Block or Redirect Unwanted Websites Using HOSTS File

The hosts document is one of the fascinating and valuable component of both Windows and Linux working systems that gives numerous convenient choices in tending to network hubs. For example, you can utilize the hosts document to square irritating promotions, pop-ups, pennants, porn locales, or even divert one site to another. 

In this post I will demonstrate to you best practices to play around with the hosts document to accomplish a portion of the previously mentioned employments. 

What is a hosts File? 

The hosts record is much the same as whatever other computer document that is utilized by the working system to outline and domain names on to their relating IP addresses. 

As it were, the point at which you write "google.com" on your program's address bar, your computer will search for the hosts document to check whether it contains the comparing IP address for the domain name you wrote (google.com). On the off chance that if no passage is available in the hosts document, the demand is then passed on to the DNS (Domain Name System) server to get the IP address. 

hosts File versus DNS 

With regards to settling the hostnames, the hosts record is given the principal need over the Domain Name System. Much of the time, the hosts document remains unconfigured on the working system and thus the DNS is utilized by the computer to determine the domain names to their relating IP addresses. 

In any case, if the hosts document is found to contain a legitimate section for a given hostname or domain name, then this is grabbed and utilized by the working system.

Where is the hosts File Located?

Windows: In case of the Windows operating system, the hosts file is located at:

%systemroot%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts

NOTE: In most cases this should be: C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts

Unix/Linux: In case of Linux it is located at:

/etc/hosts

How to Block a Website?

To Block a particular site, you should simply include another section for that site in the hosts document. I would like to reinforcement the first record and make another one as opposed to adjusting it. Along these lines, if something turns out badly, you can simply erase it and reestablish the first one! All things considered, here is a well ordered system on the most proficient method to make another hosts document on Windows:

1. Go to “My Computer” and you should see the “Menu bar” on top. In case ofVista and Win 7, just click “Alt” to unhide the “Menu bar”.
2. Now in the menu bar, click on “Tools -> Folder Options”. In the “View” tabuncheck the option that says: “Hide extensions for known file types” and click on “OK”.

1. Open a new text pad (New Text Document.txt) and rename it to: hosts. You will get a pop-up message with a warning. Just click on “Yes”.
   Please note that the renamed file hosts should not have any extensionsuch as
   hosts.txt.
2. Open the hosts file using the notepad. Now let us assume that you want to block the sites Facebook and Youtube on your computer. For this all you have to do is add the following lines to your hosts file:
   127.0.0.1       facebook.com
   127.0.0.1       www.facebook.com
   127.0.0.1       youtube.com
   127.0.0.1       www.youtube.com
   Each entry should be placed on an individual line. The IP address and the hostname should be separated by a space or a tab. In this way, you can block any given website by just pointing it to the IP address 127.0.0.1.
3. Navigate to %systemroot%\system32\drivers\etc. Here you should see the original hosts file, rename it to hosts_bak. Just copy and paste the newhosts file that you have created. That’s it. You’ve now successfully blocked those websites from loading on your computer.
   If you are using Vista/Win 7 you may have to take ownership of the originalhosts file before renaming it.

How to Redirect a Website?

Suppose you want to redirect Friendster.com to Google.com, all you have to do is just add the following lines to your hosts file:

74.125.236.72       friendster.com
74.125.236.72       www.friendster.com

Here 74.125.236.72 is the IP address of Google.com. To find out the IP address of any given website, just go to command prompt and ping it. For example: ping google.com. You should get a ping response that displays the IP address as shown below:

From now on, whenever you type “friendster.com” on your browser, you will be redirected to “google.com”.

How does a hosts File work?

Whenever you block a website using the hosts file, you point it to the IP address127.0.0.1 which in fact is the IP address of your own computer. In other words, the IP 127.0.0.1 points to your own computer and doesn’t exist outside.

So, whenever you type the URL of a website for which an entry is present in thehosts file, your computer will load the IP as 127.0.0.1 instead of the actual one and tries to establish a connection with this IP address (127.0.0.1) but fails. As a result the website doesn’t load at all.

The redirection of the website works by pointing the domain name of one website to the IP address of another website (as configured by the hosts file) instead of its original IP address. So, whenever you type friendster.com, it is pointed to Google.com’s IP address and thus, the Google page loads up instead of the actual page from friendster.com.

How to Block the Annoying Ads?

I have found a great solution to keep all the annoying ads, banners, pop-ups and other parasites at bay by using a pre-configured hosts called MVPS hosts file. This hosts file contains a long list of entries to block all those annoying ads and pop-ups that usually load while you are surfing the Internet. You can also receive regular updates on this to stay up-to-date. You can download MVPS hosts file from the link below:

Download MVPS hosts

If you are playing around with the hosts file and something goes wrong, just delete the hosts file itself and rename the original file from hosts_bak to hosts. This should bring back everything to normal. I hope this post on hosts file will help you block unwanted websites on your computer. Waiting for your comments. 

