Block Unwanted Ads and Intrusions

Source: Blocking Unwanted Ads on Your Site

ADS, pop-ups and malware are so pervasive and rampant. They are intrusive and annoying, and interfere with your web surfing.

To remove these intrusions, the link above provides the full info on how to block unwanted ads and other pests from intruding on your web site. Here's a summary of what-to-do:

Download the HOSTS File provided at the link. The file contains addresses of link ads mapped to your local host 127.0.0.1. When Windows checks the Hosts file before it queries the DNS servers, it sees the 127.0.0.1 address and thinks the ad link is local, bypassing it and going onto the next mapping on the list. Open the hosts file to check out the ad links.

Next, go to your Windows folder and look for the existing hosts file at C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC.

Open the downloaded Hosts file in your usual text editor and copy the contents.

Then open your existing hosts file and 'paste' the contents from the downloaded Hosts file, taking care not to disrupt or delete your existing mappings. Save the new Hosts file (overwriting the existing hosts file - make a backup copy first!) and exit. Vist a website and check that unwanted ads are blocked.

Important Note: Youtube vids are stopped from playing on your web site due to the 'no-cookie' tag. Simply remove the tag from the vid link and the vid should play.

Example: This vid below will not play: [If it plays it's bcoz I restored the original window host file.]

QUOTE



UNQUOTE

Simply change "www.youtube-nocookie.com" to "www.youtube.com" in the embed code, and the amended script should play:


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You can also use a HOSTS file to block ads, banners, 3rd party Cookies, 3rd party page counters, web bugs, and even most hijackers. This is accomplished by blocking the connection(s) that supplies these unwanted links.

Explanation - the following entry 127.0.0.1 ad.doubleclick.net blocks all files supplied by that DoubleClick Server to the web page you are viewing. This also prevents the server from tracking your movements. Why? ... because in certain cases "Ad Servers" like Doubleclick (and many others) will try silently to open a separate connection on the webpage you are viewing, record your movements then yes ... follow you to additional sites you may visit.

In many cases using a well designed HOSTS file can speed the loading of web pages by not having to wait for these ads, annoying banners, hit counters, etc. to load. This also helps to protect your Privacy and Security by blocking sites that may track your viewing habits, also known as "click-thru tracking" or Data Miners. Although using a HOSTS file is not a cure-all against all the dangers on the web, it does provide an effective "Layer of Protection".

Pricelessware has named the MVPS HOSTS file as "the best of the best in Freeware" for the 2nd time!

To view the HOSTS file in plain text form open with Notepad or Ultraedit Editor. If your existing Hosts File already contains code to prevent certain program updates or checks, you would need to "cut-and-paste" from the downloaded HOSTS file in order not to disrupt the existing status quo of the existing hosts file.

There is no need to turn on, adjust or change any settings. Windows automatically looks for the existence of a HOSTS file and if found, checks the HOSTS file first for entries to the web page you just requested. The 127.0.0.1 is considered the location of your computer, so when the entry (example) "ad.doubleclick.net" is requested your computer thinks 127.0.0.1 is the location of the file. When this file is not located it skips onto the next file and thus the ad server is blocked from loading the banner, Cookie, or some unscrupulous ActiveX, or javascript file.

In case you're wondering... this all happens in microseconds, which is much faster than trying to fetch a file half-way around the world. Another great feature of the HOSTS file is that it is a two-way file, meaning if some malware does get into your system (usually bundled with other products) the culprit can not get out (call home) as long as the necessary entries exist. This is why it's important to keep your HOSTS file up-to-date.