Hi

I want to import my entire list of websites in the Internet Explorer Restricted Sites to my hosts file. How do you do this, or is there a utility out there that will do it?

Appreciate any help here. Thanks.

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.

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

How to Use a Hosts File:
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial51.html
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.
(scroll down the page about halfway)

• Custom Hosts files available for download:

Mike's Ad Blocking Hosts file: http://everythingisnt.com/NoAdHOSTS.exe
Instructions: http://www.everythingisnt.com/hosts.html

MVPS HOSTS File zipped version: http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.zip
MVPS HOSTS File text version: http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.txt

• Free tools:

HostsMan HOSTS file manager [WIN 9x/ME/NT/2K/XP]
An application to manage your Windows HOSTS file. It is mainly intended to block specific domains (mostly advertising servers) by redirecting them to localhost, but can also be used to add any other domain/Ip combination that you want to be included in the HOSTS file. In addition to the editing features, HostsMan can prevent other programs from writing to the HOSTS, import and merge Hosts files, resolve IP addresses and mark potential hijack entries.

Download Hostsman from: http://www.snapfiles.com/get/hostsman.html

HOSTER [WIN 9x/ME/NT/2K/XP]
A tool to view the hosts file, set it to read, restore, backup and general edit and repair.
Download the Hoster from: http://www.funkytoad.com/download/hoster.zip

Great information thanks a lot!!!!

Of the ones you mentioned, in your opinion which one is the "best"? I see that you've listed Mike's Ad Blocking. Is this for Ad's only or for specific, malicious websites? Can I merge ALL of the HOSTS files into one HOSTS file??


The Funkytoad Hoster program, is it a hosts manager ONLY or does it have it's own blocking list??

Thanks again.

I like FunkyToad's hoster. You can add lines/delete lines - you can a lot of things It doesn't have its own blocking list, but you import the MS default one.
David