CH Hosts Editor description
Hosts Editor gives you an easy way of editing the local list of host names.

Every webserver on the Internet is identified through a unique number, called an IP address. These are very hard to remember so on top of the IP address, the webservers have domain (host) names.

When you access a domain, your computer queries a database provided by your ISP (Internet Service Provider). The domain name is now translated to an IP address and you can view the requested website in your webbrowser.

You can also store a simular database of IP addresses on your local machine. This is done by using the »hosts« file most typically found in either »C:Windows« or »C:WindowsSystem32Driversetc«. Only if a host name cannot be found in the »hosts« file, your computer queries the database of your ISP.

By using your local database of IP addresses you can speed up the Internet and even more important: You can block several banner ads from showing when you surf around the Internet.

Some providers of banner ads use dedicated servers. Let's say that a website, www.website.com, uses a dedicated server for their banner ads called, ads.website.com. Like always an IP address, xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx, hides behind that domain. Now you just have to fool you computer to believe, that ads.website.com has the IP of your local machine (127.0.0.1).

When you visit www.website.com, your webbrowser also asks for the IP of ads.website.com and now it gets your local machine. But your computer (usually) doesn't have a webserver running and eventually the request for that domain name will time out. The result is the website of www.website.com, but without the banner ads from ads.website.com.

A computer virus can use the same method to prevent you from updating your anti-virus tool. It attacks your »hosts« file with fake IP addresses. Just locate the fake IP address and delete it from the »hosts« file, or use »Hosts Editor« to reset the list of host names.

»Hosts Editor« gives you an easy way of editing the »hosts« file. Open the program, press the »New« button and type the IP address, like 127.0.0.1 which is equal to your local machine if you are about to block banner ads. Then type the host name, like ads.website.com and press »OK«.

You can also download a database with a predefined list of banner ad-servers. In »Hosts Editor« go to the menu, Tools ->Update Ad Blockers.

If a virus has attacked your »hosts« file or you just want to reset it back to its original content, go to the menu, Tools->Reset List.

If you block banner ads by using the »hosts« file, you might get ugly results when you visit certain websites. Some important information my be left out or the website doesn't load at all.

Hosts Editor gives you an easy way of editing the local list of host names. This way you can prevent certain banner ads from appearing when you surf the Internet. You can also easily use Hosts Editor to quickly repair the hosts file after a virus attack.