Security

[cris15]

H,
I have XP and use Firefox with Addblock plus and it's extension Blocksite 0.7.1 Some websites I visit still open blank pages that Blocksite has stopped loading so it's doing it's job, although a blank page is still a page and I think prevention is better than cure. I read that you can add an address in your hosts file and point it at your local host 127.0.0.1 the same way Spybot does to stop it loading in the first place. I tried to do this (actually include my block choices in Spybots list) but all I created in
C:/windows/system32/drivers/etc/hosts was a duplicate text file of the host file. I suppose my question is how do you modify the host file? There's lots of info on the web but I just need a simple answer as it all seemed so overly complicated. Edit with notepad and save as what? Is it that simples?

[rojash]

Presumably, you edited it in notepad which will have insisted on adding the .txt. Just rename you existing hosts file to hosts.old and then rename you hosts.txt to hosts.

Obviously, you can't do that if you've got Windows set to hide extensions, so:

Open Windows Explorer, click Tools/Folder Options
Click the View tab
Scroll down to "Hide extensions of known file types", and uncheck it.
Click OK.

[cris15]

Thanks rojash, I followed your instructions and the text version is now my host file, but the pop under pages - although blank - still open. Am I barking up the wrong tree with this approach to stop them?

[rojash]

"Am I barking up the wrong tree with this approach to stop them? "

No, as long as you know and are correctly entering the IP address of the stuff you want to block, it should get blocked if it's in the hosts file and mapped to your local host address.

[ChuckFickens]

much as I don't like to disagree with Rojash, yes you are barking up the wrong tree (kinda)

Nothing you do with the host file will stop a popup.. All it will do is stop the page that is meant to be loading in that popup from loading (which is what your getting, a popup but blank)

[rojash]

Well you are not really disagreeing chuck - no mention was made of pop-ups, and I just assumed we were talking about blank chunks of page, which should have been supplied from other domains. That, of course, was my mistake.

[cris15]

Hi,
It's a new instance of Firefox opening that I'm trying to stop. Separate pages that open whilst your browsing a particular site. I thought the term was pop under but I'm on a learning curve and not really up to speed so I'm sorry for any misunderstanding.

[ChuckFickens]

Firefox should stop them on it's own without any further software...

But you may have added the site to the exceptions at some point so it is allow pop-ups from that site.

In firefox click on the tools menu, select options, then click on the content tab along the top. On that page first make sure there is a tick in "block popups" then click on the exceptions button next to it and make sure the site you are having problems with is not listed as an exception.

[cris15]

Barking up the wrong tree with ********** obviously.

[cris15]

Carry on Fkucing chickens, that's all you'll get. So insulting, you think I hadn't checked my browser settings before going to the trouble of looking for a sharper approach? you must think everyone is stupid you arrogant piece of siht.

[ChuckFickens]

what a charmer!

[squarebear]

I guess this is the last time anyone helps cris15.
What did Chuck do to deserve that outburst?

[cris15]

Am I bothered? Your idiots. Waste of time asking questions here.

[ChuckFickens]

PMSL @ Am I bothered.

So original!