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Spybot abti-beacon fixes mst of it, even if it can't kill cortana.

https://www.safer-networking.o...

The only quibble I have is with the Windows Telemetry crap which is difficult to turn-off/thwart. It's do-able though.

There are several options, e.g. O&O's ShutUp10 (awful non-intuitive interface alert) or Spybot's Anti-Beacon which also works for Win7 and 8/8.1.

Okay,this article is a mess and it's missing some key factors and some VERY misleading information. The biggest, that people need a crazy amount of RAM to run basic operating systems. In my experience speed problems are not because you don't have the latest operating system. Contrary to popular belief, the newest operating system (especially Windows 8/10) actually CREATE slowdowns. Those "live" tiles, the windows store monitors, the data collection scanning/transmitting to ms your private data all take more Memory resources. Windows XP in fact consumes less memory but it's 64-bit version is virtual unusable because of lack of proper drivers for hardware. Windows 7 can be tweaked in a few ways. Take off those fancy graphical theme/effects that alone helps.I find disabling SuperFetch makes a significant difference. On a Windows 8 Mini computer (by Asus) I was able to improve performance significantly by disabling and uninstalling all the tile features (which is a pain in the arse), as well as Superfetch) made a difference. See these articles:

http://www.techregar.com/maste...
http://www.windowsbleu.com/201...
IT Professional often do NOT have the latest OS (except for testing) because we as professionals know of the memory consumption as well as privacy/OS control issues surrounding windows 8/10. So they will opt for Windows 7 pro (64-bit), a Mac or Linux variant (usually CentOS, Debian, or Scientific Linux..Linux Mint is for consumer use and it excels there).

Most people use computers for 4 things: Internet, Word Processing, Multimedia and gaming). The first 3 don't require that much memory unless you are creating a media server. If you are a gamer then you truly need the memory of the games. No way around that. And the latest games may not run as well as Windows 7 (but every game I've seen doesn't require Windows 8 or 10). But those systems are typically 1k to 2k USD to build. If you are an professional artist or musician or developer you may need more. I find 16 GB is a real blessing if you need to run Virtual machines or do a lot of Java development.

A few other things to improve Windows performance: There are services that truly have no business being there. The Update services that people seem to keep putting into systems are creepy. For example Mozilla Firefox actually installs an update service. Why would you even need a service running for a browser update? The browser gives you update alerts when it's running? Google has a updating service which you mess up the programs if you remove it. Adobe is one of the WORST offenders as they keep installing crap to try to push you to use their "cloud" services. The Adobe updater background applications can be disabled or removed. (they are sometimes preinstalled on laptops). Oh, And let's not forget Antiviruses. Some a great with memory, others are memory hogs. Symantec products are wasteful in resources in every respect. The best memory effecient antiviruses I've seen are Eset, BitDefender (not the free edition...sorry), and F-Secure. While I like Gdata it's a memory hog, no question. The most common reasons for PC slow downs are malware running on most people's PC without knowing it. For that I suggest a regular scan with Malware Bytes and Search & Destroy. I personally prefer the "classic" one without any of the automatic stuff but some may prefer the newer one. IT Professionals use these tools and a regular basis as they know no tool finds everything. Here are links to both:

https://www.safer-networking.o...
https://www.safer-networking.o...

and Malwarebytes:
https://www.malwarebytes.com/m...

There are free versions but some should

Okay,this article is a mess and it's missing some key factors and some VERY misleading information. The biggest, that people need a crazy amount of RAM to run basic operating systems. In my experience speed problems are not because you don't have the latest operating system. Contrary to popular belief, the newest operating system (especially Windows 8/10) actually CREATE slowdowns. Those "live" tiles, the windows store monitors, the data collection scanning/transmitting to ms your private data all take more Memory resources. Windows XP in fact consumes less memory but it's 64-bit version is virtual unusable because of lack of proper drivers for hardware. Windows 7 can be tweaked in a few ways. Take off those fancy graphical theme/effects that alone helps.I find disabling SuperFetch makes a significant difference. On a Windows 8 Mini computer (by Asus) I was able to improve performance significantly by disabling and uninstalling all the tile features (which is a pain in the arse), as well as Superfetch) made a difference. See these articles:

http://www.techregar.com/maste...
http://www.windowsbleu.com/201...
IT Professional often do NOT have the latest OS (except for testing) because we as professionals know of the memory consumption as well as privacy/OS control issues surrounding windows 8/10. So they will opt for Windows 7 pro (64-bit), a Mac or Linux variant (usually CentOS, Debian, or Scientific Linux..Linux Mint is for consumer use and it excels there).

Most people use computers for 4 things: Internet, Word Processing, Multimedia and gaming). The first 3 don't require that much memory unless you are creating a media server. If you are a gamer then you truly need the memory of the games. No way around that. And the latest games may not run as well as Windows 7 (but every game I've seen doesn't require Windows 8 or 10). But those systems are typically 1k to 2k USD to build. If you are an professional artist or musician or developer you may need more. I find 16 GB is a real blessing if you need to run Virtual machines or do a lot of Java development.

