Hosts File: What it is and how to use it.
Overview
Ah, the humble Hosts file, a cornerstone of internet navigation and a geek’s best friend for custom domain mapping and ad blocking. Today, we embark on a nostalgic journey through the digital nooks and crannies of operating systems, exploring where this plain text powerhouse resides across a spectrum of platforms. From Windows to iOS, and Unix to Android, if you’ve ever wondered how to bend the internet to your will (or at least, make it a bit more bearable), you’ve come to the right place.
According to Wikipedia, the computer file hosts is an operating system file that maps hostnames to IP addresses. It is a plain text file. Originally a file named HOSTS.TXT was manually maintained and made available via file sharing by Stanford Research Institute.
Basically, the Hosts serve to redirect local domains and block access to resources on the internet.
Locais
| Operating System | Versions | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Unix, Unix-like, POSIX | /etc/hosts | |
| Microsoft Windows | 3.1 | %WinDir%\HOSTS |
| Microsoft Windows | 95, 98, ME | %WinDir%\hosts |
| Microsoft Windows | NT, 2000, XP, 2003, Vista, 2008, 7, 2012, 8, 10 | %SystemRoot%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts |
| Windows Mobile, Windows Phone | Registry: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Comm\Tcpip\Hosts | |
| Apple Macintosh | 9 and earlier | Preferences or System folder |
| Apple Macintosh | Mac OS X 10.0–10.1.5 | (Added through NetInfo or niload) |
| Apple Macintosh | Mac OS X 10.2 and newer | /etc/hosts (a symbolic link to /private/etc/hosts) |
| Novell NetWare | SYS:etc\hosts | |
| OS/2 & eComStation | “bootdrive”:\mptn\etc\ | |
| Symbian | Symbian OS 6.1–9.0 | C:\system\data\hosts |
| Symbian | Symbian OS 9.1+ | C:\private\10000882\hosts |
| MorphOS | NetStack | ENVARC:sys/net/hosts |
| AmigaOS | 4 | DEVS:Internet/hosts |
| AROS | ENVARC:AROSTCP/db/hosts | |
| Android | /etc/hosts (a symbolic link to /system/etc/hosts) | |
| iOS | iOS 2.0 and newer | /etc/hosts (a symbolic link to /private/etc/hosts) |
| TOPS-20 | HOSTS.TXT | |
| Plan 9 | /lib/ndb/hosts | |
| BeOS | /boot/beos/etc/hosts | |
| Haiku | /boot/common/settings/network/hosts | |
| OpenVMS | UCX | UCX$HOST |
| OpenVMS | TCPware | TCPIP$HOST |
| 3.7, 5 | !Boot.Resources.!Internet.files.Hosts | |
| RISC OS | later boot sequence | !Boot.Choices.Hardware.Disabled.Internet.Files.Hosts |
Examples
- Original Windows Hosts
# Copyright (c) 1993-2006 Microsoft Corp.
#
# This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
#
# This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
# entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
# be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
# The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
# space.
#
# Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
# lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol.
#
# For example:
#
# 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server
# 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # x client host
# localhost name resolution is handle within DNS itself.
# 127.0.0.1 localhost
# ::1 localhost
- Hosts file blocking Adobe and Techsmish (Warning: if you use this file, some softwares may not work properly afterwards).
# Copyright (c) 1993-2009 Microsoft Corp.
#
# This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
#
# This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
# entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
# be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
# The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
# space.
#
# Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
# lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol.
#
# For example:
#
# 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server
# 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # x client host
# localhost name resolution is handled within DNS itself.
# 127.0.0.1 localhost
# ::1 localhost
#Adobe Blocker
127.0.0.1 na1r.services.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 hlrcv.stage.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 lmlicenses.wip4.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 lm.licenses.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 activate.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 practivate.adobe.com
#Techsmith blocker
127.0.0.1 activation.cloud.techsmith.com
127.0.0.1 oscount.techsmith.com
127.0.0.1 updater.techsmith.com
127.0.0.1 camtasiatudi.techsmith.com
127.0.0.1 tsccloud.cloudapp.net
127.0.0.1 assets.cloud.techsmith.com
- Unnecessarily large Hosts File blocking Ad serving sites.
