Using a modified Hosts file

[chrisgti]

Hi there,

Not too sure if this is quite the right place for this but here goes...

I act as the systems admin for the company I work for.

One thing that i'm wanting to introduce is a modified hosts file to tackle the problem with spyware.

However, when I add the new hosts file to some machines, it makes no difference and ads are still showing.

This is puzzling me - it works just fine on my machine on the same network, and it's exactly the same file.

I added the line "127.0.0.1 www.google.co.uk" to test it (if its calling the hosts file then it wont work) but google still shows on some machines. I'm pretty puzzled, it seems as though the hosts file is being ignored.

What can i do to resolve the matter?

Thanks in advance

[Greenstead]

You're sure its not just calling up the google page from the PC cache ? Clear the cache.

I don't think you can fix the problem with the Hosts file or it will be rather large and unmanagable, not to mention ever changing. Why not get Microsoft anti-spyware on all PCs. (Free).

[chrisgti]

Cleared the cache, made no difference.

Microsoft AntiSpyware is good yes, but the less end user involvement in the process the better, and less to go wrong. People will be calling me every five minutes telling me how theres "a popup box on their screen and what should they do about it." I'ts also a bit of a drain on system performance when it's active, plus it's only free for 40 days.

I have been using the hosts file myself for months now, and it's very good. I think it's better to tackle the problem before it gets onto our machines rather than deal with it afterwards!

Certainly is strange, the first point of call is the hosts file so I can't understand why it's working on my machine in the office but nobody elses..

Thanks anyway

[Sooner Al]

...may or may not be of help...

http://tinyurl.com/9d9e7

Otherwise here is the whole search result...

http://tinyurl.com/7s7cu

[chrisgti]

That certainly is worth a try, thanks for that!

One question though, in Internet Explorer, what do the LAN Settings actually refer to, as I have not altered these before.

Our LAN has a static IP scheme, would altering that setting have any effect on that?

Thanks.

[chrisgti]

Well I have had a look at settings on the other machines and I now know why it doesnt work..

...Some of the machines are set to use a Proxy, which is the company ExoServer. I turned this off as a test, and the hosts file kicked in.

I am now seeking further advice from the vendors as to why only some machines have this setting!

Thanks Sooner Al, I probably wouldn't have noticed that.

Well, you do learn something new every day.

Have a gold star

[chrisgti]

Well the issue is officially resolved now!

The combination of an incorrect Default Gateway and unnecessary use of a Proxy was causing the issue's that I discovered.

I'm glad to report that I have now altered these settings and things are working as they should be.

Many thanks!

[Sooner Al]

...you found and fixed the problem and thanks for the feedback. That just may help someone else in the future...

Later...