Hello all
my first post
i was wondering if using host files is worth the trouble. What are the pro's and con's?
i downloaded a list of host files and was shocked to see almost 10,000 entries.

Thanks in advance.

Sorry i might be posting in the wrong place...

The hosts file is more of a legacy of early IP networks and was never really designed for large-scale blocking of unwanted sites.

IE-Spyad, SpywareBlaster and Peer Guardian are better alternatives for blacklisting outbound connections.

• SpywareBlaster: http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html
Tutorial: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/ind...showtutorial=49

• IE-SPYAD: https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/ehowes/www/resource.htm
Tutorial: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/ind...showtutorial=53


How to Use a Hosts File:
http://castlecops.com/article-5660-nested-0-0.html
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
Editor's Note posted at mvps.org: In most cases a large HOSTS file (over 135 kb) tends to slow down the machine. This only occurs in W2000 and XP. Windows 98 and ME are not affected.

Hosts File FAQS: http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hostsfaq.htm