# Copyright (c) 1993-2009 Microsoft Corp.
#
# This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
#
# This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
# entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
# be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
# The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
# space.
#
# Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
# lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol.
#
# For example:
#
# 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server
# 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # x client host
# localhost name resolution is handled within DNS itself.
# 127.0.0.1 localhost
# ::1 localhost
#Adobe Blocker
127.0.0.1 na1r.services.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 hlrcv.stage.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 lmlicenses.wip4.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 lm.licenses.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 activate.adobe.com
127.0.0.1 practivate.adobe.com
#Techsmith blocker
127.0.0.1 activation.cloud.techsmith.com
127.0.0.1 oscount.techsmith.com
127.0.0.1 updater.techsmith.com
127.0.0.1 camtasiatudi.techsmith.com
127.0.0.1 tsccloud.cloudapp.net
127.0.0.1 assets.cloud.techsmith.com
# [Start of entries generated by MVPS HOSTS]
#
# [Misc A - Z]
0.0.0.0 fr.a2dfp.net
0.0.0.0 m.fr.a2dfp.net
0.0.0.0 mfr.a2dfp.net
0.0.0.0 ad.a8.net
0.0.0.0 asy.a8ww.net
0.0.0.0 static.a-ads.com
0.0.0.0 atlas.aamedia.ro
0.0.0.0 abcstats.com
0.0.0.0 ad4.abradio.cz
0.0.0.0 a.abv.bg
0.0.0.0 adserver.abv.bg
0.0.0.0 adv.abv.bg
0.0.0.0 bimg.abv.bg
0.0.0.0 ca.abv.bg
0.0.0.0 track.acclaimnetwork.com
0.0.0.0 accuserveadsystem.com
0.0.0.0 www.accuserveadsystem.com
0.0.0.0 achmedia.com
0.0.0.0 csh.actiondesk.com
0.0.0.0 ads.activepower.net
0.0.0.0 app.activetrail.com
0.0.0.0 stat.active24stats.nl #[Tracking.Cookie]
0.0.0.0 traffic.acwebconnecting.com
0.0.0.0 office.ad1.ru
0.0.0.0 cms.ad2click.nl
0.0.0.0 ad2games.com
0.0.0.0 ads.ad2games.com
0.0.0.0 content.ad20.net
0.0.0.0 core.ad20.net
0.0.0.0 banner.ad.nu
0.0.0.0 adadvisor.net
0.0.0.0 tag1.adaptiveads.com
0.0.0.0 www.adbanner.ro
0.0.0.0 wad.adbasket.net
0.0.0.0 ad.pop1.adbn.ru
0.0.0.0 ad.top1.adbn.ru
0.0.0.0 ad.rich1.adbn.ru
0.0.0.0 adbox.hu
0.0.0.0 james.adbutler.de #[Tracking.Cookie]
0.0.0.0 www.adbutler.de
0.0.0.0 tw1.adbutler.us
0.0.0.0 www.adchimp.com
0.0.0.0 static.adclick.lt
0.0.0.0 engine.adclick.lv
0.0.0.0 show.adclick.lv
0.0.0.0 static.adclick.lv
0.0.0.0 www.adclick.lv
0.0.0.0 ad-clix.com
0.0.0.0 www.ad-clix.com
0.0.0.0 servedby.adcombination.com
0.0.0.0 adcomplete.com
0.0.0.0 www.adcomplete.com
0.0.0.0 adcore.ru
0.0.0.0 pixel.adcrowd.com
0.0.0.0 ct1.addthis.com
0.0.0.0 static.uk.addynamo.com
0.0.0.0 www.adexit.com
0.0.0.0 s.adexpert.cz
