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#Amalgamated 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.
Having a smart hosts file goes a long way towards blocking malware, adware, and other irritants.
For example, to nullify requests to some doubleclick.net servers, adding these lines to your hosts file will do it:
# block doubleClick's servers
127.0.0.1 ad.ae.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1 ad.ar.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1 ad.at.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1 ad.au.doubleclick.net
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, updated monthly, or thereabouts.
- Dan Pollock at http://someonewhocares.org/hosts/ updated regularly.
- My own small list in raw form here.
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:
Mac OS X, iOS: /etc/hosts
Windows: %SystemRoot%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts