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HostsCK Changelog

What's new in HostsCK 2.3.2

Sep 23, 2020
  • Fixed: HostsCK now counts IPv6 blocks correctly.
  • Fixed: The check saved sites tool no longer produces an error if theweb address starts with a digit.
  • Fixed: Help file not opening from “About > Help” if language wasn’t setto English (en).
  • Fixed: Copy/Cut popup menu not resizing to fit other languages.
  • Updated: HostsDE updated to version 2.2.2.0.
  • Added: Setting to show or hide the right-click menu shortcut keys in
  • Settings > Misc. Shortcut keys will still work but will not be shownin the menu if the setting is disabled. This will tidy up the menu if youprefer it to look neat.
  • Added: HostsCK now uses an autocomplete file as the autocomplete sourcefor the search textbox. The file is named “AutoComplete.acs” and is locatedin the applicationlists directory and can be edited from “Settings > lists”
  • Added: Option to view your allowed sites only from the right-click menu.
  • Changed: Various minor changes to how HostsCK looks and operates.
  • Changed: Due to false positives from some anti-virus software we have changedthe way HostsCK gets installed and uninstalled. All install and uninstall steps arenow done within the installer itself.
  • The last update included a small program by us that re-wrote and moved the
  • Microsoft Extra list so that HostsCK could read it correctly. This could not be doneby the installer and some anti-virus software saw it as harmful.

New in HostsCK 2.3.0 (Sep 22, 2020)

  • Fixed: Unable to save edits the Hosts file after performing a search and reaching the no more results found dialog.

New in HostsCK 2.2.9.0 (Apr 10, 2020)

  • What’s changed:
  • Improved: The way HostsCK starts has been completely re-written. This makes for a slightly
  • faster start time but more importantly reduces the chance of errors.
  • The read time for reading the Hosts remains the same
  • Improved: Search for duplicate entries has been made more compatible with Windows 10.
  • Some users were getting errors and a program crash. If that happens now HostsCK will check
  • for duplicates in a safer way but the GUI will become unresponsive
  • Improved: The language changer is completely re-written and you can now download new
  • language files or updates to languages if available
  • Improved: Textbox right-click menu detects if selected text can be saved to the saved sites
  • or added to the whitelist more logically
  • Improved: GetIP returns only an IPv4 IP address not IPv6 if IPv6 is enabled on users computer
  • Improved: The way HostsCK comes out of full mode and when exiting the built in browser has
  • been re-written so that the transition to the forms normal state is smoother
  • Added: A setting to keep the Hosts writable (Settings > Misc). Useful if your VPN needs
  • to be able to write to the Hosts
  • Added: Disable auto adding 0.0.0.0 or 127.0.0.1 to a new line from the right-click menu
  • Added: Ctrl+F in the main text box gives focus to the search box
  • Added: Ctrl+S in the main text box saves the Hosts file. Can be changed in Settings > Input
  • Added: American language file. (Thanks Chris Newman)
  • Changed: About form re-designed
  • Removed: HostsCK no longer checks for Windscribe VPN and keeps the Hosts writable if it is
  • detected. This was meant as a temporary fix for several users before the release of version 2.2.9
  • Removed: Delete cookies setting
  • What’s fixed:
  • Fixed: HostsDE not updating the Hosts under certain conditions
  • Fixed: HostsDE not adding whitelist when updating the Hosts
  • Fixed: Edits to the Hosts file were ignored after using the search function. (Thanks Виталий)
  • Fixed: Bug that prevented HostsCK checking for updates to the Microsoft Extra blocks list
  • Fixed: If HostsCK disabled the Hosts file and a VPN created one, HostsCK could not re-enable
  • the Hosts. HostsCK will now enable the Hosts from the dis file but changes made by the VPN
  • while disabled will be lost
  • Fixed: “Search Next” button text could be missing. (Thanks Liz)
  • Fixed: Write error when saving a site to the whitelist (Thanks Francis Béringer)

New in HostsCK 2.2.8.0 (May 20, 2019)

