A text file in a Unix network that provides name resolution of host names to IP addresses. In years past, HOSTS files, which contain a host name and corresponding IP address on each line, were placed on clients and servers and manually updated. HOSTS files have long since given way to network-based naming systems such as DNS; however, they are still used with specific machines to override such naming systems for testing purposes and special situations. See DNS and LMHOSTS file.
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2009 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- SimpleWget 0.9 (Mac)
- SimpleWget is a Cocoa front end for GNU Wget, a great UNIX download tool. You can do recursive downloading, specify file type to get(like .jpg only, .gif only...and so on), span hosts, read URLs from a text file. GNUWget-1.8.2 Installer Package for Mac OS X is also available at the...
- Software downloads 2009-11-16
- High-risk flaw dings Google Chrome
- no NoScript..No Google Chromethis is one of the reasons i don't want to get near this browser. Till Google wakes up and builds an add-on support for Adblock and NoScript, then and only then i might give it a try.Chrome wont even give me the Option to manually disable Scripting....
- Discussion threads 2009-11-06
- Selected testers get new build of Microsoft Security Essentials
- Protect the hosts fileThe protection of the hosts file from malicious modification could do with some improvement. I ran a number of tests and things fell through the cracks. See Testing Microsoft Security Essentials and the Hosts file http://blogs.computerworld.com/14971/testing_microsoft_security_essentials_and_the_hosts_fileRE: Selected testers get new build of Microsoft Security EssentialsMake it catch...
- Discussion threads 2009-10-24
- A-squared HiJackFree 3.1.0.22 (Windows)
- A-squared HiJackFree is a detailed system analysis tool which helps advanced users to detect and remove all types of hijackers, spyware, adware, trojans, and worms. Manage all types of Autoruns on your system, Explorer and Browser plug-ins (BHOs, Toolbars). Running processes and their associated modules, control all Services, even those...
- Software downloads 2009-10-16
- Windows 7 demo: Window management
- You missed a couple of gestures!You missed a couple of gestures!1. Hover your mouse over the small vertical rectangle box at the extreme right hand side of your taskbar and you get a ghost of all your open windows. This is great when you have lots of windows / programs...
- Discussion threads 2009-09-30
- AB Commander 7.3 (Windows)
- AB Commander is a powerful yet easy to use tool that lets you manage your files and folders using the convenient dual-panel user interface pioneered in Norton Commander, while maintaining close integration with the standard Windows shell. AB Commander has the following features: The main window of AB Commander hosts...
- Software downloads 2009-09-25
- Microsoft Security Essentials or Forefront: Which should a Windows user choose?
- Free for business use?Interesting... According to this table, MCE can be used in servers (2008 R2) and, since there is nothing in contrary, it seems that is also free for use by businesses - most of the other free offerings (Avast, AVG...) are only free for non-commercial use.RE: Microsoft Security...
- Discussion threads 2009-09-14
- The ultimate guide to scareware protection
- Throughout the last two years, scareware fake security software, quickly emerged as the single most profitable monetization strategy for cybercriminals to take advantage of. Due to the aggressive advertising practices applied by the cybercrime gangs, thousands of users fall victim to the scam on a daily...
- Blog posts 2009-09-13
- SharewarePublisher 1.2 (Mac)
- SharewarePublisher is a software submission tool and PAD file generator for Mac OS X. Developed specifically for software developers, vendors and media specialists alike, SharewarePublisher makes submitting software applications to leading software listing sites and repositories incredibly easy. SharewarePublisher ships with almost 200 preconfigured shareware sites, with carefully hand tuned...
- Software downloads 2009-09-10
- AggreGate Network Manager for Windows 4.30.01 (Windows)
- AggreGate Network Manager is an enterprise-grade network management and monitoring platform. It tightly integrates with other smart building management systems, such as physical access control, HVAC, lighting, and time/attendance control. The system has common scalable architecture based on the core of AggreGate Device Management Platform, providing unique abilities for...
- Software downloads 2009-09-09
- DEKSI Network Monitor 8.2 (Windows)
- DEKSI Network Monitor is an advanced, powerful, and multi-featured network device monitor which enables you to learn when a device is available as well as the time it became unavailable or out of service. This will enable the network administrator or IT Management staff to be pro-active in responding to...
- Software downloads 2009-09-02
- Expert Data Miner 1.50 (Windows)
- Flexible and fast interactive log analyzer. With EDM you can add/remove columns each report but also create your own ones (you define the target, the operand and the column header), combine many filters on visitors or lines with and/or conditions, get conversion rates for keywords/engines/Web sites even if a visitor...
- Software downloads 2009-08-30
- Symantec airs dirty Web sites in public
- Next stepRemove them from the DNS and be done with it.I "Blacklist" many web sites on my local "hosts" file ... especially when they continuously serve pop-ups.Just making this list public doesn't help the average naive web usere stay safe they probably have no idea that this list exists.Stronger measures...
- Discussion threads 2009-08-20
- BacklinkSpeed 1.1 (Windows)
- BacklinkSpeed is the easiest way to submit your web site to over 33 backlink sites and directories, instantly giving a jumpstart to your traffic and immediate visibility to the search engines. BacklinkSpeed submits directly to a large variety of domain, whois, and DNS statistic web sites, including whois.domaintools.com, hosts-file.net, aboutus.org,...
- Software downloads 2009-08-04
- SSHPro 3.4 (Windows)
- SSHPro is an SSH client for Windows for logging onto and executing commands on a remote host. It replaces Telnet, Rlogin, and RSH, whilst providing a secure communication between hosts over an insecure network. SSH provides a secure encrypted communication channel between 2 untrusted hosts over an insecure network. SSHPro...
- Software downloads 2009-07-26
- Windows Server 2008 R2 Releases to Manufacturing
- Windows Server 2008 R2, which released to manufacturing today, July 22nd, 2009, contains major functionality improvements in virtualization and networking over the previous version. This afternoon, Microsoft has announced the Release to Manufacturing RTM of Windows Server 2008 R2, which incorporates many hundreds...
- Blog posts 2009-07-22
- Remote code execution exploit for Firefox 3.5 in the wild
- A zero day exploit (Firefox 3.5 Heap Spray Vulnerability) affecting Mozilla's latest Firefox release has been published in the wild. Through an error in the processing of JavaScript code in 'font tags' malicious attackers could achieve arbitrary code execution and install malware on the affected hosts....
- Blog posts 2009-07-14
- PE Ftp Explorer 7.5 (Mobile)
- Built on the quality and success of PE File Explorer, PE Ftp Explorer adds standard Ftp capabilities and eliminates the hassle of memorizing all the arcane commands. Now the remote file transfering and browsing is just a few clicks away!First of all, PE Ftp Explorer is a fully functional file...
- Software downloads 2009-07-10
- Phazer 1.0 (Windows)
- Phazer is a small traffic generator which helps you testing your own network and stability of your Web or homeserver. Perfect for Webmasters and hosts. Simply enter a path to a file on a server and Phazer generates traffic between you and the server using the file you entered. Phazer...
- Software downloads 2009-06-16
- Email of the day: How should I respond?
- Email of the day: How should I respond?A brief response..."Before issuing an apoplogy, perhaps you could provide a better solution for keeping YouTube viable while it is loosing 150+ million dollars a year."Simply put, unless the author of the letter is a billionare willing to fund free YouTube usage him/herself,...
- Discussion threads 2009-06-15
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