2013-07-13 22:59:29 +02:00
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#Amalgamated hosts file
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2016-02-02 04:56:49 +01:00
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This repo consolidates several reputable `hosts` files and merges them into a single
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amalgamated hosts file with duplicates removed.
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2013-07-13 22:59:29 +02:00
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2016-02-02 04:56:49 +01:00
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**Currently this amalgamated hosts file contains @NUM_ENTRIES@ unique entries.**
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## Goals of this amalgamated hosts file
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The goals of this repo are to
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1) automatically combine high-quality lists of hosts,
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2016-02-02 04:58:34 +01:00
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2016-02-02 04:56:49 +01:00
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2) de-dupe the resultant combined list,
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2016-02-02 04:58:34 +01:00
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2016-02-02 04:56:49 +01:00
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3) and keep the resultant file reasonably sized.
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A high-quality source is defined here as one that is actively curated. A hosts source should be frequently
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updated by its maintainers with both additions and removals. The larger the hosts file, the higher the level of
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curation is expected.
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For example, the (huge) hosts file from [hosts-file.net](http://hosts-file.net) is **not** included
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here because it is very large (300,000+ entries) and doesn't currently display a corresponding high level of curation
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activity.
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It is expected that this amalgamated hosts file will serve both desktop and mobile devices under a variety of operating
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systems.
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2013-07-13 22:59:29 +02:00
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2016-01-15 23:24:14 +01:00
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## Sources of host data amalgamated here
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2013-07-13 22:59:29 +02:00
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Currently the `hosts` files from the following locations are amalgamated:
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2015-09-03 06:24:39 +02:00
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* The [Adaway hosts file](http://adaway.org/hosts.txt), updated regularly.
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2016-02-02 04:56:49 +01:00
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* MVPs.org Hosts file at [http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.htm](http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.htm), updated
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monthly, or thereabouts.
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2013-07-13 22:59:29 +02:00
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* Dan Pollock at [http://someonewhocares.org/hosts/](http://someonewhocares.org/hosts/) updated regularly.
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2014-05-14 16:24:07 +02:00
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* Malware Domain List at [http://www.malwaredomainlist.com/](http://www.malwaredomainlist.com/), updated regularly.
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* Peter Lowe at [http://pgl.yoyo.org/adservers/](http://pgl.yoyo.org/adservers/), updated regularly.
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2013-07-13 22:59:29 +02:00
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* My own small list in raw form [here](https://raw.github.com/StevenBlack/hosts/master/data/StevenBlack/hosts).
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2015-10-19 02:56:58 +02:00
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You can add additional sources by placing them in the `data/` directory. Provide a copy of that new
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`hosts` file, and place its update url in `update.info`. The `updateHostsFile.py` routine will
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automatically refresh the `hosts` file from source each time a new amalgamated file is generated.
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2013-07-13 22:59:29 +02:00
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2015-10-30 16:13:18 +01:00
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## How do I incorporate my own hosts?
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2016-02-02 04:56:49 +01:00
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If you have custom host records, place them in file `myhosts`. The contents of this file are prepended to the
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amalgamated hosts file during the update process.
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2015-10-30 16:13:18 +01:00
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2013-07-13 22:59:29 +02:00
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## Using updateHostsFile.py
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2015-10-19 02:56:58 +02:00
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This Python script will generate a unique hosts file based on the sources in the `data/` folder.
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You can either have the script go out and fetch an updated version over the web (defined by the
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update.info text file in the source's directory), or it will use the `hosts` file that's already
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there.
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2013-07-13 22:59:29 +02:00
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Usage
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python updateHostsFile.py
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**TAKE NOTE** this script is tested with Python version 2.7.10.
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## What is a hosts file?
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2015-10-19 02:56:58 +02:00
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A hosts file, named `hosts` (with no file extension), is a plain-text file used by all operating
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systems to map hostnames to IP addresses.
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2013-07-13 22:59:29 +02:00
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2015-10-19 02:56:58 +02:00
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In most operating systems, the `hosts` file is preferential to `DNS`. Therefore if a host name is
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resolved by the `hosts` file, the request never leaves your computer.
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2013-07-13 22:59:29 +02:00
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Having a smart `hosts` file goes a long way towards blocking malware, adware, and other irritants.
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2015-10-19 02:56:58 +02:00
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For example, to nullify requests to some doubleclick.net servers, adding these lines to your hosts
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file will do it:
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# block doubleClick's servers
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127.0.0.1 ad.ae.doubleclick.net
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127.0.0.1 ad.ar.doubleclick.net
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127.0.0.1 ad.at.doubleclick.net
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127.0.0.1 ad.au.doubleclick.net
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127.0.0.1 ad.be.doubleclick.net
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# etc...
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2015-10-03 03:06:51 +02:00
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## Why use `0.0.0.0` instead of `127.0.0.1`?
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Using `0.0.0.0` is faster because you don't have to wait for a timeout. It also does not interfere
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with a web server that may be running on the local PC.
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2015-10-03 03:06:51 +02:00
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## Why not use just `0` instead of `0.0.0.0`?
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We tried that. Using `0` doesn't work universally.
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2013-07-13 22:59:29 +02:00
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## Location of your hosts file
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To modify your current `hosts` file, look for it in the following places and modify it with a text
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editor.
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2013-07-13 22:59:29 +02:00
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**Mac OS X, iOS, Android, Linux**: `/etc/hosts` folder.
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**Windows**: `%SystemRoot%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts` folder.
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## Reloading hosts file
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Your operating system will cache DNS lookups. You can either reboot or run the following commands to
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manually flush your DNS cache once the new hosts file is in place.
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2013-07-13 22:59:29 +02:00
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### Mac OS X
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Open a Terminal and run:
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2015-11-15 08:30:04 +01:00
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`sudo dscacheutil -flushcache;sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder`
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2013-07-13 22:59:29 +02:00
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### Windows
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Open a Command Prompt:
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**Windows XP**: Start -> Run -> `cmd`
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2015-10-19 02:56:58 +02:00
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**Windows Vista, 7**: Start Button -> type `cmd` -> right-click Command Prompt ->
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"Run as Administrator"
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2013-07-13 22:59:29 +02:00
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2015-10-19 02:56:58 +02:00
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**Windows 8**: Start -> Swipe Up -> All Apps -> Windows System -> right-click Command Prompt ->
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"Run as Administrator"
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2013-07-13 22:59:29 +02:00
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and run:
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`ipconfig /flushdns`
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### Linux
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2015-11-25 18:50:02 +01:00
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Open a Terminal and run with root privileges:
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**Debian/Ubuntu** `sudo /etc/rc.d/init.d/nscd restart`
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2013-07-13 22:59:29 +02:00
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2015-11-25 18:50:02 +01:00
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**Linux with systemd**: `sudo systemctl restart network.service`
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2015-09-20 04:02:54 +02:00
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2015-11-25 18:50:02 +01:00
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**Fedora Linux**: `sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager.service`
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2015-09-20 04:02:54 +02:00
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2015-11-25 18:50:02 +01:00
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**Arch Linux/Manjaro**: `sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager.service`
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