Blocking Web Ads

How would you like to surf the internet virtually ad-free? Before you had to either toggle images off, which takes out ALL graphics or install an ad-blocker program. The problem with the first solution is it's hard to navigate sites with graphical only menus. The second solution works a little better, but is generally limited to a Windows PC and takes up system resources (as does any program). Here's a simple solution that will work on most ANY PC.

First you need to change your hosts file. Linux users already know what I'm talking about. Here's where to find your hosts file for each OS:

Windows 95/98:  c:\windows\hosts

Windows NT/2000:  c:\winnt\system32\drivers\etc\hosts (may need to be the administrator user)

Linux/BSD/Solaris/Unixes:  /etc/hosts (must be root user)

BeOS:  /boot/beos/etc/hosts

Macintosh:  Hosts in Preference folder (case matters). Place the Mac hosts file in the Preference folder. Name it "Hosts". Restart.

Or

Copy the Mac hosts file to your computer. In the TCP/IP Control Panel, choose 'Select Hosts file' Select this file. Close and restart.

Ok, now that you know where your hosts file is, here's what you want to put in it (Mac users use this list):

127.0.0.1       207-87-18-203.wsmg.digex.net
127.0.0.1       Garden.ngadcenter.net
127.0.0.1       Ogilvy.ngadcenter.net
127.0.0.1       ResponseMedia-ad.flycast.com
127.0.0.1       Suissa-ad.flycast.com
127.0.0.1       UGO.eu-adcenter.net
127.0.0.1       VNU.eu-adcenter.net
127.0.0.1       a32.g.a.yimg.com
127.0.0.1       ad-adex3.flycast.com
127.0.0.1       ad.adsmart.net
127.0.0.1       ad.ca.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1       ad.de.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1       ad.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1       ad.fr.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1       ad.jp.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1       ad.linkexchange.com
127.0.0.1       ad.linksynergy.com
127.0.0.1       ad.nl.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1       ad.no.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1       ad.preferences.com
127.0.0.1       ad.sma.punto.net
127.0.0.1       ad.uk.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1       ad.webprovider.com
127.0.0.1       ad08.focalink.com
127.0.0.1       adcontroller.unicast.com
127.0.0.1       adcreatives.imaginemedia.com
127.0.0.1       adex3.flycast.com
127.0.0.1       adforce.ads.imgis.com
127.0.0.1       adforce.imgis.com
127.0.0.1       adfu.blockstackers.com
127.0.0.1       adimage.blm.net
127.0.0.1       adimages.earthweb.com
127.0.0.1       adimg.egroups.com
127.0.0.1       admedia.xoom.com
127.0.0.1       adpick.switchboard.com
127.0.0.1       adremote.pathfinder.com
127.0.0.1       ads.admaximize.com
127.0.0.1       ads.bfast.com
127.0.0.1       ads.clickhouse.com
127.0.0.1       ads.enliven.com
127.0.0.1       ads.fairfax.com.au
127.0.0.1       ads.fool.com
127.0.0.1       ads.freshmeat.net
127.0.0.1       ads.hollywood.com
127.0.0.1       ads.i33.com
127.0.0.1       ads.infi.net
127.0.0.1       ads.jwtt3.com
127.0.0.1       ads.link4ads.com
127.0.0.1       ads.lycos.com
127.0.0.1       ads.madison.com
127.0.0.1       ads.mediaodyssey.com
127.0.0.1       ads.msn.com
127.0.0.1       ads.ninemsn.com.au
127.0.0.1       ads.seattletimes.com
127.0.0.1       ads.smartclicks.com
127.0.0.1       ads.smartclicks.net
127.0.0.1       ads.sptimes.com
127.0.0.1       ads.tripod.com
127.0.0.1       ads.web.aol.com
127.0.0.1       ads.x10.com
127.0.0.1       ads.xtra.co.nz
127.0.0.1       ads.zdnet.com
127.0.0.1       ads01.focalink.com
127.0.0.1       ads02.focalink.com
127.0.0.1       ads03.focalink.com
127.0.0.1       ads04.focalink.com
127.0.0.1       ads05.focalink.com
127.0.0.1       ads06.focalink.com
127.0.0.1       ads08.focalink.com
127.0.0.1       ads09.focalink.com
127.0.0.1       ads1.activeagent.at
127.0.0.1       ads10.focalink.com
127.0.0.1       ads11.focalink.com
127.0.0.1       ads12.focalink.com
127.0.0.1       ads14.focalink.com
127.0.0.1       ads16.focalink.com
127.0.0.1       ads17.focalink.com
127.0.0.1       ads18.focalink.com
127.0.0.1       ads19.focalink.com
127.0.0.1       ads2.zdnet.com
127.0.0.1       ads20.focalink.com
127.0.0.1       ads21.focalink.com
127.0.0.1       ads22.focalink.com
127.0.0.1       ads23.focalink.com
127.0.0.1       ads24.focalink.com
127.0.0.1       ads25.focalink.com
127.0.0.1       ads3.zdnet.com
127.0.0.1       ads3.zdnet.com
127.0.0.1       ads5.gamecity.net
127.0.0.1       adserv.iafrica.com
127.0.0.1       adserv.quality-channel.de
127.0.0.1       adserver.dbusiness.com
127.0.0.1       adserver.garden.com
