I want to know if there's a way to control which sites can be browsed to on
my system _without_ purchasing software. I know there was a host file which
could be used to accellerate page loading by bypassing DNS lookup. I figure
there's a similar sytem to limit URL access.

Any advice is very much appreciated.

ConTactMe wrote:

And your system is.....?
You probably want to look at the Content Advisor. Internet Options;
Content tab (either in Control Panel or from the Tools menu in IE).
--
"But you should really mention your OS."

Content advisor requires that you assign a password, so when you do be sure
you write it down some place safe where you'll be able to find it if you
need it later.


"trout" <me2@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:bphe9e$1jid7p$1@ID-179272.news.uni-berlin.de...

"ConTactMe" <contactme@NOSPAMspvision.com> wrote in message
news:AMWub.9842$M31.189587@twister.tampabay.rr.com ...
instead of the correct one e.g
216.239.39.99 www.google.com
216.239.51.99 www.google.co.uk
would be

0.0.0.0 www.google.com
0.0.0.0 www.google.co.uk

You can always use 127.0.0.1 instead of 0.0.0.0 but a lot of people find
0.0.0.0 quicker.

Gaz

"trout" <me2@privacy.net> wrote in news:bphe9e$1jid7p$1@ID-179272.news.uni-
berlin.de:

Eh?

Most systems can make use of the hosts file. Tricky if you're on a network
and only one machine needs an edited hosts file.

Or they probably just need to learn how to use hosts.

Otis Wengatz wrote:

So, you're saying that he could just use a hosts file. Indeed, he
could.
This seems like an entirely logical thing to tell the person who asked
the question.
--
"I didn't."

"trout" <me2@privacy.net> wrote in news:bpirn7$1p7tqt$1@ID-
179272.news.uni-berlin.de:

I'm telling you because you offered platform specific advice, which may
or may not be usable by the op, when you could have offered platform
independant advice.

Of course, that's only if you know it, eh?

PS: many people have nntp clients that snip the sigs unread, so putting
any body text there is fuckwitted.

--

Otis Wengatz wrote:

And perhaps the OP may be interested in your opinion. I assure you,
I am not.

I'm quite familiar with hosts files, thank you. If, for whatever
reason, I omitted this information from my reply to the OP; I am still
entirely disinterested in your advice. There was no reason to append my
post other than to be pointedly annoying; at which you are seemingly
adept. Reply to the OP.
And yet more unsolicited advice. I don't give a damn what you read,
or not. And, once more, I care even less about your opinion.
--
"I assume this 'Go fuck yourself' won't offend you, then."

Sorry, I was tired and frustrated, forgetting important information. I am
using WinXP on two systems, and need to block certain sites, particularly
chat sites and IM from AOL and others. It's causing, er, shall we say
"disturbances". It's plain annoying, too. I wasn't sure if the content
advisor would be sufficient or if I needed to play with other stuff. I knew
the host file was good for speeding up load time, but I'm more concerned
with stopping loading of certain pages altogether.

Thanks for any additional advice.


"trout" <me2@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:bphe9e$1jid7p$1@ID-179272.news.uni-berlin.de...

ConTactMe wrote:

For the Instant Messaging; are you talking about the IM programs
themselves? If so, there a reason that you can't disable or uninstall
them?
As for other sites you want to block; add them to your existing
Hosts file as Gareth mentioned. This works exactly the same way as the
other entries; except that you'd be 'misdirecting' them.
0.0.0.0 obviously goes nowhere; and 127.0.0.1 directs the request back
to your local machine.
Now, this will prevent the pages from downloading; but if you have
sites that are opening 'by themselves' (I can't tell from your post),
I'd be concerned about ad/spyware. If *this* is the case, I'd recommend
running both:

Spybot Search & Destroy
<http://security.kolla.de/>

Ad-Aware
<http://www.lavasoftusa.com/>
(freeware)
--
"Good luck."

I think I understand how to use the host file for "misdirecting" browsing
activity. Some chat sites pop-up their own windows, so it sounds as if I'll
have some difficulty in blocking those.

Thanks again.


"trout" <me2@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:bpj9q4$1q4r81$1@ID-179272.news.uni-berlin.de...

ConTactMe wrote:

Sure. From the sound of it; you probably just need a decent pop-up
stopper. You don't have to look far in the group to see a bunch of
recommendations for those.
(Since the new version; I've found that all I've needed to use was the
Google Toolbar; which I had installed, already.)

On Thu, 20 Nov 2003 20:02:44 GMT, "ConTactMe" <contactme@NOSPAMspvision.com>
wrote:

|> Sorry, I was tired and frustrated, forgetting important information. I am
|> using WinXP on two systems, and need to block certain sites, particularly
|> chat sites and IM from AOL and others. It's causing, er, shall we say
|> "disturbances".

I used to run a 8 line chat board (BBS) pre-publicInternet,
can't pry em off huh

Have you checked out ZoneAlarm? This should solve your problem and there is a
free version.
--
,,
( "> w
,(> )>| Lottery: A tax on people who aren't good at math.
( ^^ '

Thanks. This seems to be a great idea.

"trout" <me2@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:bpj9q4$1q4r81$1@ID-179272.news.uni-berlin.de...

ConTactMe wrote:

Indeed, it is. If you look around, there are a number of places that
have prepared lists of 'known unwanted' Hosts file entries.
Some software adds a list of this type automatically; like Spybot
S&D, when you use the "immunize" feature.
--
"Another good reason to use it."

ConTactMe said:

I have a hosts file with 13,000+ entries on ny software page.
If you find sites you don't want to block getting blocked, just check to see if
there is an entry in this file.
If I remember correctly, you may need to remove one or two for yahoo or it
messes with yahoo mail.


--
www.absey-vine.co.uk/
freeware, helpdesk, ad-aware mirror

(snip)

"trout" <me2@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:bpj9q4$1q4r81$1@ID-179272.news.uni-berlin.de...