The so called Hosts File can be used to redirect hostname requests to different IP addresses. It is often used to block access to websites or servers, to redirect requests to a new or local server, or by malicious attackers who redirect websites to honeypots and fake websites. Web developers can use the hosts file [...]

Categories: Browsing, Firefox

The hosts file in Windows can be used to override DNS look-ups. I have described one practical use for webmasters who want to work on sites before DNS propagation. The hosts file is used by many for ad blocking, blocking of hosts that may be malicious or dangerous or speeding up connections to select sites [...]

Categories: Software, Windows

The question came just up again and I realized that I have never posted a tutorial about editing and reseting the Windows Hosts file. I’d like to take a look at the Host file’s functionality first. The Windows Hosts file can be used to block or redirect hostnames. A hostname is the core part of [...]

Categories: Tutorials Basic, Windows

The Windows hosts file is used to map hostnames to IP addresses forcing the computer to use that mapping instead of the one provided by the DNS server. This can be useful in several situations like speeding up Internet surfing or making sure that a website is working fine after moving it to another Internet [...]

Categories: Software, Windows

The hosts file is a local file in Windows and other operating systems that contains directives to map specific hosts to IP addresses which are prioritized over other means of DNS lookups like DNS servers. Quite a few applications exist for hosts files including blocking advertisement and other malicious domains from the computer system or [...]

Categories: Software, Windows

Many spyware infections happen on specifically prepared websites. These websites might exploit web browser vulnerabilities or offer software and files for download that infect a computer system once they are executed on it. Web users have several protection mechanisms that they can use to protect their computer system from these spyware infections. Modern antivirus software [...]

Categories: Security, Software, Windows