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THE TOP 5 SUBJECTS(TRICKS) USED BY MALICIOUS SPAMMERS

According to the research of websense,, these are the top 5 Subjects used by Malicious Spammers. If you an email with the following subject or similar tricks, Don’t click the links or download the Attachment, if you do, you will end up in malware attack.

1.ORDERS

Order N21560 (numbers vary)

This link redirects to .ru/main.php or .com/main.php URL, which serves the Blackhole exploit kit. These emails are targeting users who just purchased an Adobe CS4 license, which is weird, because version 5.5 is already out. The spammers obviously have not done their research and are behind the times.

2.TICKETS

FW: Re: UNIFORM TRAFFIC TICKET (ID: 239127922) (numbers vary and subject might appear without FW: or RE:)
Fwd: Your Flight Order N125-9487755 (numbers vary)

Users are lured to click on a “CLICK HERE” link, which redirects to another URL serving the Blackhole exploit kit. I guess these types of emails are targeting specific people: a) who have driven a vehicle in New York and b) who have been cited for a speeding violation recently, and of course c) those who are curious, otherwise why would they click on this link?

3. DELIVERY COMPANIES:

USPS Invoice copy ID46298 (numbers vary)
FedEx: New Agent File Form, trackid: 1V6ZFZ7FEOHUQ (numbers vary)
DHL Express Notification for shipment 90176712199 (numbers vary)

Fake emails pretending to be invoices or tracking emails have been around for several years and usually would have an attachment, such as a Trojan like Zeus or SpyEye. Websense Security Labs™ has written several blogs before about similar cases. I just want to point out that such emails are still being sent in bulk and are still being used as a vector to infect end users’ computers. The reason why these kinds of emails are still so popular is because the attachments are being repacked for every new campaign; therefore, antivirus products struggle to release new signatures for those and are unable to block them, like in this case. The campaign is known, but VT shows only 8/42 results for an attachment.

4. test

This email suggests that the attachment is a patch for WoW (World of Warcraft). Unfortunately, for the criminals, the archive is corrupt and therefore harmless to the recipients. Emails with “test” in the Subject line are commonly used by criminals to spread their malicious software. Users are used to seeing legitimate emails with “test” in the Subject line when an email system is being checked, and also spammers use such techniques to validate an email address.

5. Payment/TAX systems:

FRAUD ALERT for ACH
Your Wire Transfer
Wire transfer rejected
IRS requires new EIN
IRS Tax report

Daily read our Spam News from eHackingNews .

BREAK THE SECURITY, EMAIL HACKING, ETHICAL HACKING, NETWORK SECURITY,SPAM

HOW YOU ARE GETTING LARGE NUMBER OF SPAM MAIL ? KNOW WHY

JANUARY 20, 2011

Are you getting lot of spam mails to your inbox?  Do you know why it comes to your mail? The mistake is yours only.  Because of you only you are getting larger number of spam.  How you responsible for that? Go ahead to know what is your mistake.

Spam Mail Definition:
Also known as junk mail.  Sending large number of identical message to numerous recipients .   Advertisers ,merchants sends large number of mail to recipients for advertising purpose using softwares and some websites.

How they get your email id?
They get your mail id because of your mistakes only.

Social Networking Sites:
Most of you use social networking sites daily.  I won’t say using social networking sites is bad.  But sending request or accepting stranger is one of the major reason for getting spam mail.  Advertisers will gain your weakness.  If you are blindly accepting the request means, spam mail will be definitely in your mail. Sometimes they get your phone number and send advertisement to your mobile or some other communication sources.

What you have to do? 
Apply privacy setting for your contact information.  Don’t accept the request from strangers(in order to attract you they may send you request like a girl).

Online Games and contests:
Some websites tell you that they will give prize if you win in the online game.  This is also one of the reason for getting spam mail.

Job /Career websites:
Job offering websites is the major reason for getting spam mail.  But some website sell your mail to advertisers.  This will result in spam.

Forum:
Like i said for social networking site, in forum also you have to consider the privacy settings.
 
Select “Don’t show mail and Don’t receive mail from members” so that you can avoid of getting spam mails.

Mail Searching:
Advertisers(spammers) search for mail id in internet using some softwares(like @mail.com )
If you are webmaster ,you may give contactus link with
mailto:mailid@domain.com.
Spammers  can find your mail id if you give the mail id plainly like this.
 tips:

• Use 123 contact forms for hiding your mail id.
• or show mail id like this : mailid[at]domain[dot]com
• Use mail Badge Image(i mean show your mail id as image).

Overall suggestion:
Use two mail id.  One is for contributing in online.  Other one is personal. 

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