There’s a Hosts file on every operating system. Yes, Windows, Mac OS, Linux and Unix, all of them has it. For Windows XP, the hosts file is located at WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc and it’s called HOSTS without any extension. You can open the HOSTS file with notepad and you should see something like this.

The hosts file is a computer file used to store information on where to find a node on a computer network. This file maps hostnames to IP addresses. The hosts file is used as a supplement to (or instead of) the domain name system on networks of varying sizes. This file is (unlike DNS) under the control of the user who is using the computer.

Your HOSTS file may now be empty and useless. I’ll show you how you can put it to work and protect your computer from danger.

You can use HostsMan, the free hosts file manager and editor to manage your HOSTS file.

It has the ability to enable or disable your HOSTS file, edit your HOSTS file and update your host from 4 websites that maintain it. By updating your hosts file, you’re able to filter out advertisements. This can save network bandwidth, as well, by eliminating a request to the DNS server normally used for obtaining address information, as well as by not downloading the advertisements.

Before doing anything to your HOSTS file using HostsMan, it is advisable to make a backup first in case you want to restore your original HOSTS file. To make your backup, press CTRL+B simultaneously or go to Hosts menu and select “Manage Backups…“. Click on the Create Backup button to backup your current HOSTS file.

To update your HOSTS file, click on the middle button that says “Update Hosts” when you run HostsMan.

Check MVPS Hosts, hpHosts, Mike’s Ad Blocking Hosts, Peter Lowe’s AdServers List and click the Update button. It will then check for updates and prompt you if you want to continue to update hosts file. Click Yes to continue. Next, it will download all 4 hosts files, delete duplicates and update your HOSTS file. The next thing you’ll notice on HostsMan is the number of Hosts Names that has been increased to tens of thousands.

Please take note that your hosts file can be “hijacked“, or used for malicious purposes. For example, adware, computer viruses, trojan horses, or other malware can edit the hosts file (particularly on Windows-based systems) to redirect traffic from a “safe” site (such as Google) to sites hosting content that may be offensive or intrusive to the user or the user’s computer system.

If you’re afraid of your hosts file being hijacked, you can use limited accounts for normal everyday use. Not only it can protect your HOSTS file, but all system and program files as well.

[ Download HostsMan v3.1.55 ]

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