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February 8, 2008, Newsletter Issue #49: What is a "Host File"?
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Tip of the Week
A host file is a file that acts like an telephone book online. The host file contains website addresses and their corresponding IP Address or "telephone number". A Host File would contain information that would look much like this:
209.85.135.99 www.google.com
When you type in a website address in your Internet browser your host file is accessed to see if you have the corresponding IP Address or "telephone number". If you do, then your browser loads the webpage or "dials the number". If your host file does not contain the information then your computer will consult with your Internet Service Provider "Host File" to locate the IP Address or "phone number" and bring up the site. Most times the Host File on your computer is blank therefore your computer frequently asks for the information from your ISP.
A way to block sites using your Host File is to enter the website address that you want to block and a fictitious IP Address to correspond with it. When someone tries to load that webpage in a browser, and your computer looks for the IP Address "phone number" to that website, it will try to load the IP Address of your computer and give an error message.
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