Vista is on my 2# in line Computer i will try it on 3# (Windows XP Pro SP3)

Originally Posted by Cat-tranz

Vista is on my 2# in line Computer i will try it on 3# (Windows XP Pro SP3)

Ah, yes... that's right - you've got multiple systems!



(Cat, why the HECK do you have to live in the UK?)

Heh - I am GLAD I hit this site... you guys are "A-OK, by APK", by all means! I look forward to visiting more often...

(& here I was for a year now, avoiding heavy forums usage, so I could discharge other duties... oh well, just have to reallocate my time is all!)

APK

P.S.=> Figures though - this is LIFE! Dangling great things in front of me like carrots in front of a Donkey's nose, ever outta reach, lol... apk

Yes, I'd like to learn more, too.

Dave

Originally Posted by DaveMo~

Yes, I'd like to learn more, too.

Dave

Dave, I have to go secure a client's rig (extra COINS man)... have either Cat mail you the one I sent, OR, pop me an email & follow the directions noted on that last page!

(Works, bigtime, & you BOTH will notice it for speed... not so much for security, that is transparent to you & unnoticeable, but nevertheless it works for that too vs. bogusly javascripted sites & poisoned adbanners & more too)

Read inside it, it is FULLY internally documented, & easily editable via notepad.exe!

APK

P.S.=> I ship to folks like yourselves with my favs commented off, but they are there as examples to follow internal to the file... why?

Well, if you're like Cat, & in the UK? You MAY not get the same IP back from a PING as I do here in the states... so, I can't ship you it unedited.

NOW:

IF YOU SEE ADBANNERS THOUGH, & MINE DOESN'T BLOCK THEM? Simply "right click" on them in your webbrowser, get their URL (via the properties or image address popup menu item that comes up)

& add them to HOSTS using notepad.exe BUT, equating them to 0.0.0.0 instead of their true IP address (see inside the file, you will know what I mean).

Easy as pie!

HOWEVER, for the security part?

That is transparent & works vs. bogus sites & adbanners in its lists already!

(Since it uses the MOST efficient blocking structure address there is, in 0.0.0.0 vs. 127.0.0.1 (which works also, but over a large number of entries it becomes less efficient))

Simply math too... 55,000 entries that are 2 bytes less in size on the first "octet" (0 vs. 127) makes a large diff. & the file loads faster AND takes up less RAM too... you win, win, win.

Like one of my "intellectual/technical" heros, Nikola Tesla & his "tesla turbines"?

It actually, like a TESLA TURBINE, gets MORE EFFICIENT (than std. models like mvps.org has, my competitor here (not really)) the more entries & data you push thru it...

How's that, for a lesson? apk

Another thing that works, though you guys may NOT like it?

Turn off Java &/or JavaScript (especially this one), IFrames, + ActiveX controls usage, WHOLESALE, across ALL the sites you go to... why?

(Try it & see... you WILL surf much faster as well!)

Pretty simple reason WHY too - you're not downloading that data & not processing scripts you REALLY don't need to be running period... most only really give you "eye candy" (which is FINE, if you like that though).



* AND, more securely is how you'd surf as well...

See - between that tactic I am noting here, & the use of a custom HOSTS file?

Well, you are almost essentially "bulletproof" online today vs. today's threats!

-----

Simply going to sites like:

• Secunia.com

• SANS

• Packetstorm

• SRI

& others like them (security sites online) will clearly show you, that those tools in Java/Javacript/IFrames/ActiveX controls are being used to harm you... or worse, RIP YOU OFF!

-----

(Yes, they can be VERY useful, for sites that demand them for FULL functionality such as online banking &/or shopping sites for example - so, for those sites, leave them on as needed)

BUT, lately (past couple years now)?

Those tools are are being misused by groups like the "Russian Business Network" (RBN look them up online to verify my statement if need be) vs. your webbrowsers + email programs to poison/infect your systems that past few years now (even in adbanners).

-----

Some sites need them though, & you'll know which ones (such as online banking &/or shopping sites like Amazon/EBay etc.) they are because they will tell you so (or, refuse to work properly), & for those?

Well, leave it on!

-----

E.G.->

FireFox has the "NoScript" .xpi FREE addon that makes that a snap to do for sites you wish to make exceptions for these things, very easily.