  • Fixed: Internet Explorer loading when HostsDE checked for a Hosts update while a VPN client was connecting or had disabled an internet connection.
  • Fixed: HostsCK crash when launching the Hosts update server in the default browser.
  • Added: Autosave setting. Open or drag and drop a Hosts file into HostsCK and it will be automatically saved. HostsDE, if set to check for mvps Hosts updates, will download and save the Hosts update when an update becomes available. Autosave is disabled by default. Go to ” Settings > Backup & Saving ” to toggle autosave.
  • Added: shortcut key for full view (F11).
  • Changed: Changed internet connection ping from 4.2.2.2 to 8.8.8.8 as several users reported problems with HostsCK and HostsDE detecting an internet connection.
  • Improved: Graphical changes to the built-in web browser.
  • Following is a list of changes made due to the fact that HostsCK has been marked as final:
  • Removed: HostsCK performance information as it was only used for testing purposes.
  • Removed: Email with bugs and suggestions email client.
  • Removed: Check for program updates.
  • Removed: Error logging.
  • The help file, ListCK and KnockKnock are now included in the install and in this update.

New in HostsCK 2.2.6.0 (Mar 11, 2019)

  • Added: Setting in Settings > Input to automatically add 0.0.0.0 and block an address when
  • pasting a web address into the text box. E.G. “https://redisoft.uk/privacy-policy/” is
  • pasted as “0.0.0.0 redisoft.uk”.
  • Added: Setting in Settings > Misc to warn that Hosts is disabled when HostsCK exits.
  • Added: HostsCK checks that the Hosts file can be edited and is not locked by
  • another program when it starts. See Help.
  • Added: Added font colouring for “# My Saved Sites”, “# Start Of Microsoft Blocks #”
  • and “# Start Of EXTRA Microsoft Blocks #” orange, lime and red respectively.
  • Added: “View List” Link to view the Microsoft extra blocks list in your text editor.
  • Link is on the “You have the latest version” message box when checking for an
  • update to the extra blocks.
  • Fixed: Fixed the English language file getting corrupted during install or
  • update in certain cases.
  • Fixed: Fixed a memory leak in HostsDE.
  • Improved: Only the domain name of a web address gets pasted into the
  • text box. E.G. “https://redisoft.uk/privacy-policy/” becomes “redisoft.uk”
  • when using the Paste menu item to paste a web address into the text box.
  • Ctrl+V overrides this behaviour so the full address gets pasted.
  • Changed: Check Hosts is disabled when restoring a Hosts backup until that
  • backup has been saved.

New in HostsCK 2.2.5.0 (Jan 28, 2019)

  • This update fixes the many problems that Windows update KB4481480 caused:
  • Fixed: Completed the fix for the broken visual styling.
  • Fixed: Check for program updates broken.
  • Fixed: HostsCK form flicker when starting.
  • Fixed: Menu items not being translated.
  • Fixed: Some message boxes not displaying correctly.
  • Fixed: Many other small bugs related to the KB4481480 update.
  • Fixed: HostsDE exiting without explanation in Windows 10.
  • Fixed: Hosts file last updated information bar in the built in browser not showing
  • for some users. (not due to Windows update KB4481480)
  • Changed: If you chose to include the Microsoft extra blocks list in settings
  • the list will be downloaded if it does not already exist.

New in HostsCK 2.2.4.0 (Jan 12, 2019)

  • Fixed/Workaround: Windows update KB4481480 has broken HostsCK visual styling.
  • This is an untested fix that should hopefully enable visual styling. The problem should
  • be properly addressed in the next update.

New in HostsCK 2.2.3.0 (Jan 4, 2019)

  • Fixed: HostsCK could become unresponsive when checking for
  • program updates.
  • Fixed: Spelling mistake in message box.
  • Changed: Stronger encryption is used when sending an email using
  • “Email with bugs or suggestions”. Also, due to a server-side change,
  • the HostsCK email client has been updated. The email client will no
  • longer work on earlier versions of HostsCK.
  • Updated: Language files and license.