A few other things to improve Windows performance: There are services that truly have no business being there. The Update services that people seem to keep putting into systems are creepy. For example Mozilla Firefox actually installs an update service. Why would you even need a service running for a browser update? The browser gives you update alerts when it's running? Google has a updating service which you mess up the programs if you remove it. Adobe is one of the WORST offenders as they keep installing crap to try to push you to use their "cloud" services. The Adobe updater background applications can be disabled or removed. (they are sometimes preinstalled on laptops). Oh, And let's not forget Antiviruses. Some a great with memory, others are memory hogs. Symantec products are wasteful in resources in every respect. The best memory effecient antiviruses I've seen are Eset, BitDefender (not the free edition...sorry), and F-Secure. While I like Gdata it's a memory hog, no question. The most common reasons for PC slow downs are malware running on most people's PC without knowing it. For that I suggest a regular scan with Malware Bytes and Search & Destroy. I personally prefer the "classic" one without any of the automatic stuff but some may prefer the newer one. IT Professionals use these tools and a regular basis as they know no tool finds everything. Here are links to both:

https://www.safer-networking.o...
https://www.safer-networking.o...

and Malwarebytes:
https://www.malwarebytes.com/m...

There are free versions but some should

Yep, Spybot Anti-Beacon to the rescue!

I use this to turn the streams off. The company has been really reliable for me and I use this myself.

Spybot Anti-Beacon

SpyBot Anti Beacon From the SpyBot S&D guys.

https://www.safer-networking.o...

I use Spybot Anti-Beacon...

https://www.safer-networking.o...

"Yes"

Just as a virus must be out before AV can detect it, someone has to get the problem before it can be guarded. The new version of AV (or stopping a fake bank); a list of IP address (host) / scripts (route) that will block bad addresses/domains.

Spybot does this exact (well, all but "route") all the time.

If you don't like Cortana, you can make it go away and never use it.

From TFA: Microsoft told PCWorld. "If you like, you can also easily hide Cortana and the search box in the taskbar altogether."

Cortana is simply a browser searchbar that uses Bing, re-located to the taskbar, and can talk. Siri reaches out to Apple servers when you use it, OK Google goes to Google servers. Microsoft is simply playing catch-up. The only news here is you can no longer give Cortana a lobotomy by cutting off its access to Bing.

But to say "Cortana can't be disabled" is inaccurate, misleading FUD. There may be many reasons to shit on Microsoft, but this isn't one of them.
Instructions:
1. change default browser from Edge to anything else... except IE. Be sure your new Browser does not use Bing as its search engine.
2. Right-click on the Taskbar, choose to Hide Cortana.
3. (optional) Install ClassicShell, Start8, or equivalent to provide a convenient basic search functionality.
4. (optional) Still paranoid? Try Spybot Anti-Beacon.
5. Proceed as before. Run Steam or something.

Your insulting post has a very basic dictionary problem.
"Hide Cortana" and "Disable Cortana" do not mean the same thing.

If you don't like Cortana, you can make it go away and never use it.

From TFA: Microsoft told PCWorld. "If you like, you can also easily hide Cortana and the search box in the taskbar altogether."

Cortana is simply a browser searchbar that uses Bing, re-located to the taskbar, and can talk.

1. change default browser from Edge to anything else... except IE. Be sure your new Browser does not use Bing as its search engine.
2. Right-click on the Taskbar, choose to Hide Cortana.
3. (optional) Install ClassicShell, Start8, or equivalent to provide a convenient basic search functionality.
4. (optional) Still paranoid? Try Spybot Anti-Beacon.
5. Proceed as before. Run Steam or something.

Unfortunately, you don't understand the difference between disabling Cortana and merely hiding it so you can't see it. And Microsoft is counting on that level of ignorance.

After following those steps you listed, bring up Task manager and you will see that Cortana is still running. Kill the process and it immediately comes back. I did finally manage to successfully kill Cortana, but it's tricky and I experienced system instability afterward. So I just to Microsoft to fuck off and went back Windows 7.

If you don't like Cortana, you can make it go away and never use it.

From TFA: Microsoft told PCWorld. "If you like, you can also easily hide Cortana and the search box in the taskbar altogether."

Cortana is simply a browser searchbar that uses Bing, re-located to the taskbar, and can talk. Siri reaches out to Apple servers when you use it, OK Google goes to Google servers. Microsoft is simply playing catch-up. The only news here is you can no longer give Cortana a lobotomy by cutting off its access to Bing.

But to say "Cortana can't be disabled" is inaccurate, misleading FUD. There may be many reasons to shit on Microsoft, but this isn't one of them.
Instructions:
1. change default browser from Edge to anything else... except IE. Be sure your new Browser does not use Bing as its search engine.
2. Right-click on the Taskbar, choose to Hide Cortana.
3. (optional) Install ClassicShell, Start8, or equivalent to provide a convenient basic search functionality.
4. (optional) Still paranoid? Try Spybot Anti-Beacon.
5. Proceed as before. Run Steam or something.