127.0.0.1       adserver.janes.com
127.0.0.1       adserver.merc.com
127.0.0.1       adserver.monster.com
127.0.0.1       adserver.track-star.com
127.0.0.1       adserver1.ogilvy-interactive.de
127.0.0.1       adtegrity.spinbox.net
127.0.0.1       antfarm-ad.flycast.com
127.0.0.1       au.ads.link4ads.com
127.0.0.1       banner.media-system.de
127.0.0.1       banner.orb.net
127.0.0.1       banner.relcom.ru
127.0.0.1       banners.easydns.com
127.0.0.1       banners.looksmart.com
127.0.0.1       banners.wunderground.com
127.0.0.1       barnesandnoble.bfast.com
127.0.0.1       beseenad.looksmart.com
127.0.0.1       bizad.nikkeibp.co.jp
127.0.0.1       bn.bfast.com
127.0.0.1       c3.xxxcounter.com
127.0.0.1       califia.imaginemedia.com
127.0.0.1       cds.mediaplex.com
127.0.0.1       click.avenuea.com
127.0.0.1       click.go2net.com
127.0.0.1       click.linksynergy.com
127.0.0.1       cookies.cmpnet.com
127.0.0.1       cornflakes.pathfinder.com
127.0.0.1       counter.hitbox.com
127.0.0.1       crux.songline.com
127.0.0.1       erie.smartage.com
127.0.0.1       etad.telegraph.co.uk
127.0.0.1       fp.valueclick.com
127.0.0.1       gadgeteer.pdamart.com
127.0.0.1       gm.preferences.com
127.0.0.1       gp.dejanews.com
127.0.0.1       hg1.hitbox.com
127.0.0.1       image.click2net.com
127.0.0.1       image.eimg.com
127.0.0.1       images2.nytimes.com
127.0.0.1       jobkeys.ngadcenter.net
127.0.0.1       kansas.valueclick.com
127.0.0.1       leader.linkexchange.com
127.0.0.1       liquidad.narrowcastmedia.com
127.0.0.1       ln.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1       m.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1       macaddictads.snv.futurenet.com
127.0.0.1       maximumpcads.imaginemedia.com
127.0.0.1       media.preferences.com
127.0.0.1       mercury.rmuk.co.uk
127.0.0.1       mojofarm.sjc.mediaplex.com
127.0.0.1       nbc.adbureau.net
127.0.0.1       newads.cmpnet.com
127.0.0.1       ng3.ads.warnerbros.com
127.0.0.1       ngads.smartage.com
127.0.0.1       nsads.hotwired.com
127.0.0.1       ntbanner.digitalriver.com
127.0.0.1       ph-ad05.focalink.com
127.0.0.1       ph-ad07.focalink.com
127.0.0.1       ph-ad16.focalink.com
127.0.0.1       ph-ad17.focalink.com
127.0.0.1       ph-ad18.focalink.com
127.0.0.1       realads.realmedia.com
127.0.0.1       redherring.ngadcenter.net
127.0.0.1       redirect.click2net.com
127.0.0.1       regio.adlink.de
127.0.0.1       retaildirect.realmedia.com
127.0.0.1       s2.focalink.com
127.0.0.1       sh4sure-images.adbureau.net
127.0.0.1       spin.spinbox.net
127.0.0.1       static.admaximize.com
127.0.0.1       stats.superstats.com
127.0.0.1       sview.avenuea.com
127.0.0.1       thinknyc.eu-adcenter.net
127.0.0.1       tracker.clicktrade.com
127.0.0.1       tsms-ad.tsms.com
127.0.0.1       v0.extreme-dm.com
127.0.0.1       v1.extreme-dm.com
127.0.0.1       van.ads.link4ads.com
127.0.0.1       view.accendo.com
127.0.0.1       view.avenuea.com
127.0.0.1       w113.hitbox.com
127.0.0.1       w25.hitbox.com
127.0.0.1       web2.deja.com
127.0.0.1       webads.bizservers.com
127.0.0.1       www.PostMasterBannerNet.com
127.0.0.1       www.ad-up.com
127.0.0.1       www.admex.com
127.0.0.1       www.alladvantage.com
127.0.0.1       www.burstnet.com
127.0.0.1       www.commission-junction.com
127.0.0.1       www.eads.com
127.0.0.1       www.freestats.com
127.0.0.1       www.imaginemedia.com
127.0.0.1       www.netdirect.nl
127.0.0.1       www.oneandonlynetwork.com
127.0.0.1       www.targetshop.com
127.0.0.1       www.teknosurf2.com
127.0.0.1       www.teknosurf3.com
127.0.0.1       www.valueclick.com
127.0.0.1       www.websitefinancing.com
127.0.0.1       www2.burstnet.com
127.0.0.1       www4.trix.net
127.0.0.1       www80.valueclick.com
127.0.0.1       z.extreme-dm.com
127.0.0.1       z0.extreme-dm.com
127.0.0.1       z1.extreme-dm.com

This solution is pretty simple actually. The IP 127.0.0.1 points to your local computer, so you are effectively telling it that all these ad servers are on your own PC. Whenever your browser tries to retrieve an ad from one of these companies, it will look on your own machine and will fail. You're left with a blank area where the ad would normally be. It will also keep these servers from placing cookies on your PC, as you won't even be able to connect to their actual server. Another nice feature is you can update the list at anytime, and even undo changes at anytime (I'd just rename the file instead of deleting, in case you need to put it back).

If you still would like to use an ad-blocker program and are using Windows, I recommend Webwasher at www.webwasher.com. It's the most complete web-filtering program I've seen to date.

- Jose