New in HostsCK 2.2.2.0 (Dec 4, 2018)

  • Added: Setting to add extra Microsoft blocks to the Hosts when
  • opening and saving a file. Please read the IMPORTANT-INFORMATION-HERE.
  • Fixed: HostsCK no longer detects font colouring when searching or changing
  • colour schemes as changes to the Hosts file.
  • Fixed: The HostsCK installer hiding the lists directory in “AppDataLocalHostsCK”

New in HostsCK 2.2.1.0 (Nov 28, 2018)

  • Added: Setting to automatically show the edit panel when typing in the main textbox.
  • Added: Settings to show or suppress the “No more matches of” message when using search to search for text in the Hosts file.
  • Fixed: HostsCK displays correctly on high DPI monitors.
  • Fixed: A rare “Single Thread Apartment” error when flushing the DNS Cache.
  • Improved: HostsCK detects user input in the main textbox much better and will enable the save button and display an asterisk to show that changes may need to be saved.
  • Improved: Several minor improvements to search functions, GetIP, the built in web browser and the Bugs and Suggestions email client.
  • Updated: The HostsCK uninstaller now enables the DNS Client Service without asking and deletes the registry key
  • HostsDE creates if it is set to run when Windows starts.
  • Updated: The HostsCK Install program has been updated to conform to Microsoft guidelines. This means that links to the Uninstall HostsCK shortcut and the HostsCK license are no longer in the HostsCK Start Menu folder. A link to the uninstaller is now in the HostsCK program files directory and can still be easily uninstalled from the Windows control panel.
  • Removed: HostsCK can no longer be sent to the system tray to protect the Hosts file as this is now handled by HostsDE.

New in HostsCK 2.2.0.0 (Nov 9, 2018)

  • Fixed: Correct menu icons are shown if HostsCK is running in
  • the system tray.
  • Fixed: HostsDE showing a “The process cannot access the file” warning if
  • checking for an updated Hosts file
  • Fixed: The larger font when typing setting now works.
  • Fixed: The reading icon was being shown on the ‘Addresses blocked’
  • status label when changing between showing own icons or not in settings.
  • Improved: The Startup code has been re-organized so HostsCK starts more
  • smoothly and, if using the English language file, starts slightly quicker.
  • Added: When highlighting text in the main textbox, ‘Copy’ and ‘Cut’ menu items
  • will be displayed enabling you to quickly copy or cut the selected text.
  • This can be disabled in Settings > Input > Show copy menu.
  • Removed ‘Check for updated Hosts’ setting as it has been replaced with HostsDE
  • checking for Hosts updates.
  • Changed: The ‘No duplicate entries found’ message box no longer shows ‘Hosts OK’.
  • Changed: ‘Cut’, ‘Copy’, ‘Paste’ and ‘Select All’ right-click menu items have been
  • moved above the ‘Saved Sites’ menu items.
  • Updated: Updated the Microsoft blocks list.

New in HostsCK 2.1.9.0 (Oct 3, 2018)

  • Added: HostsDE can check for mvps updates periodically while
  • it is running and provides protection against the renaming or
  • deletion of the Hosts as well as preventing changing it’s read-only
  • attribute by other programs.
  • Added: HostsCK can now clear the Internet Explorer cache as well
  • as cookies when closing the built in browser.
  • Added: You can now use your own button images on the toolbar.
  • Added: Setting to show URLs in main textbox. Links can be clicked
  • and opened in your default browser.
  • Improved: HostsCK’s total load time reduced by up to 1 second. *
  • Improved: Search textbox back and fore colour will be the same
  • as the main textbox.
  • Improved: The Design panel in Settings has a more logical layout.
  • Changed: Search textbox text highlight happens on mouse up
  • instead of mouse down.
  • Changed: Slight redesign to the About window.
  • Minor bug fixes: Several bugs squashed.

