diff --git a/readme.md b/readme.md index c9ad16449..0b56e5281 100644 --- a/readme.md +++ b/readme.md @@ -1,5 +1,19 @@ #Amalgamated hosts file +This repo consolidates several reputable `hosts` files and consolidates them into a single hosts file that you can use. + +**Currently this hosts file contains 22210 unique entries.** + +## Source of host data amalgamated here + +Currently the `hosts` files from the following locations are amalgamated: + +* MVPs.org Hosts file at [http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.htm](http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.htm), updated monthly, or thereabouts. +* Dan Pollock at [http://someonewhocares.org/hosts/](http://someonewhocares.org/hosts/) updated regularly. +* My own small list in raw form [here](https://raw.github.com/StevenBlack/hosts/master/data/StevenBlack/hosts). + +## What is a hosts file? + A hosts file, named `hosts` (with no file extension), is a plain-text file used by all operating systems to map hostnames to IP addresses. In most operating systems, the `hosts` file is preferential to `DNS`. Therefore if a host name is resolved by the `hosts` file, the request never leaves your computer. @@ -16,21 +30,12 @@ For example, to nullify requests to some doubleclick.net servers, adding these l 127.0.0.1 ad.be.doubleclick.net # etc... -## Source of host data amalgamated - -Currently the `hosts` files from the following locations are amalgamated and de-duped to create one large consolidated hosts file. - -* MVPs.org Hosts file at [http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.htm](http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.htm), updated monthly, or thereabouts. -* Dan Pollock at [http://someonewhocares.org/hosts/](http://someonewhocares.org/hosts/) updated regularly. -* My own small list in raw form [here](https://raw.github.com/StevenBlack/hosts/master/data/StevenBlack/hosts). - -**Currently this hosts file contains 22210 unique entries.** ## Location of your hosts file -To modify your current `hosts` file, look for it in the following places: +To modify your current `hosts` file, look for it in the following places and modify it with a text editor. -**Mac OS X, iOS, Android**: `/etc/hosts` +**Mac OS X, iOS, Android**: `/etc/hosts` folder. -**Windows**: `%SystemRoot%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts` +**Windows**: `%SystemRoot%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts` folder.