Editing the Hosts file
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This section describes highly technical features associated with how your computer locates the actual address of a Web site. The features described here will not damage your computer or remove anything you need if you enable them, but the underlying technology is complex if you are not aware of how IP addressing works.
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You can configure the Webroot software to continuously monitor several functions related to the Hosts file. The Hosts file is a Windows file that helps direct your computer to a Web site using Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. Your Web browser uses the IP address to actually connect to a site.
When you go to a Web site, your computer first looks in the Hosts file to see if it already knows where to go. If the domain (for example, webroot.com) is listed, your computer goes directly to the IP address listed in the Hosts file. If the domain is not in the Hosts file, your computer looks up the information from the Internet (a slightly slower process).
You can use the Hosts file to your advantage by routing certain domains, such as advertising sites, to a dead end. This will block tracking cookies and other monitoring programs. However, some spyware and adware will route (or “hijack”) certain domains to false addresses (for example, by making a commonly used search site open to a porn site).
Using the Webroot software to manage the Hosts file, you can block a lot of unwanted adware activity, while preventing your Web browsing from being hijacked. When the Webroot software detects activity related to the Hosts File shield, it displays an alert.
To edit the Hosts file:
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1.
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From the Shields/Network tab, click Hosts File Shield Options.
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The Edit Hosts File window opens, showing entries that you, your IT department, or potentially unwanted programs have added to your Hosts file. If you have the Common Ad Sites Shield turned on, it does not display the blocked ad sites.
The Webroot software compares the IP address of each entry in the Hosts file to the correct address on a domain name system (DNS) server. Any address that does not match and is not set to the local machine address (127.0.0.1) is flagged as possibly hijacked
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2.
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Select the entries you want to remove.
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3.
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Click Delete Selected.
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The Webroot software deletes the selected entries from your Hosts file.
