Hosts file not doing its job

nupplenits

So here is exactly what is in my hosts file, located in c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc :

# Copyright (c) 1993-1999 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

127.0.0.1    localhost
127.0.0.1   *.adbrite.com
127.0.0.1   http://adbrite.com
127.0.0.1   http://ads.adbrite.com
127.0.0.1   ads.adbrite.com
127.0.0.1   *.cpxinteractive.com
127.0.0.1   http://www.partypoker.com
127.0.0.1   *.partypoker.com
127.0.0.1   partypoker.com
127.0.0.1   www.partypoker.com

I can still access partypoker.com, adbrite.com etc.
Am I doing everything right?
The file is saved and closed, browser restarted etc.

biko

Try changing 127... to another IP address, not 123.456.78.9
Maybe 10.0.0.1
Does this work?

SeanW

Try sending requests to a properly formed but nonsensical IP address, like 127.0.0.4

nupplenits

No luck. Tried the ip addresses you mentioned and also 192.168.0.1

niallb

nupplenits wrote:

So here is exactly what is in my hosts file, located in c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc :

# Copyright (c) 1993-1999 Microsoft Corp.

127.0.0.1    localhost
127.0.0.1   *.adbrite.com
127.0.0.1   http://adbrite.com
127.0.0.1   http://ads.adbrite.com
127.0.0.1   ads.adbrite.com
127.0.0.1   *.cpxinteractive.com
127.0.0.1   http://www.partypoker.com
127.0.0.1   *.partypoker.com
127.0.0.1   partypoker.com
127.0.0.1   www.partypoker.com

I can still access partypoker.com, adbrite.com etc.
Am I doing everything right?

No. Some of the lines are incorrect :-(
Your hosts file is just a simple lookup table.
No room for '*'s or 'http://'s

Start again with something like

127.0.0.1    localhost
127.0.0.1   ads.adbrite.com
127.0.0.1   adbrite.com
127.0.0.1   www.adbrite.com
127.0.0.1   partypoker.com
127.0.0.1   www.partypoker.com

Don't go setting other IP addresses in here unless you've a good reason.

10.0.0.1 is an address which is very unlikely to be relevant to you.
It is a LAN only address normally, and particularly if you use a
3G internet package, may cause unexpected grief.

127.0.0.1 represents your own machine, which is why what you are
trying to do is often a good idea. Giving it a wrong address will just cause delay.

127.0.0.4 depending on your setup will not be nonsensical, but may
also resolve to your own machine.

None of the hosts stuff will work if your browser is using a proxy,
so that might be worth checking as well.

Hope those few points help.
Keep it simple!

Good luck,
NiallB

nupplenits

Thanks NiallB that did the trick.. no *'s or http://'s required

Capt'n Midnight

if you want something like hosts on steroids have a look at
www.schooner.com/~loverso/no-ads/noproxy

just a text file - no programs but it will accept wildcards

Cabaal

you can't user alias cards such as * in the host file

hshortt

You can't prevent the user using the IP adress of the site this way. It may be better to lock down the browser.

Internet Options | Content | Content Advisor | Enable | Approved /Disproved Sites.

Or a net nanny type of program? Of course they could try a different browser, but you can also prevent that.

Local Policy is good for most of this stuff.

cheerio
Howard