If you are a parent and have children (or others) that need protecting from offensive or dangerous Internet sites and have trouble finding the right solution because of cost or too many choices, then you are not alone. For many users, having to pay an annual subscription for protection from these dangerous sites is not an option.
Many users need a free and easy way to block offensive Internet sites from themselves and others. This article will instruct you on one way you can protect your children (and others) from unwanted and malicious sites for free.
This method involves a file that already exists on your computer. It is called the "hosts" file. The "hosts" file actually resides on almost every operating system including Windows, Macintosh, Linux, Unix, and Solaris.
The "hosts" file has existed on computers since the early days of the Internet. It was used to direct users to other computers using more user friendly names than the address of the other computer. Now, the "hosts" file is seldom used for those purposes, however many users are using the hosts file to prohibit or block users from being able to access unwanted or offensive sites.
Block other types of sites such as tracking sites, trojan downloaders and dialers, annoying pop-ups, spyware, etc. Fortunately, there have been others who have compiled their own lists of offensive sites and made their lists available to download for free. Some of these are MVPS and Someonewhocares. If you are interested in decreasing the chance you will get infected by unwanted or malicious software, then you will want to check out these sites to download the hosts file of your choice. You may also follow their instructions to replace your hosts file with theirs. Beware that many of these sites listed in those hosts files WILL INFECT your computer if you visit them without this populated hosts file installed first!
The hosts file can block sites but can also provide that extra layer protection if your anti-virus software running or disabled. Here's an example where the host file can not be stop penetration, but can stop or slow down the malicious software from exit. For example, if a Trojan horse goes through and makes the landing of a system, and if the return is the site listed in the Hosts file, the trojan or spyware in question is not about power was harmful, because it is in fact the report had "no place" (127.0.0.1). This isthe way that unwanted or malicious software is stopped in its tracks. Please understand that the populated hosts file is not meant to replace your computer virus protection product, but it is meant to complement your software.
This article has given you a free and easy way to block unwanted Internet sites. Even the best computer virus protection products are 100% foolproof, therefore installing a populated "hosts" file would be an additional, wise, and free level of protection to help defend against unwanted websites and malicious software.
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