Hosts File Update

[nikki605]

7 hours ago, Andavari said:

If dealing with multiple HOSTS files it helps to have a tool like the no longer developed and homepageless HostsXpert that works very well in Windows XP up to Windows 10. In it you can import multiple HOSTS files, and even sort them which will remove all those comments and nuke any duplicates. Plus it's 100% portable! It's what Nergal mentioned years ago and after seeing his recommendation I started using it.

It's still archived and available at:
* https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/hostsxpert.html
* https://www.softpedia.com/get/Security/Security-Related/Hoster.shtml
* http://www.snapfiles.com/get/hoster.html

I also have been using HostsXpert to update the MVPS Hosts file, but looking at it's download tab, it appears that it only downloads from MVPs Hosts and HpHosts.  You make it sound like it can also download/merge/sort hosts files from other sources as well.  Am I missing something?

Can I use HostsXpert to download/replace/update Peter Lowe's hosts file?

[Hav0c]

Hello to all,

Steven Black host file contains Dan Pollocks (someonewhocares.org) entries as well.

See here under section   Sources of hosts data unified in this variant

 

I am starting to use the following as well

https://hosts-file.net/ad_servers.txt
https://hosts-file.net/grm.txt
https://hosts-file.net/exp.txt
https://hosts-file.net/emd.txt
https://hosts-file.net/psh.txt

Link to what grm, exp, emd, psh mean

 

Another host file list, I think i have not posted ?

[nikki605]

I stumbled across Steven Black's list a short time ago. My question is how do I easily download/install/update his file?  I have gotten so used to using HostsXpert because it is so easy and foolproof.

[Andavari]

Yes it can, however a HOST file will block the bad stuff system-wide, not just in a single web browser where uBlock Origin is installed. I use it as both the HOSTS file and within uBlock Origin.

[nikki605]

I've downloaded and installed HostsMan http://www.abelhadigital.com/hostsman/

I'm trying to figure out how to use it.  It handles the other hosts files we've been discussing.

[Andavari]

In my opinion HostsMan mangles the hosts file(s) into a complete unreadable mess by merging all those lines, whereas HostsXpert does not and has a readable and traditional format.

[nikki605]

I've used HostsXpert for years and agree with you that it always performed well. Unfortunately, if MVPS Hosts is no longer going to be updated, the only other hosts file it supports is HpHosts.

HostsXpert hasn't been updated in years to add these other hosts files.

[Andavari]

Not actually a real problem for me since I manually download the hosts files I need anyway, merge them with a batch files, and then import them into HostsXpert which I then have sort to remove duplicates.

I don't trust only having my hosts file install only in the host file, I install via the manual downloads I've merged which are also the backup copies. The only reason I started doing that in the early 2000's was I remember in the past a forum I'd visit would empty out the hosts file via some script if it detected that its ads didn't load.

[razz]

MVPS Host File has been updated.

https://mvpshostsnews.blogspot.com/2019/02/mvps-hosts-file-update-february-08-2019.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+HostsNews+(Hosts+News)

Update via HostXpert worked perfectly.

[nikki605]

Got it! Thanks for letting us know and great to see that Mike is okay!

[Andavari]

On the official MVPS Hosts website, he made an official announcement, and we can help by donating!

[nikki605]

Thanks for pointing out Mike's announcement. I made a donation.

[Nergal]

Mvps updated may 8th

https://mvpshostsnews.blogspot.com/2019/05/mvps-hosts-file-update-may-08-2019.html?m=1

[nikki605]

Got it downloaded. Thanks for the post!

[Andavari]

On 2/3/2019 at 10:08, nikki605 said:

I stumbled across Steven Black's list a short time ago. My question is how do I easily download/install/update his file?  I have gotten so used to using HostsXpert because it is so easy and foolproof.

Long overdue answer.

HostsXpert cannot do the downloading, however it can do all the merging, but only after you've already manually downloaded the separate HOSTS files.

1. In HostsXpert tick the Make Writable button to make your installed HOSTS file writable, otherwise what's detailed below won't work.

2. Click Import Options, and then choose Merge. Now browse to a single HOSTS file you wish to merge. You need to repeat this step for each separate HOSTS file.

3. Click Editing, and then click Sort. Scroll to the top of the HOSTS file in HostsXpert as many have those loopback headers, and you can end up with a myriad of them that need to be manually pruned/removed.

4. Click File Handling, and then click Make ReadOnly. Done.

If you use Windows Defender as the default antivirus look in the Winapp2.ini file for the cleaner [Windows Defender *] since it will allow CCleaner to remove backup copies to the HOSTS file that Defender makes every time you change/modify the HOSTS file.

Or, for a more targeted cleaner for it without unnecessarily touching the rest of Defender, this is what I use just to clean the backup copies of HOSTS that Defender makes on Windows 10:
 

[Windows Defender (HOSTS Backups) *]
DetectOS=10.0|
LangSecRef=3024
Default=False
Detect=HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender
FileKey1=%CommonAppData%\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Scans\BackupStore|*.*

 

[hazelnut]

MVPS HOSTS File Update June 11-2019

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

[nikki605]

Got it downloaded and installed. Thanks for posting, @hazelnut

[hazelnut]

17 minutes ago, nikki605 said:

Got it downloaded and installed. Thanks for posting, @hazelnut

My pleasure nikki  

[Andavari]

I got it too immediately after seeing your post. As always thanks! Plus it gave a reason to turn on the old XP machine to update something on it.

[siliconman01]

On 2/5/2019 at 12:22, Andavari said:

In my opinion HostsMan mangles the hosts file(s) into a complete unreadable mess by merging all those lines, whereas HostsXpert does not and has a readable and traditional format.

In HostsMan v4.8.106, go to Edit>Preferences>Import.  Then uncheck "Rearrange hosts file content".  That will cause HostsMan to arrange in one entry per line.

[siliconman01]

Stephen Black's Unified source easily added to HostsMan.

 

[hazelnut]

MVPS HOSTS File Update July 13

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

[nikki605]

Got it! Thanks for remembering what I seem to forget.

[Nergal]

MVPS update Aug 15 2019

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

[nikki605]

Got it, thanks.