Microsoft Blocking Ads in Microsoft Edge via the HOSTS file

[vissha]

Blocking Ads in Microsoft Edge via the HOSTS file

What? You thought ditching the TV also applied to ads?

What happens when you get a new toy car, but the doors, trunk, and hood won't open, wheels won’t turn, and isn’t fitted with a little motor to give it some momentum, unlike your other toy cars do? Well, you either find an excuse to get rid of it, or find a way to adapt it.

To better understand the above, just replace the new toy car you got with Microsoft Edge, and the others in your collection with the other web browsers you’re familiar with, even Internet Explorer. There’s no need to waste time, nor precious space to refill you in on what Microsoft did, or did not (yet) include in its brand-new browser, so we’re going to cut to the chase.

A considerable convenience when riding the information superhighway is to have an Ad blocker nearby, just in case you don’t want to bump into any annoying banners, pop-ups, or whatever it is that acts like bad TV commercials.

Since Microsoft Edge isn’t yet able to support extensions, AdBlock Plus and other such solutions can’t be used. However, we wouldn’t be writing this whole article if there weren’t any methods to force Edge into blocking ads.

Editing the HOSTS file

Windows doesn’t recognize websites and domains by their URL, as you do, but rather by their Internet address, like the mailman delivers correspondence by street address and house number, not by people's names.

The HOSTS file is responsible for this task, and can be used to block websites and domains you consider dangerous or don’t want any other user on your computer to be able to access.

Tip: Discover the Default and Third-Party Apps to Edit the Windows HOSTS File.

Since we brought this up, you need to know that ads can be blocked in a similar way, but doing all the work by yourself is a task that requires too much effort not to quickly give up and look for alternatives.

Luckily, someone already thought of this trick some time back, and created a HOSTS file specially designed for this task. It’s frequently updated with new entries, and you can download and find more about MVPS HOSTS here. Now, we’re just going to go through what it takes to make it work.

1. a. Go to this location:

   C:\WINDOWS\System32\drivers\etc

   b. Copy the hosts file (it has no extension) to a secure location to have a backup, in case you ever want to revert changes.

2. Download the zip archive from the MVPS HOSTS website linked above.

3. Extract content, and place the HOSTS file in the directory mentioned above. If you’re asked for overwrite confirmation, click Yes.

   Tip: Learn How to Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows in case you’re not allowed to overwrite the HOSTS file.

   Note: A HOSTS file larger than 135 KB usually slows down the computer, but there is a way this can be solved by disabling the DNS Client service.

   Default HOSTS File:

   

   Large HOSTS File:

4. Press Win + R in order to look for, and run services.msc.
5. Scroll down until you see the DNS Client service, and double-click it to access its properties.
   

   Tip: You can click the Name column header to sort in alphabetical order for easier identification.

6. From the Startup Type drop-down menu, choose Manual. Now, press the Stop button. Hit Apply and OK to confirm changes.

Now, whenever you go online using Microsoft Edge, banners and other kind of ads no longer show up. Instead, the banner is replaced with a message that lets you know the specific page can’t be reached. However, pop-ups still show up, but the built-in component should normally handle this, in most cases anyway.

Third-party alternatives

One method is to install Adguard Web Filter, which supports Microsoft Edge and other browsers as well. It’s easy to set up, sitting mostly in the system tray, and doesn’t attach itself to the web browser.

Another similar application is AdFender, and you can read more about it at the link provided, where you also find download links. Unlike Adguard Web Filter, this one also comes with a standard, free edition that is enough for basic ad blocking. Just make sure to bring up the main window from the tray icon in order to select all filters for better chances at blocking unwanted ads.

Important Note: AdFender relies on its own proxy connection, which might make some web pages difficult to respond. This can be disabled from the Settings panel under Network & Internet. From there, switch to Proxy on the left pane, and under Manual Proxy Setup, make sure the Use a Proxy Server option is Off. However, doing so disables the functionality of AdFender.

On an ending note

The thing is, the sole purpose of ads is not to annoy you, but some, if not most websites out there rely on advertising in order to further sustain functionality. For all you know, some ads can even come up with offers you might really benefit from. However, if a clean navigation is all you need, then these methods are sure to help, given you’re fond of Microsoft’s web browser.

