What is it?

In simple terms, the host's file is, a small file that is used by windows to establish and or block communication between your computer and other computers on the internet.

The Hosts file contains the mappings (or address) of Internet Providers addresses to host names. This file is loaded into memory (cache) at startup, then Windows checks the Hosts file before it queries any DNS servers, which enables it to override addresses in the DNS.

This prevents access to the listed sites by redirecting any connection attempts back to the local machine.
Another feature of the HOSTS file is its ability to block other applications from connecting to the Internet, providing the entry exists.

  You can use a HOSTS file to block ads, banners, 3rd party Cookies, 3rd party page counters, web bugs, and even most hijackers. This is accomplished by blocking the Server that supplies these little gems. Example -

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When you do update your "HOSTS" file, you will be disabling the companies listed on the host file from ALL communications with your computer, effectively blocking them from adding software, files, advertising banners on web pages, and or tracking cookies to your computer.
In many cases this can speed the loading of web pages by not having to wait for these ads, banners, hit counters, etc. to load. This also helps to protect your Privacy by blocking servers that track your viewing habits, also known as  "click-thru tracking" or Data Miners. You will now notice on various web pages, where the banner add used to be, now is a blank white box, or a white box that says, page unable to load. It is not actually the web page you are viewing that is unable to load, but the advertising banner could not load.	Click the image to view it's full size
In this example, the Web Page will still load, but you will see white box's where the ad's used to display. This has not only increased the speed that the page loads, by stopping the ads from loading, but you have also effectively blocked, the ability of the advertiser's, to place tracking cookies on your system.

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Ok first step. Lets block those parasitic companies

I have kept this as simple as possible for novice user's

There are dozens of Web Sites dedicated to the up keeping of all known ad servers, and up keeping of current HOSTS files. Go and download a current version of the updated HOSTS file.

Here are a few i use.

http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.html
This is the most recent best source for an updated HOSTS file, with quite some good added information here.

http://www.everythingisnt.com/hosts.html
Just some more information and updated HOSTS files

http://lists.gpick.com/pages/Hosts_File.htm
More great information about HOSTS files

Once you have downloaded the hosts file, usually in winzip form. If you can't open the file, you can get a copy of the compresision program, known as winzip here.
If needed (winzip) install the software., and extract your new HOSTS file.

There are a number of software programs that you can use to help you update and keep your HOSTS file current, but i won't go into that sort of depth here, but will keep it simple and easy, as HOSTS software really isn't necessary, only convenient for amateur users.

The easiest and simplest way to update your HOSTS file is as follows.

Depending on the windows operating system, this is where you will locate your HOSTS file.

Windows XP	=	C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC
Windows 2000	=	C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC
Win 98\ME	=	C:\WINDOWS

Once located, make a back up of your original HOSTS file, just copy your HOSTS file, and rename it to HOSTS.BACKUP. Now you have a backup should anything go wrong (it won't).

How to copy your HOSTS file? just right click once on the HOSTS file you have located in one of the above folders (depending on your computer operating system), and slide down to where it says "COPY" click that, now within the same folder, anywhere in the folder right click again and slide down to where it says "PASTE", click that. You now have a copy of your HOSTS file.

NEXT, open your HOSTS file by double clicking on it, and use WORDED to open it with. You will now have a windows word pad open on your desktop, similar to the image on my site here above.

NEXT, open the new hosts file you just downloaded, the same way with Windows word pad.

NEXT, on the new HOSTS file page, click on the edit button at the top of the page and slide down to you see "SELECT ALL", click on that, now  all the information on that page should be highlighted, now click on edit again, and click "COPY"

NEXT, go back to your own HOSTS file, and locate at the bottom of your list, the last entry, and then click to start a new line after the last entry on your HOSTS file, as though you are going to type a new line, now go to the top of the page and click "EDIT", then click "PASTE"

You now have transferred all the information from the updated HOSTS file, to your own HOSTS file, now shut down your HOSTS file by clicking "FILE" then "EXIT". IT will ask you do you want to save the changes, click "YES".


With a little bit of basic home work, you can read about various HOSTS file managers that will help you keep your HOSTS file up to date. but that is when you are ready.

Editors Note: 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.

To resolve this issue (manually) open the "Services Editor"

• Start | Run (type) "services.msc" (no quotes)
• Scroll down to "DNS Client", Right click and select: Properties
• Click the drop down arrow for "Startup type"
• Select: Manual, click Apply/Ok and restart. [more info]

You can see that the above "Service" is not needed (after a little browsing) by opening the Services Editor again, scroll down to DNS Client and check the "Status" column. It should be blank, if it was needed it would show "Started" in that column. [more info]

Editors Note: The above instructions are intended for a single (home user) PC. If your machine is part of a "Domain", check with your IT Dept. before applying this work-around. This especially applies to Laptop users who travel or bring their machines home. Make sure to reset the Service prior to connecting (reboot required) to your work Domain ...

I have created a new page for new tricks also on how to speed up your computer, and they are very simple things to do, that will not harm or  restrict your computer in anyway. The above step, and the new page on computer tricks to speed up your system, will dramatically speed up your running system.