Host File Search

December 5, 2009 8:59 AM

I'm looking for an old metatalk thread about adblocking and host files.

There was a thread about getting rid of ads and cookies and such, and a member created a host file and installer for dummies that blocked a lot of ad sites at host level. Using that and AdBlock Plus, surfing was awesome.

Now I have a new netbook and I want to install that host file again, but I cant't find the post. IIRC there was a joke in the thread about the best ad remover for your computer being a ball peen hammer.

Thanks for any help you can give.

posted by FunkyHelix to MetaFilter-Related at 8:59 AM (8 comments total)

This?
posted by MonkeyToes at 9:28 AM on December 5, 2009

This looks like it, though I just skimmed: http://metatalk.metafilter.com/2705/Dont-derail-to-recommend-me-a-different-browser
posted by carsonb at 9:30 AM on December 5, 2009

FOILED AGAIN!
posted by carsonb at 9:30 AM on December 5, 2009

Silver wrapping looks good on you, carsonb.
posted by MonkeyToes at 9:35 AM on December 5, 2009 [1 favorite]

Noscript
posted by hortense at 10:05 AM on December 5, 2009

If you can run Opera, you'll get a *ton* of features for dealing with this sort of thing.
posted by five fresh fish at 10:06 AM on December 5, 2009

Inspired by your query, I just switched my DNS to AdBarricade.
So far, so good...
posted by Obscure Reference at 11:44 AM on December 5, 2009

A thread from '02 is not very likely to contain information that's still completely true today, especially concerning ads and ad-blocking. If you do want to block ads at DNS level, you could try the hosts file from this server, which updates regularly. Alternatively there are several other recommendations on this page which might appeal to you.
posted by PontifexPrimus at 3:23 PM on December 6, 2009