I have been reading much about the use of the hosts file to block out
potential bugs and ads. Some say it's quite useful, others say it's
obsolete. I need some expert opinions on using one as a security feature.

My current security looks like this:
Firewalls: Hardware (WiFi router) + Zone Alarm Pro
AV: Avast!
Antispyware: Spybot S&D, but considering MS ASW beta as well.

It's been quite useful for me. I don't know how it could be obsolete.

Spybot S&D has a hostsfile feature if you enable it.

Tom
"Wm. R. Taylor" <WmRTaylor@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:71D76EC1-C113-47FB-A467-B8A59E13C60B@microsoft.com...
|I have been reading much about the use of the hosts file to block out
| potential bugs and ads. Some say it's quite useful, others say it's
| obsolete. I need some expert opinions on using one as a security feature.
|
| My current security looks like this:
| Firewalls: Hardware (WiFi router) + Zone Alarm Pro
| AV: Avast!
| Antispyware: Spybot S&D, but considering MS ASW beta as well.
|

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA256

In addition to Tom's comments here are two free and maintained hosts files
that you can use. Personally I use the MVPs.org host file on all of my home
desktops and my laptop.

http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

http://www.hosts-file.net/downloads.html

- --

Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the mutual
benefit of all of us...
The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights...

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They are quite useful.. but they are obsolete if people get to the website
with the IP address.

-Steven-
"Wm. R. Taylor" <WmRTaylor@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:71D76EC1-C113-47FB-A467-B8A59E13C60B@microsoft.com...
>I have been reading much about the use of the hosts file to block out
> potential bugs and ads. Some say it's quite useful, others say it's
> obsolete. I need some expert opinions on using one as a security feature.
>
> My current security looks like this:
> Firewalls: Hardware (WiFi router) + Zone Alarm Pro
> AV: Avast!
> Antispyware: Spybot S&D, but considering MS ASW beta as well.
>