Hosts file download

Anyone have an opinon on this hosts file offered at this site:

http://someonewhocares.org/hosts/

Would it really offer some protection against spyware, or is it itself
a source?

Alind

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

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.

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

S.
"Alind" <> wrote in message
news...
> Anyone have an opinon on this hosts file offered at this site:
>
> http://someonewhocares.org/hosts/
>
> Would it really offer some protection against spyware, or is it itself
> a source?
>

Strawbis

In the Usenet newsgroup alt.computer.security, in article
<mA8Ce.387$>, 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

Moe Trin