I took the plunge and upgraded my last and more important PC this weekend, 'cause I don't want to be on the hook to pay $199 for a new Pro license when something forces me off 7.

I swear I'm not a shill; I bitch regularly about Microsoft because my job forces me to bear with it. But I was pleasantly surprised how well the in-place upgrade went. Nothing broke, even my old copy of Office 2003 (from my cold, dead hands...) The only thing the upgrade removed without asking were a couple of 3d-party diagnostic utilities like speccy, which doesn't bother me in the slightest. Even Steam fired back up without a hitch.

Now, about that ugliness. You don't have Aero transparency or rounded edges, but with Classic Shell and WinAero Tweeker, you can do a lot to make 10 more livable. A right-click on the taskbar can make Cortana go away, and ClassicShell separates Windows programs from Metro Apps in separate sub-menus, so you never have to look at them if you don't want to. Also, you do NOT have to use a Microsoft/Outlook cloud account. With this kind of setup, it's pretty much the same Windows as before.

Finally, I haven't tried this yet, but there's Spybot Anti-Beacon to address the "phone-home" issues that might be nagging you.

So, here's an idea to grab Windows 10 while its still free with the least risk. Shop for an SSD upgrade, like a 1TB Samsung Evo because damn it's gotten cheap. Clone your precious Windows 7/8/8.1 drive to the new SSD, remove it, set it aside. Then, perform an in-place upgrade as described here on the clone. Try it out. Something go wrong? Hate it? Swap back your old drive; clone again, do what you like. Your old build is safe and sound.

But here's the thing: according to the article, you have effectively retrieved/reserved your free Windows 10 license to use... whenever. If you want to try again in a few months, you can take a blank SSD and download/build Windows 10 from scratch, Microsoft will recognize your PC signature (assuming you haven't changed you mobo) and license you (just skip the part where it asks for a key). In the mean time, however, your old Windows will still work for as long as you want to keep it.

There. Assuming Microsoft doesn't wimp out and extend the deadline, you've just pocketed a $150-200 license for free to use any time you want.

I'm not saying this tool will completely block all of the data collected but, it does block the vast majority of it and is simple to install and it's from a company I find reliable: Spybot Anti-Beacon.

https://www.grc.com/never10.ht...

https://voat.co/v/technology/c...

http://ultimateoutsider.com/do...

https://www.safer-networking.o...

Any, or all, of those seem to be safe to use. Try one, or try them all. They mostly duplicate each other's measures, but they aren't quite all the same, either.

Don't forget Spybot AntiBeacon to stop all the "telemetry" bollocks too.

Would you recommend using this too?:

https://www.safer-networking.o...

Yes. I upgraded all of my systems and my parent system to Windows 10 and used the Spybot tool to enable all of the privacy settings. While this may not completely shut down all telemetry, it does disable the most troubling pieces. The rest, as I understand it, is OS information on errors, etc., used to fix bugs and improve the product.

As for whether Windows 10 is an improvement, it has better support for SSD and instant on, it has Direct X 12 support, and it supports all of the newer processors coming from Intel. In fact, if you need to run windows on new hardware (Kaby Lake processors and later), you will have to install Windows 10. Windows 7 is no longer supported.

Would you recommend using this too?:

https://www.safer-networking.o...

Much as I hate to, I agree. With the new Spybot Anti-becon, https://www.safer-networking.o... it is actually reasonable other then the ugly phone UI which should go away now. But I still the the options will look better in 4 years when Win7 support ends.

Spybot Anti-Beacon: block and stop the various tracking (telemetry) issues present in Windows 7/8/8.1/10

https://www.safer-networking.o...

"Spybot Anti-Beacon is a standalone tool which was designed to block and stop the various tracking (telemetry) issues present in Windows 10. It has since been modified to block similar tracking functionality in Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 operating systems.

Anti-Beacon is small, simple to use, and is provided free of charge. It was created to address the privacy concerns of users of Windows 10 who do not wish to have information about their PC usage sent to Microsoft. Simply clicking "Immunize" on the main screen of Anti-Beacon will immediately disable any known tracking features included by Microsoft in the operating system.

If any issues occur with your PC while using Anti-Beacon, undoing the changes made can be done by clicking the "Undo" button in the main window. This will re-enable all tracking services. If you experience any issues using Anti-Beacon or have any suggestions/recommendations, please be sure to let us know on the forum thread relating to this tool."

Good tool. Here's another one:

https://www.safer-networking.o...

"Spybot Anti-Beacon is a standalone tool which was designed to block and stop the various tracking (telemetry) issues present in Windows 10. It has since been modified to block similar tracking functionality in Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 operating systems.

Anti-Beacon is small, simple to use, and is provided free of charge. It was created to address the privacy concerns of users of Windows 10 who do not wish to have information about their PC usage sent to Microsoft. Simply clicking âoeImmunizeâ on the main screen of Anti-Beacon will immediately disable any known tracking features included by Microsoft in the operating system."

