For the longest time the first thing which I installed on new computers / computers I was asked to “help with” was the MVP hosts file (archive.org link). I credit this file with keeping many, many computers safe and running they way their owners intended to for almost two decades now.
![](https://grey-panther.net/content/uploads/2022/09/noplace2.gif)
Sadly it seems like the maintainer might have passed sometime last year (or is at least gravely ill). From the page:
Folks … sorry for the delay (again) in getting out an update … just got out of the Hospital … I now have some severe health issues to deal with (complete Kidney failure … need a Kidney transplant) plus another operation … large needles inserted into my spine …however I will try to better maintain the MVPS HOSTS file. Well just got back from Hospital again (excessive water in lungs)
If you could … please consider a donation. Thanks to all that contributed … every little bit helps.
https://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.htm (archive.org link)
So, I donated – may it be of some use to them / their family! And I encourage to do the same if you benefited from this great file!
As for alternatives, there are several good ones:
- I now use nextdns.io on the machines/mobile devices I maintain
- pi-hole is also an alternative
- Specifically for Windows, HostsMan is a good software to manage/update hosts files
- Browser plugins like uBlockOrigin are also very useful
For the last decade it has been the case – and continues to be the case in my opinion – that ad/tracker blocking is the single most effective way to keep devices from being infected with all kinds of malware (and, it generally makes web browsing faster!)