0.0.0.0 static.adfclick1.com
0.0.0.0 222-33544_999.pub.adfirmative.com
0.0.0.0 c.adfirmative.com
0.0.0.0 www.adfirmative.com
0.0.0.0 adfocus.ru
0.0.0.0 adx.adform.net
0.0.0.0 dmp.adform.net
0.0.0.0 s1.adform.net
0.0.0.0 server.adform.net
0.0.0.0 track.adform.net
0.0.0.0 server.adformdsp.net
0.0.0.0 adforce.ru
0.0.0.0 adforati.com
0.0.0.0 ads.adfox.ru
0.0.0.0 gazeta.adfox.ru
0.0.0.0 p.adframesrc.com
0.0.0.0 s.adframesrc.com
0.0.0.0 media.adfrontiers.com
0.0.0.0 www.adgitize.com
0.0.0.0 code.ad-gbn.com
0.0.0.0 www.ad-groups.com #[Ban Man Pro Banner Code]
0.0.0.0 adhall.com
0.0.0.0 pool.adhese.be
0.0.0.0 adhitzads.com
0.0.0.0 ads.static.adhood.com
0.0.0.0 app.pubserver.adhood.com
0.0.0.0 app.winwords.adhood.com
0.0.0.0 ssl3.adhost.com
0.0.0.0 www2.adhost.com
0.0.0.0 adfarm1.adition.com
0.0.0.0 imagesrv.adition.com
0.0.0.0 ad.adition.net
0.0.0.0 hosting.adjug.com
0.0.0.0 tracking.adjug.com
0.0.0.0 aj.adjungle.com
0.0.0.0 rotator.hadj7.adjuggler.net
0.0.0.0 thewrap.rotator.hadj7.adjuggler.net
0.0.0.0 yorick.adjuggler.net
0.0.0.0 adsearch.adkontekst.pl
0.0.0.0 stat.adlabs.ru
0.0.0.0 d.tds.adlabs.ru
0.0.0.0 www.adlantis.jp
0.0.0.0 publicidad.adlead.com
0.0.0.0 www.adlimg03.com
0.0.0.0 regio.adlink.de
0.0.0.0 west.adlink.de
0.0.0.0 rc.de.adlink.net #[Tracking.Cookie]
0.0.0.0 tr.de.adlink.net
0.0.0.0 n.admagnet.net
0.0.0.0 ads3.adman.gr #[Tracking.Cookie]
0.0.0.0 gazzetta.adman.gr
0.0.0.0 r2d2.adman.gr
0.0.0.0 talos.adman.gr
0.0.0.0 adman.in.gr
0.0.0.0 admarket.cz
0.0.0.0 www.admarket.cz
0.0.0.0 bridge.ame.admarketplace.net #[Spamdexing]
0.0.0.0 bridge.sf.admarketplace.net
0.0.0.0 a1.admaster.net
0.0.0.0 img.admaster.net
0.0.0.0 admedien.com
0.0.0.0 www.admedien.com
0.0.0.0 apps.admission.net #[Spotlight Ads]
0.0.0.0 appcache.admission.net
0.0.0.0 dt.admission.net
0.0.0.0 view.admission.net
0.0.0.0 ad.admitad.com
0.0.0.0 cdn.admitad.com
0.0.0.0 www.ad.admitad.com
0.0.0.0 cdn.admixer.net
0.0.0.0 ads.admodus.com #[Tracking.Cookie]
0.0.0.0 run.admost.com
0.0.0.0 assets3.admulti.com
0.0.0.0 go.admulti.com
0.0.0.0 s.admulti.com
0.0.0.0 ads.adnet.am
0.0.0.0 ad.adnet.biz #[Tracking.Cookie]
0.0.0.0 adnet.com.ua
0.0.0.0 delivery.adnetwork.vn
0.0.0.0 img.adnet.com.tr
0.0.0.0 www.ad-net.co.uk
0.0.0.0 adnext.fr
0.0.0.0 cdn.adnotch.com
0.0.0.0 ad.adnow.com
0.0.0.0 tt11.adobe.com #[adobe.tcliveus.com]
0.0.0.0 ace.adoftheyear.com
0.0.0.0 ad01.adonspot.com
0.0.0.0 ad02.adonspot.com
0.0.0.0 adperium.com
0.0.0.0 adk2.adperium.com
0.0.0.0 www.adperium.com
0.0.0.0 img.adplan-ds.com
0.0.0.0 res.adplus.co.id
0.0.0.0 e.adpower.bg
0.0.0.0 ab.adpro.com.ua
0.0.0.0 adpublimo.com
0.0.0.0 pop.adrent.net
0.0.0.0 adroll.com
0.0.0.0 rtt.adrolays.de
0.0.0.0 n.ads1-adnow.com
0.0.0.0 n.ads2-adnow.com
0.0.0.0 n.ads3-adnow.com
0.0.0.0 vu.adschoom.com
0.0.0.0 core1.adservingfactory.com
