# What's a good ad blocking hosts file? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 8, 2010, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-ad-blocking-hosts-file/559865 "2010-11-08T03:38:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-ad-blocking-hosts-file/559865/1 "2010-11-08T03:38:52Z")
So I’ve noticed that my hosts file from **Mike’s Ad Blocking Hosts File** seems to be kind of outdated, but the old url at [everythingisnt.com](http://everythingisnt.com) is no longer live. I googled, but I didn’t see a new site hosting MABHF on the first couple of pages, and I thought “hey, I bet the other Dopers are already on top of this sitch”, so I came here to see if someone else knows where Mike’s is updated or if someone else has posted a better, more up-to-date version. Anyone know? ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-ad-blocking-hosts-file/559865/2 "2010-11-08T04:11:26Z")
[Privoxy is a better solution.](http://www.privoxy.org/) It does all the host-blocking stuff in addition to more complex filtering, even stuff like de-animating animated GIFs, and it’s easily configured from within any (reasonable) web browser. ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-ad-blocking-hosts-file/559865/3 "2010-11-08T14:47:06Z")
[MVPS](http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.txt) and [yoyo](http://pgl.yoyo.org/as/serverlist.php?showintro=0;hostformat=hosts) are active. ---
**Author:** ![\_Undecided\_Adrian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/eada6e/32.png) [@\_Undecided\_Adrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_Undecided_Adrian)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-ad-blocking-hosts-file/559865/4 "2010-11-08T21:16:31Z")
If you use Firefox, Adblock Plus is very easy to use, can be turned off if needed on specific sites and can be used with a filter list subscription. Like a hosts file, it blocks the download and not only the display of ads. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-ad-blocking-hosts-file/559865/5 "2010-11-08T21:26:22Z")
Using a hosts file to block ads is an obsolete strategy. Us something like Ad-block instead. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2010, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-ad-blocking-hosts-file/559865/6 "2010-11-09T15:26:45Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > [Privoxy is a better solution.](http://www.privoxy.org/) It does all the host-blocking stuff in addition to more complex filtering, even stuff like de-animating animated GIFs, and it’s easily configured from within any (reasonable) web browser. Thanks for that link. Based on a couple hours’ tinkering, Privoxy is da bomb. I would not recommend it for a clueless “I just turn it on; I don’t care how it works” kinda end-user, but for somebody with a bit more savvy it’s awesome. ---
**Author:** ![ChrisBooth12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@ChrisBooth12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChrisBooth12)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2010, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-ad-blocking-hosts-file/559865/7 "2010-11-09T20:02:34Z")
Hosts file is a tad quicker but a big one will actually slow things down. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2010, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-ad-blocking-hosts-file/559865/8 "2010-11-09T20:46:58Z")
Thanks everyone. I guess I should have mentioned that I use a Mac and Safari. Privoxy says it works with Mac OS, but there’s no Mac OS download available on the download page, just Windows. Adblock seems to be Firefox only. I can’t even remember how I got the hosts file installed in my Mac now (it’s been a couple of years since I did it). ---
**Author:** ![TheFifthYear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@TheFifthYear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheFifthYear)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2010, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-ad-blocking-hosts-file/559865/9 "2010-11-09T21:00:30Z")
Here you go: Adblock for Safari. I use it and have never had a problem. > **[Jasa SEO - Layanan Jasa SEO Murah Berkualitas Terbaik No. 1 Indonesia](https://jasa-seo.co.id/)** > > Jasa Seo Merupakan Penyedia Jasa Seo Terbaik Di Jakarta & Indonesia. Optimisasi Dari Profesional Untuk Kebutuhan Website Mulai Dari Pembuatan Artikel Dan Pembuatan Backlink Berkualitas. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2010, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-ad-blocking-hosts-file/559865/10 "2010-11-09T21:19:35Z")
Awesome! Thanks **Fifth**!