"If any issues occur with your PC while using Anti-Beacon, undoing the changes made can be done by clicking the âoeUndoâ button in the main window. This will re-enable all tracking services. If you experience any issues using Anti-Beacon or have any suggestions/recommendations, please be sure to let us know on the forum thread relating to this tool."

https://forums.spybot.info/sho...

Unfortunately it is become more and more complicated to keep one's information off the internet. Multiple solutions are required:

1. Use a hosts file that blocks ads / tracking cookies / spam, etc.. mvps.hosts.txt
2. If you use Chrome always browse in Incognito
3. If on Windows periodically run Spybot Search and Destroy
4. Avoid Fazebook, LinkedIn, and other data-harvesting sites
5. Use Privacy Badger
6. Always deny contacts
7. Stay off the internet as much as possible.

I'm sure others will post more tips.

You will still need sanitization. Remember telemetry built in to Windows 10 was also back ported to Windows 7 and 8 via Windows Update.

Spybot Anti Beacon. https://www.safer-networking.o...

Everyone goes on about GWX Control Panel so much http://ultimateoutsider.com/do... but totally miss Spybot Anti Beacon and the fact telemetry was pack ported to Windows 7 and 8.

I also recommend apart from your favourite flavours of security software is a software based firewall like Agnitum Outpost Firewall (now sadly bought out tho). Not only do you need to firewall your network but you need something like this to protect within the operating system from dodgy programs and drivers doing things in the system itself.

You don't need to play the wack-a-mole game so much if you use Spybot Anti Beacon.

https://www.safer-networking.o...

Everyone goes on about GWX Control Panel so much but totally miss this and the fact telemetry was pack ported to Windows 7 and 8.

There's an unofficial tool by the people behind the Spybot anti-spyware tool called Spybot Anti-Beacon.

and use GWX Control Panel http://ultimateoutsider.com/do...

Also worthy to immunize with is Spybot Anti Beacon https://www.safer-networking.o...

Just use GWX Control Panel http://ultimateoutsider.com/do...

Also worthy to immunize with is Spybot Anti Beacon https://www.safer-networking.o...

Also Spybot Anti Beacon is good too just in case.

https://www.safer-networking.o...

You should probably do a S&D scan. I genuinely imagine it will help.

https://www.safer-networking.o...

Alternately, MalwareBytes.

If you using 7 or 8 the telemetry stuff is being backported and applied to your OS.

If you aren't sure how to prevent 10 from leaking info, then you aren't sure how to prevent 7 or 8 from leaking info either, and not upgrading isn't really a win for you.

This is my current go to:
https://www.safer-networking.o...

If any one has any criticism of it, I'm definitely listening.

For what its worth, I've upgraded my main PC to 10 now, and after a few customizations to basically shut off cortana, web search from the start menu, live tiles, and other crap, I'm pretty happy with it.

There are quite a few real improvements.

Staying on 7 over the privacy didn't make sense given they were rotting the privacy in 7 as well. And if I'm going to run something like spybot on 7 ... then I figured I might as well run it on 10.

Being lazy I've gone this way:

https://www.safer-networking.o...

Try GWX Control Panel to disable GWX and OS updates entirely:
http://ultimateoutsider.com/do...

Also Spybot Anti-Beacon which disables telemetry:
https://www.safer-networking.o...

It works perfectly for me on Windows 7. And yes I know that all of what it does can be done manualy but these tools do their job and work well so why bother...

Too much work, this is easier:

https://www.safer-networking.o...

Instead of juggling batch files like I was I switched to using Spybot Anti Beacon

https://www.safer-networking.o...

You need to do more than turn updates off

https://www.safer-networking.o...

Also I have had windows update mysteriously enable itself 3 times on my Windows 7 install ever since I disabled it when the telemetry was back ported to 7.

https://www.safer-networking.o...

Wrong, Pro has almost all of the same issues as Home. GPE is included with Pro, but that's not easier to use than one of the many Windows 10 anti-spying applications out there, such as Spybot Anti-Beacon.

I made the mistake of doing the Windows 10 upgrade on my Windows 8.1 PC. It took over three hours to complete, I poked around for half an hour and determined there were too many privacy concerns. Rolling back to Windows 8.1 only took about twenty minutes and everything is back to normal after I cleared out some crap updates that Windows 8.1 was left with.

The fact that Windows 10 is classified as spyware by the Spybot guys and that they even have a Windows 10 cleanup tool should be a huge red flag.

Or use ShutUp10, which is free and requires no installation. After that, install Spybot Anti-Beacon.

Funny how even the anti-malware companies are calling Windows 10 spyware.

I don't see Oliver Day of SecurityFocus on there. Weren't you going to cite him?

I do see the text:

Also, in the HELP entry associated with the Hosts File Tool, a sentence begins with: "Spybot-S&D can add a prepared list of web sites known for bad behaviour . . ."

Which indicates it blocks websites, not command and control servers for botnets.