New in HostsCK 2.1.8.0 (Sep 2, 2018)

  • Fixed: Correct language was not shown is some message boxes.
  • Bug Fix: Font settings were not being loaded.
  • Improved: HostsCK handles very large Hosts files much more efficiently.
  • Added: You can now drag and drop a Hosts or Hosts.txt file on to the textbox to load it.
  • Added: Edit panel providing quick access to redo, undo and zoom functions as well as
  • Displaying the textbox line number.
  • Added: You can check your saved allowed sites. HostsCK can check that the connection to
  • The sites is working. Site check is available from the userlist window.
  • Added: Greyscale colour scheme for the textbox.
  • Added: Option to install APHont Font, a font developed specifically for low vision readers
  • By American Printing House. The font can be chosen from settings to make the Hosts clearer
  • To read for low vision users. Full download needed.
  • Minor tweaks: Several graphical tweaks to various forms.
  • – Icon on main form now shows by default. See Help file under ‘Change Settings’.
  • – A space is added after 0.0.0.0 or 127.0.0.1 when hitting the return key in the main textbox
  • If HostsCK is set to add those automatically.
  • – The main textbox fore colour should stay as the chosen fore colour when editing.
  • – If using the default MVPS Hosts, the updated info is highlighted slightly if using the
  • Default colour scheme.

New in HostsCK 2.1.7.0 (Aug 13, 2018)

  • This update includes the following:
  • Fixed: Not all comments were being removed if Show Comments was
  • disabled in settings.
  • Improved: HostsCK does not need restarting when switching between
  • showing and hiding comments.
  • Added: HostsDE. A small program that can run in the system tray and
  • provides quick access to disabling or enabling the Hosts file.
  • Removed: Removed “Delete Saved Sites” from textbox right-click menu.
  • Corrected: The correct German language code (DE) is now used and
  • shown in the installer.
  • Updated: All language files.
  • Updated: Help file.

New in HostsCK 2.1.6.0 (Aug 2, 2018)

  • Saving a selected site to the saved list now works as expected.
  • In some cases the saved list file was getting locked and could not be written to.
  • If language file updates are essential they will be downloaded when HostsCK is updated.
  • There is now an option to download the help file from the settings dialog.
  • Full view mode added. Full view hides everything on the HostsCK window except for the textbox. While in full view, HostsCK can be resized.

New in HostsCK 2.1.5.0 (Jul 29, 2018)

  • Hosts now shows as Read Only when saving after restoring a backup.
  • HostsCK checks that it is being run with administrator privileges earlier
  • in code.
  • GetIP text colouring happens much faster.
  • The default colour scheme has been changed to a more modern look.
  • The main window colour has been changed to compliment the new default
  • colour scheme.

New in HostsCK 2.1.4.0 (Jul 26, 2018)

  • Fixed: Correct language is shown in the status strip when reverting to an original Hosts.
  • Improved: The Tooltips in the Hosts Info form appear quicker and last longer.
  • Requested by Pev04, Mike66, LonelyTony and Liz.
  • Other: Completing the switch from the old English only HostsCK to the multi-language.
  • HostsCK now gives the option to update the language files or not if a program update
  • is available. This brings it in line with the new installer which gives a choice to install
  • language files.
  • Other: Emailing using the “Email with bugs or suggestions” menu item now includes how
  • much available memory there is on the users system if the user chooses to include
  • this information in the email. This can help me when a problem is reported.
  • Other: The update information displayed when checking for program updates has links
  • back to the posts on redisoft.uk which often have more information on the update.

New in HostsCK 2.1.3.0 (Jul 25, 2018)

  • HostsCK will now make a couple of checks to determine if a new program update is
  • available. Hopefully this will help prevent the problem some users experienced in
  • future. See Here
  • Tweaked the logic used to check for language file updates and the date which any
  • language files were updated will be stored in HostsCK.ini.
  • Fixed a couple of spelling mistakes in the English language file.
  • The language file editor now includes an option to view the English language file.
  • Uninstalling HostsCK now does a better job of not enabling the DNS Cache Service
  • if the user chooses not to enable it.
  • The program installer now gives the choice whether to install German or Russian
  • languages.
  • HostsCK English only install has been discontinued.

New in HostsCK 2.1.2.0 (Jul 23, 2018)

  • While testing on a virtual machine a bug was found that prevented HostsCK checking for program updates. While this seemed to only happen on virtual machines the bug has been fixed anywa
  • The correct wording is now shown when downloading a program update.