Randy Knobloch (aka: Siljaline) Microsoft MVP, has been providing updates for Host Files, for a long time, and these are posted to most of the major forums. Also on the website, is some excellent information on how to protect your system from spyware and other malware.

So what are Host Files [Geek stuff]:

“The Hosts file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. This file is loaded into memory (cache) at startup, then Windows checks the Hosts file before it queries any DNS servers, which enables it to override addresses in the DNS. This prevents access to the listed sites by redirecting any connection attempts back to the local machine. Another feature of the HOSTS file is its ability to block other applications from connecting to the Internet, providing the entry exists.”

Non-Geek stuff: It is kind of like a address book. And some addresses need to be blocked because bad people live at that house address.

Changing the Host files requires some advanced computer knowledge. And it is should not be done by anyone who is squeamish about getting into the innards of Windows. And it it also a good idea to create a restore point prior to changing the host files just in case you mess up.

The site is located here and I believe you will find plenty of additional information on how to protect your system.

And if you are using Vista, here is a workaround to modify the Host file from Microsoft here.

Tags: vitsa, spyware, malware, block, host, files