Opera has that "built-in" natively, via first GLOBALLY disabling them wholesale (Tools menu, Quick Preferences menu)

(& then, right-clicking on the page on sites you wish to turn them on for once you're in the site's pages, & using the popup menu "Edit Site Preferences" item, to make THAT particular site, an exception to the rule).

* Enjoy... gotta run.

APK

P.S.=> Between using that custom HOSTS file I sent, & cranking off JavaScript/IFrames, Java, & ActiveX controls (IE only) in your webbrowsers, you will FLY online... that's a promise, & LITERALLY be "110% bugfree & bulletproof" @ least vs. webpage scripted exploits! apk

Dave, file has been sent your way... I do REALLY have to run now & finish up some work I was doing though!

APK

I sent you an email already and I'm in the U.S. Either way I get it, I'll check it out!

Edit: Just looked and I have your email. Thanks.

Dave

Originally Posted by DaveMo~

I sent you an email already and I'm in the U.S. Either way I get it, I'll check it out!

Edit: Just looked and I have your email. Thanks.

Dave

Excellent, & DO let me know how it goes...

I.E.-> Surf around to your fav. sites & even ones you don't ordinarily go to, & tell me if you note a speed of page/site load difference or not!

(Also - if you take the advice of turning off javascript in FF or Opera too? You will DEFINITELY see a performance increase in the speed of site page loads & more as well!)

NOTE:

IE is a PAIN THIS WAY THOUGH & will nag you to death, IF you turn off Javascript & such (@ least in IE6 & below, it's gotten a BIT better in IE7, due to the -extoff commandline switch for its shortcuts @ least)...

Also - be warned on IE - it's so ridden w/ security issues holes though, I'd recommend steering clear of it though, but... if you use it & like it? DON'T try the "turn off javascript/iframes/ActiveX stuff in it (or IE truly WILL "nag, nag, nag" to turn on scripting etc. (unlike other browsers)).

------

NOW, ADDED INFO. - If you have ANYTHING on some sites that doesn't "look or work right" again, let me know! This is EASILY fixable too, by commenting off the site's images servers that MAY be affected by this, adversely (use of HOSTS)...

See - sometimes, some sites like yahoo ones &/or ZDNet ones are "tied into" their adbanners servers for site imagery, in being served up from the SAME SERVERS!

(Which is, admittedly from a business standpoint, VERY smart on THEIR part!)

Why? Well - it quite LITERALLY, FORCES someone to accept their adbanners to see THEIR websites, right (if not also their tracking cookies too - all so they can SELL, SELL, SELL via tracking what you like & psychologically attacking that, by putting up banners of things you like so you "buy, buy, buy"... powerful weapon, mass marketers & their "jedi mind tricks").

This helps me too, this information (IF you run into it that is, you most likely WON'T as this file is a decade old now, with no complaints the past 5 yrs. or so on its internal lists doing that)... I'd ship it with any "phunny looking ones" taken out of it is why... so, it would be appreciated.

APK

P.S.=> Anyhow/anyways... there ya are, feedback's appreciated on these things... I'd turn the planet onto them IF I could... but, that's largely impossible! apk

A PRACTICAL REALWORLD EXAMPLE (today in fact, current news) OF WHY YOU WOULD WANT TO USE A HOSTS FILE FOR SECURITY:

Adobe Flash Zero-Day Attack Underway:

http://it.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/05/28/0138247

SALIENT POSTING EXCERPT (for your reference):

--------------------------------------------------
"Security researchers have found evidence of a previously unknown Adobe Flash vulnerability being exploited in the wild. The zero-day flaw has been added to the Chinese version of the MPack exploit kit and there are signs that the exploits are being injected into third-party sites to redirect targets to malware-laden servers. From the article: 'Continued investigation reveals this issue is fairly widespread. Malicious code is being injected into other third-party domains (approximately 20,000 web pages) most likely through SQL-injection attacks. The code then redirects users to sites hosting malicious Flash files exploiting this issue."
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* Amazing... the "S.O.B.'s" that create these things to foist upon helpless unsuspecting readers of websites, they're unbelievable! Even in adbanners the past few years now...

(Especially the "RBN" (Russian Business Network))

APK

P.S.=> The HOSTS file I have is currently something you can use to "proof" yourselves, vs. such threats in fact (in addition to speeding up your webbrowsing)... as I actively track this type of material & edit that HOSTS file of mine, nearly daily in fact, vs. such machinations... apk