Wait a minute, the spybot site is actually https://www.safer-networking.o..., not spybot.info. So, you didn't post a link to the spybot site.

The reason I state this, is because I've been building up a successful blacklist (albeit NOT vs. "spam" or phishers only, but more vs. online threats in maliciously scripted sites &/or servers known to serve up malware etc.):

Yes, thus - I'd have to say, based on 15++ yrs. of experience doing it (based on reputable & reliable sites listed below) that yes, MOST of it comes from those nations (& that's why I said "unfortunately" in my subject-line - since I know their people are NOT "all bad", just that they have a lot of what you state going on).

I base this not only on "opinion" but HARD DATA too!

From a list I apply in custom hosts files of over 1,967,147 such bogus sites/servers that grows by almost 200 - 2,000 such sites each day, approximately (that *might* strike some of you as "fantastic", but it's real)... I get my data from the following sites:

http://hosts-file.net/?s=Download
http://www.malwaredomainlist.com/hostslist/hosts.txt
http://www.malware.com.br/cgi/submit?action=list_hosts_win_0000
http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.htm
https://spyeyetracker.abuse.ch/monitor.php?filter=lastupdated
http://safeweb.norton.com/noscript/
http://mirror1.malwaredomains.com/files/
http://hostsfile.org/hosts.html
http://www.malwareurl.com/
http://sysctl.org/cameleon/hosts
http://pgl.yoyo.org/as/serverlist.php?hostformat=hosts&showintro=1&mimetype=plaintext
http://www.safer-networking.org/dl/
http://amada.abuse.ch/palevotracker.php

AND, then I import, consolidate, sort, & deduplicate that data using this application I wrote to do so:

---

APK Hosts File Engine 5.0++ 32/64-bit:

http://start64.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5851:apk-hosts-file-engine-64bit-version&catid=26:64bit-security-software&Itemid=74

---

Why? Simple - it works, & on the SIMPLEST PRINCIPLE OF ALL: What you can't touch, can't hurt you... & I never was the type of person to just "sit around & take it" - I do something about it, IF possible. The above IS my possible, and it is possible & works (in combination with all I put into this security guide I authored from 1997-2007, here -> http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&output=search&sclient=psy-ab&q=%22How+to+SECURE+Windows+2000/XP%22&btnG=Submit&gbv=1&sei=PjNrUcDVGpSz4AOJuIHQDQ that works on the BEST THING WE HAVE GOING: "Layered-Security"/"Defense-in-Depth"... & yes, it works! )

APK

P.S.=> Any questions?

... apk

Jorge, you can name me all you want, but there is no shame is using a hosts file to block DDoS Packets. I have a foolproof list that blows away your arguments.

P.S.=> There's other methods also, via native to OS tools for network-wide propogation of fresh clean updated hosts files that program yields IF you only installed it on a "central server" for clean hosts for all nodes/workstations/servers:

I.E.-> Centrally managed hosts files? Easy as pie via logons scripts, or parse of autoexec in Windows @ bootup via GPEdit & group policies company-wide!

OR

Using taskscheduler on each workstation/server node periodically

P.P.S.=> Of course, your HOSTS file will need to have the domain/hosts name of the C&C servers, & that you have to obtain for this to work vs. threats like bogus servers &/or maliciously scripted sites. Here's some good sources for that above & beyond mvps.org (I noted them above):

http://hosts-file.net/?s=Download
http://www.malwaredomainlist.com/hostslist/hosts.txt
http://mirror1.malwaredomains.com/files/ (justdomains here)
http://pgl.yoyo.org/as/serverlist.php?hostformat=hosts&showintro=1&mimetype=plaintext
http://sysctl.org/cameleon/hosts
http://someonewhocares.org/hosts/
http://hostsfile.org/hosts.html
http://hostsfile.mine.nu/downloads/
https://zeustracker.abuse.ch/monitor.php?filter=lastupdated
https://spyeyetracker.abuse.ch/monitor.php?filter=lastupdated
http://www.apkgoatsestylepersonalpics.com/hostsfiles.htm
http://www.malwareurl.com/
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/ (updater for Spybot "Search & Destroy" & it fortifies HOSTS files)

Those are some of my regular sources that are reputable & reliable for custom HOSTS file data populations vs. known threats online - I consolidate them here via programs I wrote that normalize/deduplicate repeated entries, sort/alphabetize the results, & change from larger + slower 127.0.0.1 (longer & loopback ops happen here) to the faster & smaller 0.0.0.0 (or even 0 on Windows 2000/XP/Server 2003): Enjoy!

... apk

P.P.P.P.S.=> There you go... it all works, GUI easily from my app, all the way out to any endpoint PC/Server on a LAN/WAN even... often as you like & CLEAN/FRESH too!

P.P.P.P.P.S=> It's good "layered-security"/"defense-in-depth" & does things AdBlock, DNS, & even firewalls can't (like speed up access to fav. sites + make them reliable in the event of DNS poisoning redirects or being "downed" even...) & gets P.P.P.P.P.P.S.=> back SPEED/BANDWIDTH users pay for out of pocket along with their POWER BILL too...

