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Tags: antivirus, antispyware
What is a Hosts file? How can it prevent spyware from “calling home” with your personal information? Learn how the Hosts file works and how to use it to stop spyware.
1. How the Hosts File Works
The Hosts file is a sort of web address book inside the Windows folder of your hard drive. It loads into system memory at each startup, where it cross-references saved domain names to IP addresses.
The need for cross-referencing is because, the Internet only works with numeric IP addresses.
IP addresses are in the form of a block of numbers arranged in four groups, something like this: 125.0.48.220, where each group may be from 0 - 255.
Somewhere in the system there needs to be a cross reference between the two. Cross-references between domain names and IP addresses are found on various domain name servers (DNS) distributed throughout the Internet.
However, when you type a domain name into your browser search box, your computer first looks for the IP address in your Hosts file. Then, if Windows finds the domain name listed in your Hosts file, it will not bother to look it up on any external domain name servers. (Keep this fact in mind.)
Originally, the Hosts file came about because, before there were high-speed Internet connections, it was much faster to look up an IP address if it was already stored on your local machine.
2. The Hosts File as an Anti-Spyware Tool
With faster computers and high-speed Internet there is really no need for a locally stored cross-reference.
At the same time, malicious sites just keep on increasing! They often work by embedding a disguised link inside an otherwise innocent looking web page. If you happen to click on - or sometimes even mouse over - that link, the spyware “calls home” and sets up an ad server, a data miner, a hit counter or some other intrusion of your privacy.
Now back to the Hosts file: in its newest configuration, your Hosts file is an excellent spyware blocker.
Now, when you discover a malicious domain, you can add it to your Hosts file, cross-referencing it to a false IP address that connects only to a black hole inside your computer. The spyware “thinks” it is calling home, but the call goes nowhere.
3. The Structure of a Hosts File
The original Hosts file looks something like this:
# start of your favorite sites - original use for a Hosts file
123.45.67.89 willynillysite.com
51.126.0.189 moms-apple-pie.org
Normally, Hosts files are much larger than this. (Lines beginning with the pound # sign are comment lines which the computer ignores.)
The modern Hosts file used as a spyware/adware denial tool that looks something like this (with 127.0.0.1 localhost always as the first line):
127.0.0.1 localhost
# start of blocked sites - modern use for a Hosts file
127.0.0.1 sleazyadvertising.net
127.0.0.1 bannercraze.com
Notice that these IP addresses are all the same: 127.0.0.1 -this points only to your own local computer.
An infected web page could try to connect your computer to bannercraze.com, for instance. As usual, your browser looks up the IP address, which in this case, it finds in the Hosts file. Since the IP address resolves to 127.0.0.1 in the Hosts file, the call cannot go out.
(Remember: If a domain name is stored in your Hosts file, Windows will not bother to look it up on any external DNS servers.)
A comprehensive Hosts file can also speed up downloading of web pages because you will not have to wait for targeted ads and other spurious items to load.
Of course, simply maintaining a Hosts file is not a magic cure-all for every evil on the Internet, but it does provide an additional, quite effective defense mechanism.
But there has to be a catch, right? There is. In fact, there are several catches. You will have to:
a) recognize each piece of malware
b) look up its domain name
c) update your Hosts file for each new intruder
It becomes a never-ending task because these companies are constantly adding new domain names to stay ahead of us.
Take heart. There are several comprehensive Hosts files that you can download and use at no cost. To keep these files up to date you will have to download the latest versions regularly. One available source is: someonewhocares.org
By far, the easiest way to maintain an effective Hosts file is to let a good anti-spyware program do it for you. A very popular, free utility is SpyBot - Search & Destroy. It searches the web for problem domains and then “inoculates” your computer by including them in your Hosts file.
To learn more about the Hosts file, search on the term in your Internet browser. There are over 30 million search results for “Hosts file”.
These simple tips will help you stay virus and spyware free, even if you’re connected to the internet 24 hours a day.
1. Protect yourself
Good protection on the Internet these days consists of 3 components: anti-virus software, anti-spyware software and a firewall.
Tags: anti-spyware
Good virus protection doesn’t need to cost you a fortune. You can get excellent free anti-virus software at www.grisoft.com. Even the professional version of their software is very affordable.
For spyware protection, go to www.lavasoft.de and download Ad-Aware SE Personal, also free. This will zap the most common spyware and adware found on the Internet.
As for a firewall, Windows XP ships with a decent enough firewall. Just make sure it is always enabled. Alternatively you can visit a site like www.download.com and search for Zone Alarm, which has an excellent free version.
The most important thing to keep in mind is that you need to keep your anti-virus software up to date. An anti-virus program that uses definitions that are months old is just about useless.
Update your anti-virus and anti-spyware software at least once a week.
2. Stop opening every attachment you receive.
Most of the devastating worms and viruses of recent times were distributed via email. These viruses feed on the curiosity and also the ignorance of a huge number of email users. People will get an email from fakename@weirdsuspiciousdomain and they’ll just open whatever file is attached to it.
If you don’t know the sender, don’t open the attachment - just delete it. It doesn’t matter if the subject promises you’ll see Britney Spears dancing nude on the kitchen table, just delete it.
If the email is from someone you know, always scan any attachments first before downloading or opening them.
If every email user in the world followed these simple guidelines the distribution of viruses via email will grind to a halt.
3. Stay clear of pornographic and illegal software sites
If you want to pick up viruses and spyware quickly, visit some pornographic web sites. One wrong click on a subtle little pop-up or security warning window (which you’ll run into often on these type of sites) and you’ll have infested yourself with trojan horses, spyware, dialers and other unfavorable software that could leave your computer wide open to further attacks.
The same goes for web sites distributing software, serial codes and cracks illegally (warez).
Simply put - keep out of the dark side of the web and the odds of keeping your computer clean shifts decidedly in your favor.
4. Watch out what you download
Spyware is embedded in a lot of software on the Internet - especially those related to ripping, converting and playing music and videos. That free MP3 player or DVD Ripper you just downloaded may have installed a bunch of harmful spyware without you even knowing about it.
5. Keep yourself informed
Major anti-virus software developers like Symantec and Grisoft updates their sites regularly with the latest virus alerts. Visit these sites frequently to keep yourself aware of what threats are doing the rounds and how to avoid them.
Using these simple and software I have kept my computer virus-free for the past 3 years. It’s not rocket science. Just stay alert, use some common sense and you too can stay bug free while still enjoying your Internet experience.
Tags: anti-spyware