0.0.0.0 content.adservingfactory.com
0.0.0.0 track.adservingfactory.com
0.0.0.0 p78878.adskape.ru
0.0.0.0 map2.adsniper.ru
0.0.0.0 f-nod2.adsniper.ru
0.0.0.0 content.adspynet.com
0.0.0.0 engine.adspynet.com
0.0.0.0 ads.adsready.com
0.0.0.0 ads.adsurve.com
0.0.0.0 www.adsurve.com
0.0.0.0 cntr.adrime.com
0.0.0.0 images.adrime.com #[Adsolutions]
0.0.0.0 ad.adriver.ru
0.0.0.0 content.adriver.ru
0.0.0.0 ssp.adriver.ru
0.0.0.0 r.adrolays.de
0.0.0.0 adrotate.se
0.0.0.0 www.adrotate.net
0.0.0.0 delivery.ads-creativesyndicator.com
0.0.0.0 adsafiliados.com.br
0.0.0.0 ad.adsafiliados.com.br
0.0.0.0 v2.adsbookie.com
0.0.0.0 rh.adscale.de
0.0.0.0 assets.adtaily.com
0.0.0.0 viewster-service.adtelligence.de
0.0.0.0 adtgs.com
0.0.0.0 fusion.adtoma.com
0.0.0.0 core.adunity.com
0.0.0.0 engage2.advanstar.com
0.0.0.0 ddnk.advertur.ru
0.0.0.0 ds.advg.jp
0.0.0.0 m.adx.bg
0.0.0.0 www.adshost2.com
0.0.0.0 js.adscale.de
0.0.0.0 ih.adscale.de
0.0.0.0 adscendmedia.com
0.0.0.0 adservicedomain.info
0.0.0.0 adserver-voice-online.co.uk
0.0.0.0 adsfac.net #[Facilitate Tracking Code]
0.0.0.0 adsgangsta.com
0.0.0.0 adsfac.eu
0.0.0.0 ad.ad-srv.net
0.0.0.0 www.adshot.de
0.0.0.0 f-nod1.adsniper.ru
0.0.0.0 sync2.adsniper.ru
0.0.0.0 cdn6.adspirit.de
0.0.0.0 www.adspace.be
0.0.0.0 adsplius.lt
0.0.0.0 ads.adsponse.de
0.0.0.0 openx.adtext.ro
0.0.0.0 ads.adtiger.de
0.0.0.0 www.adtiger.de
0.0.0.0 ad.adtoma.com
0.0.0.0 au-01.adtomafusion.com
0.0.0.0 bn-01.adtomafusion.com
0.0.0.0 adv.adtotal.pl #[server down?]
0.0.0.0 rek.adtotal.pl
0.0.0.0 www.adtrade.net
0.0.0.0 www.adtrader.com
0.0.0.0 adtradr.com
0.0.0.0 ads.adtube.de
0.0.0.0 www.adultcommercial.net
0.0.0.0 adultmoneymakers.com
0.0.0.0 tracking.adultsense.com
0.0.0.0 www.adult-tracker.de
0.0.0.0 ad.aduserver.com
0.0.0.0 adv758968.ru
0.0.0.0 advaction.ru
0.0.0.0 euroad1.advantage.as
0.0.0.0 mf.advantage.as
0.0.0.0 mfad1.advantage.as
0.0.0.0 adve.net
0.0.0.0 ad.adver.com.tw
0.0.0.0 apps.advertlets.com
0.0.0.0 www.advertlets.com
0.0.0.0 ads.advertise.net
0.0.0.0 www.advertsponsor.com
0.0.0.0 ad.adverticum.net
0.0.0.0 img.adverticum.net
0.0.0.0 imgs.adverticum.net
0.0.0.0 www.advertising365.com
0.0.0.0 titan.advertserve.com
0.0.0.0 ad.advertstream.com
0.0.0.0 usas1.advfn.com
0.0.0.0 images.adviews.de
0.0.0.0 www.adviews.de
0.0.0.0 ad.adview.pl
0.0.0.0 adp.adview.pl
0.0.0.0 bi.adview.pl
0.0.0.0 chart.advinion.com
0.0.0.0 advizi.ru
0.0.0.0 adv.adwish.net
0.0.0.0 ads.adwitserver.com
0.0.0.0 ad.adworx.at
0.0.0.0 www.ad-z.de
0.0.0.0 ads.afa.net
0.0.0.0 affbeat.com
0.0.0.0 affiliate.affdirect.com
0.0.0.0 sttc.affiliate.hu
0.0.0.0 tr.affiliate.hu
0.0.0.0 img.network.affiliando.com
0.0.0.0 view.network.affiliando.com
0.0.0.0 ads.affiliateclub.com
0.0.0.0 affiliategroove.com
0.0.0.0 banners.affiliatefuture.com
0.0.0.0 images.affiliator.com
