Re: Hosts file download

From: Moe Trin (ibuprofin_at_painkiller.example.tld)
Date: 07/18/05 

Date: Sun, 17 Jul 2005 19:44:19 -0500

In the Usenet newsgroup alt.computer.security, in article
<mA8Ce.387$F_2.83@newsfe6-win.ntli.net>, Strawbis wrote:

>It will only offer protection against some ads, banners, pop-ups, etc.

if the URLs are coded as hostnames.

>Host files do not protect against malware downloads. They only block known
>(if included) "bad" websites from connecting to your browser\e-mail client
>or exploiting some of the holes therein.

They don't have any effect if the URL is a dotted quad (the actual IP
address, like 69.50.187.218 instead of Coolsearch.biz).

>To summarise: the file is a start, but it's not a magic bullet.

It is a very poor start of quite limited usefulness.

>X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2900.2527

but then, almost anything is better than nothing.

        Old guy