P.P.P.P.P.P.P.S.=> I skipped P.P.P.S=>

Also:

Spybot: http://www.safer-networking.org/
Even if you don't use the active registry monitor, you can use it to scrub your registry now and then. And you can 'innoculate' your system with it too by adding read-only junk registry entries for many pieces of spywire, so the spyware itself can't dig their fingers into your machine.

DO THE FOLLOWING (after obtaining a good reputable solid HOSTS file, like mvps' -> http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

---

1.) Get ahold of the "Android Debugging Bridge" (ADB) & install it

2.) Mount your system mountpoint as READ + WRITE (as powerful of priveleges as you need is this)

3.) Using the PULL command, copy the file over from your PC (or even on your ANDROID if its there already) using PULL & overwrite the etc. folder's copy of HOSTS

---

* DONE!

(Yes, it's THAT simple vs. hosts-domain based threats which ARE THE MAJORITY OF THEM OUT THERE (because hosts-domain names are recyclable unlike IP addresses)... &, it works - you CAN'T be burned if you can't go into the malware kitchen!)

APK

P.S.=> Of course, your HOSTS file will need to have the domain/hosts name of the C&C servers, & that you have to obtain for this to work vs. threats like bogus servers &/or maliciously scripted sites. Here's some good sources for that above & beyond mvps.org (I noted them above):

http://hosts-file.net/?s=Download
http://www.malwaredomainlist.com/hostslist/hosts.txt
http://mirror1.malwaredomains.com/files/ (justdomains here)
http://pgl.yoyo.org/as/serverlist.php?hostformat=hosts&showintro=1&mimetype=plaintext
http://sysctl.org/cameleon/hosts
http://someonewhocares.org/hosts/
http://hostsfile.org/hosts.html
http://hostsfile.mine.nu/downloads/
https://zeustracker.abuse.ch/monitor.php?filter=lastupdated
https://spyeyetracker.abuse.ch/monitor.php?filter=lastupdated
http://www.malwareurl.com/
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/ (updater for Spybot "Search & Destroy" & it fortifies HOSTS files)

Those are some of my regular sources that are reputable & reliable for custom HOSTS file data populations vs. known threats online - I consolidate them here via programs I wrote that normalize/deduplicate repeated entries, sort/alphabetize the results, & change from larger + slower 127.0.0.1 (longer & loopback ops happen here) to the faster & smaller 0.0.0.0 (or even 0 on Windows 2000/XP/Server 2003): Enjoy!

... apk

* DONE!

(Yes, it's THAT simple vs. hosts-domain based threats which ARE THE MAJORITY OF THEM OUT THERE (because hosts-domain names are recyclable unlike IP addresses)... &, it works - you CAN'T be burned if you can't go into the malware kitchen!) No more malware, no disk corruption!

This concept & technique is VERY simple to understand, as far as how to install a custom HOSTS file, how to get data to populate it (& if need be? An Access import & "SELECT * DISTINCT FROM (tablename) ORDER BY ASC" type query & export can do the deduplication/normalization end even).

E.G.-> I've taught it to people who have NO CLUE in computing in fact, & they took to it like ducks to water - especially custom editing their custom HOSTS file with text editors once they understand what speeds them up (hardcodes) & secures them + how, by blocking out bogus sites/servers!

(And? Heck - They ought to like it & take to them fast! Especially considering a custom HOSTS file acts as a security layer AND more-or-less, an "online turbocharger" for speed too, for free! You already own one anyhow, with any OS that uses a BSD based IP stack (which IS most))...

P.S.=> Of course, your HOSTS file will need to have the domain/hosts name of the C&C servers, & that you have to obtain for this to work vs. threats like bogus servers &/or maliciously scripted sites. Here's some good sources for that above & beyond mvps.org (I noted them above):

http://hosts-file.net/?s=Download
http://www.malwaredomainlist.com/hostslist/hosts.txt
http://mirror1.malwaredomains.com/files/ (justdomains here)
http://pgl.yoyo.org/as/serverlist.php?hostformat=hosts&showintro=1&mimetype=plaintext
http://sysctl.org/cameleon/hosts
http://someonewhocares.org/hosts/
http://hostsfile.org/hosts.html
http://hostsfile.mine.nu/downloads/
https://zeustracker.abuse.ch/monitor.php?filter=lastupdated
https://spyeyetracker.abuse.ch/monitor.php?filter=lastupdated
http://www.malwareurl.com/
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/ (updater for Spybot "Search & Destroy" & it fortifies HOSTS files)

Those are some of my regular sources that are reputable & reliable for custom HOSTS file data populations vs. known threats online - I consolidate them here via programs I wrote that normalize/deduplicate repeated entries, sort/alphabetize the results, & change from larger + slower 127.0.0.1 (longer & loopback ops happen here) to the faster & smaller 0.0.0.0 (or even 0 on Windows 2000/XP/Server 2003): Enjoy!

