.
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On the Internet, the Domain Name System (DNS) associates various sorts of information with so-called domain names; most importantly, it serves as the "phone book" for the Internet by translating human-readable computer hostnames, e.g. en.wikipedia.
..... Click the link for more information.
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The ARPANET, developed by DARPA of the United States Department of Defense, was the world's first operational packet switching network, and the predecessor of the global Internet.
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Internet is a worldwide, publicly accessible series of interconnected computer networks that transmit data by packet switching using the standard Internet Protocol (IP). It is a "network of networks" that consists of millions of smaller domestic, academic, business, and government
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A node is a device that is connected as part of a computer network. For example, a node may be a computer, personal digital assistant, cell phone, router, switch, or hub.
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The Internet protocol suite is the set of communications protocols that implement the protocol stack on which the Internet and most commercial networks run. It has also been referred to as the TCP/IP protocol suite, which is named after two of the most important protocols in it:
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Advertising is paid, one-way communication through a medium in which the sponsor is identified and the message is controlled by the sponsor. Variations include publicity, public relations, etc..
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On the Internet, the Domain Name System (DNS) associates various sorts of information with so-called domain names; most importantly, it serves as the "phone book" for the Internet by translating human-readable computer hostnames, e.g. en.wikipedia.
..... Click the link for more information.
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Adware or advertising-supported software is any software package which automatically plays, displays, or downloads advertising material to a computer after the software is installed on it or while the application is being used.
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A computer virus is a computer program that can copy itself and infect a computer without permission or knowledge of the user. The original virus may modify the copies, or the copies may modify themselves, as occurs in a metamorphic virus.
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In the context of computer software, a Trojan horse is a program that installs malicious software while under the guise of doing something else. Though not limited in their payload, Trojan horses are more notorious for installing backdoor programs which allow unauthorized non
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Malware is software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system without the owner's informed consent. It is a portmanteau of the words "malicious" and "software". The expression is a general term used by computer professionals to mean a variety of forms of hostile,
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Microsoft Windows
Screenshot of Windows Vista Ultimate, the latest version of Microsoft Windows.
Company/developer: Microsoft Corporation
OS family: MS-DOS/9x-based, Windows CE, Windows NT
Source model: Closed source
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Screenshot of Windows Vista Ultimate, the latest version of Microsoft Windows.
Company/developer: Microsoft Corporation
OS family: MS-DOS/9x-based, Windows CE, Windows NT
Source model: Closed source
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Google Inc.
Public (NASDAQ: GOOG ), (LSE: GGEA )
Founded Menlo Park, California (September 7 1998[1])
Headquarters Mountain View, California, USA
Key people Eric E.
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Public (NASDAQ: GOOG ), (LSE: GGEA )
Founded Menlo Park, California (September 7 1998[1])
Headquarters Mountain View, California, USA
Key people Eric E.
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Google Inc.
Public (NASDAQ: GOOG ), (LSE: GGEA )
Founded Menlo Park, California (September 7 1998[1])
Headquarters Mountain View, California, USA
Key people Eric E.
..... Click the link for more information.
Public (NASDAQ: GOOG ), (LSE: GGEA )
Founded Menlo Park, California (September 7 1998[1])
Headquarters Mountain View, California, USA
Key people Eric E.
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AltaVista refers both to an Internet search engine company and to that company’s search engine product.
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Birth
AltaVista was started by Digital Equipment Corporation employee volunteers who were trying to provide services to make finding files on the public network..... Click the link for more information.
Mydoom, also known as W32.MyDoom@mm, Novarg, Mimail.R and Shimgapi, is a computer worm affecting Microsoft Windows. It was first sighted on January 26, 2004.
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Computer security is a branch of information security applied to both theoretical and actual computer systems. Computer security is a branch of computer science that addresses enforcement of 'secure' behavior on the operation of computers.
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Antivirus software consists of computer programs that attempt to identify, thwart and eliminate computer viruses and other malicious software (malware).
Antivirus software typically uses two different techniques to accomplish this:
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Antivirus software typically uses two different techniques to accomplish this:
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Windows Update is a Control Panel applet found in recent versions of Microsoft Windows that provides updates for the operating system and related components, such as definition updates to the Windows Defender antispyware product and Junk Mail filter updates for Windows Mail.
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Adblock is a content-filtering extension for the Mozilla Firefox and Mozilla Application Suite web browsers. Adblock allows users to prevent page elements, such as advertisements, from being downloaded and displayed.
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The ARPANET, developed by DARPA of the United States Department of Defense, was the world's first operational packet switching network, and the predecessor of the global Internet.
..... Click the link for more information.
..... Click the link for more information.
A computer virus is a computer program that can copy itself and infect a computer without permission or knowledge of the user. The original virus may modify the copies, or the copies may modify themselves, as occurs in a metamorphic virus.
..... Click the link for more information.
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