Source

[RejZoR]

Why bother with stupid non-flexible HOSTS if you can use AdBlock in Firefox/Chrome that is million times better? Edge is an outdated junk no one gives a flying fart about. It may be fast, but that's like having a Ferrari with no steering wheel. All the speed without control is pointless.

[vissha]

Why bother with stupid non-flexible HOSTS if you can use AdBlock in Firefox/Chrome that is million times better? Edge is an outdated junk no one gives a flying fart about. It may be fast, but that's like having a Ferrari with no steering wheel. All the speed without control is pointless.

I too agree and I won't use Edge in my life. However, for those who use it, I'm just helping them by posting this thread.

[steven36]

HOSTS files can easily be got around by people who make ads .Ad guard is not free and AdFender don't work for https sites its best to avoid Microsoft browsers tell they get add-ons Edge will get add-ons they say around the summer of 2016.. It still don't stop them from collecting you're data though edge does it ?

[jbleck]

using a custom HOSTS file is/means:

• not system heavy
• not flexible (it's a good thing)
• bandwidth healthy
• one of the security layers that one should have (some of the others: firewall, real time antimalware, on demand antimalware, ad block, virtual environment, eyes, etc.)

---

why "in Microsoft Edge" only (as the title says)? ... it's not like this does't affect the other browsers or apps that are using the WWW

[steven36]

Host blocking ads has been around along time for other browsers like IE but they have ways to get around them.


Hosts file and DNS manipulation

Most operating systems, even those which are aware of the Domain Name System (DNS), still offer backwards compatibility with a locally administered list of foreign hosts. This configuration, for historical reasons, is stored in a flat text file that by default contains very few hostnames and their associated IP addresses.

Editing this hosts file is simple and effective because most DNS clients will read the local hosts file before querying a remote DNS server. Storing blackhole entries in the hosts file prevents the browser from accessing an ad server by manipulating the name resolution of the ad server to a local or nonexistent IP address (127.0.0.1 or 0.0.0.0 are typically used for IPv4 addresses).

While simple to implement, these methods are also very easy to circumvent. One method to circumvent this form of ad filtering is to load ads from servers with hard coded IP addresses, thus skipping name resolution altogether. Another method to evade this form of filtering is to load the advertisements from a server which also serves the main content; blocking name resolution of this server would also block the useful content of the site.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad_blocking

Its just like using Ad-fender it only will block some ads ... Maybe you could try both ? :lol:

[212eta]

Myth - "Special AntiSpyware Hosts Files are necessary to prevent Spyware infections."

Reality - "Using Special AntiSpyware Hosts Files are a waste of time and leads to a false sense of security.

Any Malware/Spyware can easily modify the Hosts File at will, even if it is set to Read-only.

It is impossible to "lock-down" a Hosts File unless you are running as a limited user which

makes using it in this case irrelevant anyway.

Various Malware/Spyware uses the Hosts File to redirect your Web Browser to other sites.

They can also redirect Windows to use a Hosts File that has nothing to do with the one you keep updating.

When cleaning Malware/Spyware from a PC, it is much easier to check a clean Hosts File

than one filled with thousands of lines of addresses.

Considering how easily a Hosts File can be exploited, redirected and potentially block good sites,

it is strongly recommended NOT to waste time using Special Hosts Files."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Large Hosts Files

"Large Hosts Files cause Internet related slowdowns due to DNS Client Server Caching.

This negatively effects your browsing speed. AntiSpyware Hosts File authors irresponsibly

recommend disabling the DNS Client Service to solve this problem.

This is not a solution.

The overall performance of the client computer decreases and the network traffic for

DNS queries increases if the DNS resolver cache is deactivated.

This effectively reduces Internet Performance for sites you have previously

visited and puts an unnecessary load on your ISP's DNS server."

Source

[jbleck]

Myth - "Special AntiSpyware Hosts Files are necessary to prevent Spyware infections."

Reality - "Using Special AntiSpyware Hosts Files are a waste of time and leads to a false sense of security.

Any Malware/Spyware can easily modify the Hosts File at will, even if it is set to Read-only.