... apk

DO THE FOLLOWING (after obtaining a good reputable solid HOSTS file, like mvps' -> http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

---

1.) Get ahold of the "Android Debugging Bridge" (ADB) & install it

2.) Mount your system mountpoint as READ + WRITE (as powerful of priveleges as you need is this)

3.) Using the PULL command, copy the file over from your PC (or even on your ANDROID if its there already) using PULL & overwrite the etc. folder's copy of HOSTS

---

* DONE!

(Yes, it's THAT simple vs. hosts-domain based threats which ARE THE MAJORITY OF THEM OUT THERE (because hosts-domain names are recyclable unlike IP addresses)... &, it works - you CAN'T be burned if you can't go into the malware kitchen!)

APK

P.S.=> Of course, your HOSTS file will need to have the domain/hosts name of the C&C servers, & that you have to obtain for this to work vs. threats like bogus servers &/or maliciously scripted sites. Here's some good sources for that above & beyond mvps.org (I noted them above):

http://hosts-file.net/?s=Download
http://www.malwaredomainlist.com/hostslist/hosts.txt
http://mirror1.malwaredomains.com/files/ (justdomains here)
http://pgl.yoyo.org/as/serverlist.php?hostformat=hosts&showintro=1&mimetype=plaintext
http://sysctl.org/cameleon/hosts
http://someonewhocares.org/hosts/
http://hostsfile.org/hosts.html
http://hostsfile.mine.nu/downloads/
https://zeustracker.abuse.ch/monitor.php?filter=lastupdated
https://spyeyetracker.abuse.ch/monitor.php?filter=lastupdated
http://www.malwareurl.com/
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/ (updater for Spybot "Search & Destroy" & it fortifies HOSTS files)

Those are some of my regular sources that are reputable & reliable for custom HOSTS file data populations vs. known threats online - I consolidate them here via programs I wrote that normalize/deduplicate repeated entries, sort/alphabetize the results, & change from larger + slower 127.0.0.1 (longer & loopback ops happen here) to the faster & smaller 0.0.0.0 (or even 0 on Windows 2000/XP/Server 2003): Enjoy!

... apk

Based on your success using a HOSTS file for added speed - you can also get more "layered-security"/"defense-in-depth" added as well, & here are some of the sites I use online to populate my HOSTS file vs. various online threats (all current, updated regularly, & reputable):

http://hosts-file.net/?s=Download
http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.htm
http://someonewhocares.org/hosts/
http://www.malwaredomainlist.com/hostslist/hosts.txt
https://spyeyetracker.abuse.ch/monitor.php
https://zeustracker.abuse.ch/monitor.php?filter=all
http://amada.abuse.ch/palevotracker.php
http://www.malware.com.br/cgi/submit?action=list_hosts_win_0000
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/
http://www.malwareurl.com/
http://mirror1.malwaredomains.com/files/
http://hostsfile.org/hosts.html
http://doc.emergingthreats.net/bin/view/Main/HoneywallSamples

* There you go - that'll "get you started" on the road to not only FASTER websurfing, but also SAFER websurfing as well...

APK

P.S.=> Now, as far as "integrating" them into your HOSTS file?

Those sites offer various tools for that (I have built my own over time & you can even use tools like MS-Access for the hard part, deduplication for unique entry data via SELECT DISTINCT queries if need be, but I think the best tool offered on 1 of those sites is a PERL deduplication script (you have to have PERL installed though) as far as the tools offered by others from those sources.

Thus, You may wish to look into the FREE tools offered on those sites, if not compare them as well, & just for the purposes of import, deduplication/normalization, + more as well!

So - enjoy & continued good luck to you (as well as "salutations" for trying a custom HOSTS file & experiencing what you have, thusfar)...

... apk

By far, & so can anyone else in 2 ways:

1.) Blocking out adbanners (which have been known to serve up malware many times in the past 7++ yrs. or more, no less)

&

2.) Hardcoding your favorite sites into it (so you avoid DNS lookups that take longer than 30-60ms or more to send back a host-domain name resolved to IP address, & also from possibly downed, OR "dns-poisoned" misdirected DNS servers)

Nice part is, it didn't cost ME "billions of dollars" to get a HELL OF A LOT MORE SPEED BACK FOR MY MONIES I PAY OUT TO BE ONLINE (as well as a hell of a lot better "layered security" to go with it), using HOSTS files...

APK

P.S.=> And, they're FREE, & data for them is as simple as pinging your fav. sites for their IP address (so you can LOCALLY "Self-Resolve" the host-domain name to IP address equation), & blocking adbanners has data widely available for it also (in addition to blocking out KNOWN bogus sites that serve up malware) for security too, such as this list of them:

http://hosts-file.net/?s=Download
http://www.malwaredomainlist.com/hostslist/hosts.txt
http://www.malware.com.br/cgi/submit?action=list_hosts_win_0000
http://mirror1.malwaredomains.com/files/
http://someonewhocares.org/hosts/
http://www.malwareurl.com/
https://spyeyetracker.abuse.ch/monitor.php
https://zeustracker.abuse.ch/monitor.php?filter=online
http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.htm
http://hostsfile.org/hosts.html
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/

By this point in time, since 1997 with lists of my own? I have 1.6++ million bogus sites/servers/hosts-domains, adbanner servers, & far more that's "not good for your speed OR security online" blocked-out, & my DSL connection runs MORE like a GOOD CABLE CONNECTION instead for websurfing, easily!