0.0.0.0 imp.affiliator.com
0.0.0.0 rotation.affiliator.com
0.0.0.0 media.affiliatelounge.com
0.0.0.0 js.affiliatelounge.com
0.0.0.0 record.affiliatelounge.com
0.0.0.0 web1.affiliatelounge.com
0.0.0.0 banners.affilimatch.de
0.0.0.0 ad.afilo.pl
0.0.0.0 adserwer.afilo.pl
0.0.0.0 ads.afraccess.com
0.0.0.0 ads.aftonbladet.se
0.0.0.0 stats.agent.co.il
0.0.0.0 stats.agentinteractive.com
0.0.0.0 w.ahalogy.com
0.0.0.0 ac.ajur.info #[WebBug]
0.0.0.0 openx.ajur.info
0.0.0.0 adlik2.akavita.com
0.0.0.0 dmtracking2.alibaba.com
0.0.0.0 all2lnk.com
0.0.0.0 ads.allaccess.com.ph
0.0.0.0 adcontent2.allaccess.com.ph
0.0.0.0 adservice.aliexpress.com
0.0.0.0 ad.allstar.cz
0.0.0.0 taobaoafp.allyes.cn
0.0.0.0 bokee.allyes.com
0.0.0.0 demoafp.allyes.com
0.0.0.0 eastmoney.allyes.com
0.0.0.0 smarttrade.allyes.com
0.0.0.0 sroomafp.allyes.com
0.0.0.0 taobaoafp.allyes.com
0.0.0.0 tom.allyes.com
0.0.0.0 uuseeafp.allyes.com
0.0.0.0 yeskyafp.allyes.com
0.0.0.0 eas.almamedia.fi
0.0.0.0 ad.altervista.org
0.0.0.0 pqwaker.altervista.org
0.0.0.0 adimg.alice.it
0.0.0.0 adv.alice.it
0.0.0.0 advloc.alice.it
0.0.0.0 altmedia101.com
0.0.0.0 www.alwayson-network.com
0.0.0.0 adtools2.amakings.com
0.0.0.0 banner.amateri.cz
0.0.0.0 amazing-offers.co.il
0.0.0.0 ad.amgdgt.com
0.0.0.0 adserver.amna.gr
0.0.0.0 10394-127.ampxchange.com #[Spamdexing]
0.0.0.0 10394-4254.ampxchange.com
0.0.0.0 10394-2468.ampxchange.com
0.0.0.0 vfdeprod.amobee.com
0.0.0.0 widgets.amung.us
0.0.0.0 whos.amung.us #[WebBug]
0.0.0.0 analytics.analytics-egain.com
0.0.0.0 cloud-us.analytics-egain.com
0.0.0.0 gw.anametrix.net #[WebBug]
0.0.0.0 www.anastasiasaffiliate.com
0.0.0.0 advert.ananzi.co.za
0.0.0.0 advert2.ananzi.co.za
0.0.0.0 box.anchorfree.net
0.0.0.0 rpt.anchorfree.net
0.0.0.0 a.androidandme.com
0.0.0.0 analytics.androidandme.com #[Piwik.Analytics]
0.0.0.0 www.anticlown.com
0.0.0.0 antventure.com
0.0.0.0 webtracker.apicasystem.com
0.0.0.0 junior.apk.net
0.0.0.0 openx.apollo.lv
0.0.0.0 ads.asia1.com.sg
0.0.0.0 ads.ask.com #[sv-click.looksmart.com]
0.0.0.0 www.asknew.com #[Spamdexing]
0.0.0.0 stats.asp24.pl
0.0.0.0 ads.aspalliance.com
0.0.0.0 www.astalavista.us
0.0.0.0 atemda.com
0.0.0.0 logw349.ati-host.net
0.0.0.0 rules.atgsvcs.com
0.0.0.0 logw312.ati-host.net
0.0.0.0 p.ato.mx
0.0.0.0 s.ato.mx
0.0.0.0 ads.auctionads.com
0.0.0.0 banners.audioholics.com
0.0.0.0 ad.auditude.com
0.0.0.0 ads.auctioncity.co.nz
0.0.0.0 d.audienceiq.com
0.0.0.0 ads.autoscout24.com
0.0.0.0 ads.autotrader.com
0.0.0.0 adserving.autotrader.com
0.0.0.0 profiling.avandor.com
0.0.0.0 avantlink.com
0.0.0.0 www.avantlink.com
0.0.0.0 fhg.avrevenue.com #[server down?]
0.0.0.0 rev.avsforum.com
0.0.0.0 ads.avusa.co.za
0.0.0.0 engine.awaps.net
0.0.0.0 analytics.aweber.com
0.0.0.0 clicks.aweber.com #[affects newsletters]
0.0.0.0 tracker.azet.sk
0.0.0.0 www.azmsoft.com