It is impossible to "lock-down" a Hosts File unless you are running as a limited user which

makes using it in this case irrelevant anyway.

Various Malware/Spyware uses the Hosts File to redirect your Web Browser to other sites.

They can also redirect Windows to use a Hosts File that has nothing to do with the one you keep updating.

When cleaning Malware/Spyware from a PC, it is much easier to check a clean Hosts File

than one filled with thousands of lines of addresses.

Considering how easily a Hosts File can be exploited, redirected and potentially block good sites,

it is strongly recommended NOT to waste time using Special Hosts Files."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Large Hosts Files

"Large Hosts Files cause Internet related slowdowns due to DNS Client Server Caching.

This negatively effects your browsing speed. AntiSpyware Hosts File authors irresponsibly

recommend disabling the DNS Client Service to solve this problem.

This is not a solution.

The overall performance of the client computer decreases and the network traffic for

DNS queries increases if the DNS resolver cache is deactivated.

This effectively reduces Internet Performance for sites you have previously

visited and puts an unnecessary load on your ISP's DNS server."

Source

too much of anything good becomes bad no matter what... this article will most likely be ignored by pros and u shouldn't scare the ones that are actually reading this.

basically this article directs people towards the MVPS.org hosts file (which isn't large in my opinion... btw... what is considered large in this situation?) and hints towards software dedicated specifically on blocking ads (it doesn't say that this solution alone is the way to deal with Spyware)... no need to go extreme here (it doesn't mean that your statement is wrong).

[Karlston]

Or you can block the ad serving domains in your router instead. Look for "Parental Controls" or "Access Restrictions" (Tomato).

That way the ads are blocked for ALL devices using the Internet connection, not just one Windows PC. Like the HOSTS file, only complete domains can be blocked.

Another way is to have say, a Raspberry Pi 2 running a web proxy (Privoxy is excellent) and all browsers using it. It functions like AdBlock Plus and its companion "Element Hiding Helper for AdBlock Plus" combined.

[steven36]

Even if you took the time to go trough MPVs host , hpHosts’ Ad and tracking servers‎ and Dan Pollock’s hosts file‎ and added them to a router or a firewall i tested these in my ad blocker before and i never use them because there full of false positives and break many web sites... you would have to dig thorough them to remove bad rules and also if a site uses anti adblock you would have to dig trough and remove sites to access them.. because there's no anti adblock killer for host files block . there's a reason most people only use ad-blocking add-ons and software . :P

[straycat19]

So many experts (ex is a has been and spurt is a drip under pressure) with no basis for any of their conclusions. What we use to say is that must be your ass speaking because your mouth wouldn't say such things. But then I don't claim to be an expert. But security is always is multi-faced beast on any computer system. Not just hosts file, but a firewall, group policy, and ublock0 are used to secure the system. Notice I say nothing about AV or other security software since it isn't needed if you truly know your computer and operating system. Too many script kiddies around that expect people to write software or scripts for them since they know absolutely nothing about programming or OS kernels. Disgusting.

[212eta]

"When cleaning Malware from a PC,

it is much easier to check

a clean Hosts File [i.e. a small-sized one ]

than

one filled with thousands of lines of addresses."

XP Myths

[212eta]

'Smart' boys disable many Windows Services,

because they believe that

they will boost their System Performance.

At the end, they only cripple Windows :duh:

without any substantial Performance gain. :frusty:

If these guys

are Not Windows experts for you,

then, there is nothing more to add. :hi:

[jbleck]

where have u seen "disable many Windows Services" and "substantial Performance gain" in my posts here?

as i've said... ignores or tries to degrade the grey area and sees only black or white/what he wants in the end (this is valid for their fanboys too).

[thunderpants]

Most disabling is done for security reasons anyway ,no ?

[Kalju]

I use no matter what, but not Edge.

[HX1]

Was wondering..

I have found list of rules for blocking and I have found lists of IP's to block...BUT does anyone know where a list of url's of adservers exists.. Something I can put into my router..

I have an R8000 and the blocking is good.. BUT I have to enter these in line by line and they are URL's.. a list in that confguration would be good for router entries of that type...

( Would be nice if the firmware supported some other way of doing it too )