... apk

HOSTS files, combined with firewalls rules tables (for IP address based ones).

It's easy enough to do, the data's out there by the TRUCKLOAD on Conficker and many other known botnets, sites/servers/hosts-domains that serve up malware-in-general (virus/spyware etc./et al).

Here are 15 or so that I use for anyone that's interested in protecting themselves in this manner:

---

http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

http://hostsfile.org/hosts.html

http://someonewhocares.org/hosts/

http://www.malwareurl.com/

https://zeustracker.abuse.ch/monitor.php?filter=online

https://spyeyetracker.abuse.ch/monitor.php

http://www.malwaredomainlist.com/hostslist/hosts.txt

http://www.malware.com.br/lists.shtml

http://hosts-file.net/?s=Download

http://www.malwaredomains.com/

http://securehomenetwork.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2011-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-05%3A00&updated-max=2012-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-05%3A00&max-results=12

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html (Spybot Search & Destroy has an IMMUNIZE feature that works on HOSTS files here)

http://safeweb.norton.com/buzz

http://blocklistpro.com/download-center/view-details/blocklist-pro-blocklists-mirror/1632-hosts.zip.html

---

HOSTS files are the main route I took because they offer not just security benefits, but also speed benefits (very noticeable ones), & even anonymity ones to an extent (vs DNSBL)

HOSTS files, imo @ least, are even easier to deal with than a firewall (software OR router based) rules table if you ask me!

I did so again - Because of layered security they offer (combinations of Norton DNS (dnsbl filtering DNS vs. malware online threats & botnets), & firewall rules tables)) AND SPEED GAINS POSSIBLE TOO, via an easily edited route in a text file (which is all HOSTS are, a filter that works at the fastest & most efficient level there is, the IP subsystem).

I.E -> HOSTS are EASY to edit as well with any text editor also (which, face it, anyone can handle using) to add or even remove (or # symbol comment off temporarily even) data from its internal records list.

It works & on the SIMPLEST PRINCIPLE THERE IS for security: You can't get burnt if you don't go into the malware/botnet kitchen!

(I do so based on the principle of "layered security", especially vs. online threats...)

E.G.-> So, if one protective scheme fails, the others is there to kick in to protect you!

(They all work in combination w/ one another seamlessly-transparently... so, it's basically the same idea I suppose, as folks putting deadbolts, door handle knob locks, & chain locks on a door for 'triple layer security' really!)

It works & on the SIMPLEST PRINCIPLE THERE IS for extra speed, & bandwidth YOU PAY FOR OUT OF POCKET also:

See, nicest part about HOSTS files though, is that it's easy to insert other things (say for blocking adbanners) that speed you up online (via hardcoding your fav. sites into it, host-domain name to IP Address resolved, ea

Via a PyThon script, that does the following:

---

1.) Removes duplicates/normalizing the HOSTS file

2.) Alphabetizes it

3.) Changes the larger & slower 127.0.0.1 loopback adapter std. address MOST hosts files use typically, opting for the smaller & FASTER read in (and with no loopback, pure "blackholing" only) 0.0.0.0 address!

4.) It also removes any # comments that bloat hosts, along with "trailing nulls or blanks" many have that additionally bloat the HOSTS file.

---

Once she's read up into the DNS client cache (must turn this off for large ones like mine, currently @ 1,017,970++ entries strong), OR, into the local DISKCACHE (since it's just a filtering file for the IP Stack)?

She's fast as nobody's business!

APK

P.S.=> That's how I do it, & all that, & from these reputable & reliable sources for HOSTS file data vs. adbanners &/or KNOWN bad sites/servers/hosts-domain names:

http://www.malwaredomains.com/

https://zeustracker.abuse.ch/monitor.php?filter=online

https://spyeyetracker.abuse.ch/monitor.php

http://hosts-file.net/?s=Download

http://www.malware.com.br/lists.shtml

http://www.malwareurl.com/

http://someonewhocares.org/hosts/

http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

http://hostsfile.org/hosts.html

http://hostsfile.mine.nu/downloads/

http://ddanchev.blogspot.com/

http://www.stopbadware.org/

http://blocklistpro.com/download-center/view-details/blocklist-pro-blocklists-mirror/1632-hosts.zip.html

Spybot "Search & Destroy" IMMUNIZE feature (fortifies HOSTS files with KNOWN
bad servers blocked):

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html

& it works... even many slashdotters use them, by the by, & my list of 20++ points in favor of HOSTS files quotes their results as well (for some "peer evidences" from the likes of your fellow posters on this website in fact, in addition to myself).

... apk