Wednesday, March 19, 2014

XP Users: MVPS Hosts File

Come to think of it, this applies to everybody.

I have been using the MVPS Hosts File for years. There is a new one just about every month. Sometimes I forget to get the latest month, and that is not a big deal, I manage to stay on top of it and get next month's. Each month the new file, which replaces the old, has updates based on the author's research during the time between versions.

The HOSTS file is simply a list of web sites that the author has determined are troublesome, and may even result in the user (you and me) getting a virus should we visit that web site. So the author is doing us all a very big favor, and I strongly recommend you to get, install, and update with each new version as it comes along, the HOSTS file that resides on your system. The HOSTS file is loaded into your computer's memory when you power on and it is searched for every web site you try to visit - before you get there. If the web site is on the HOSTS file list, your access will be blocked thanks to the author.

In all my years of using this, its use has never caused me a problem. NEVER! So don't let the description of the file scare you. Believe me, you don't want to visit these web sites anyway, and having the access blocked does not cause you a problem.

Here is the site where you can get the HOSTS file: http://msmvps.com/blogs/hostsnews/default.aspx

This is what appears today on that page:

MVPS HOSTS File Update March-17-2014



The MVPS HOSTS file was recently updated [March-17-2014]
http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.htm
Download: hosts.zip (133 kb)
http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.zip
How To: Download and Extract the HOSTS filehttp://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts2.htm
HOSTS File - Frequently Asked Questionshttp://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hostsfaq.htm
Note: the "text" version makes a great resource for determining possible unwanted connections ...
http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.txt (506 kb)
Get notified when the MVPS HOSTS file is updated
http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/updates.htm


It goes without saying that this is very good timing for us all in that April 8 is just around the corner.

If you need help in doing this, contact me via my web site contact form at http://www.brpcdoc.com/brpcdoc2.htm

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