Author Topic: Changing of hosts file for a website, pl advise (Read 16203 times)

jraju · « **on:** August 04, 2016, 04:58:28 am »

Hi,
I had the problem of redirecting randomly to my service provider mail service , i mean randomly, . I asked for solution and nothing worked. I changed the Dns to google and OPen dns. The problem continued.
As per some suggestions found in the websites, i just added these websites, with the hosts file and took care to rename the original hosts file in c:windows\system32\drivers\etc.
I renamed the original as .bak file and copied the one to desktop , made those additions and again copied the same to the directory i mentioned above.
Now the problem seems to be not occuring.
My question is , is changing the hosts file risky. The annoyance of the site was experienced when i click a reply to be sent to some forum etc. The redirection would completely close the reply session and i could not find my typed words. Sometimes , it will not load, but after few seconds the redirection would go to the mail website.
Can i expect, a word from you , friends
I just added 127.0.0.1 name of the website, without www in the first line and withwww in the second line
PS: i would love to know, how the problem resolved the technical details about this 127 and the change i made. I just did as was in the net page

Samson · « **Reply #1 on:** August 04, 2016, 09:02:03 am »

By adding a website to your hosts file and giving it an IP address of 127.0.0.1 means that your PC will not look to get the IP address from your chosen DNS servers, instead it will loopback to the localhost, your computer. Windows checks the Hosts file for entries before querying your DNS servers.

Boggin · « **Reply #2 on:** August 04, 2016, 04:28:36 pm »

MS used to have a Fixit button to reset the Hosts file to default, but now it looks like you have to do it manually -

https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/kb/972034

Samson · « **Reply #3 on:** August 04, 2016, 04:32:11 pm »

Or use Shane's tool

http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/tweaking_com_repair_hosts_file.html

Boggin · « **Reply #4 on:** August 04, 2016, 04:40:26 pm »

Quote from: Samson on August 04, 2016, 04:32:11 pm

Or use Shane's tool

http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/tweaking_com_repair_hosts_file.html

I've been to Spec Savers

but I'll have to have a look at all of the tools Shane has created.

Samson · « **Reply #5 on:** August 04, 2016, 04:46:58 pm »

Quote from: Boggin on August 04, 2016, 04:40:26 pm

I've been to Spec Savers but I'll have to have a look at all of the tools Shane has created.

Many of his earlier standalone tools became part of WAIO repair, sadly no longer archived here, but MG has most of them

jraju · « **Reply #6 on:** August 04, 2016, 07:10:17 pm »

Hi, Samson,
So, should i understand that it will not look for that website, anymore, so my problem is solved? Please what is that 127.. means here.
So, can i add those sites which i do not want to disturb in the hosts file. Will it affect any kind of browsing through other sites and other web utilities.
I could have used Shane repair from AIO,, but there is no entry other than the default hosts file entries. I have to add the website, as it was randomly redirected by service provider.
I surfed thro net about this probem. The problems are reported but no solution . What the service provider says, once you switch on the modem, it will once check my connection and redirect to their commerical mail site, which has unwanted Rummy Play and a host of other commerical clicks, and then it will not distrub.
But actually it randomly, the time could not be guessed while browsing or replying, redirect to this particular website and stay there with no alert.
So, i thought of changing the dns. Not fixed.
Then on reading thro net, i came across this idea. Since other sites are not redirecting, i do not have any problem while sending replies or click a link.
Please explain

Still_Game · « **Reply #7 on:** August 04, 2016, 11:51:47 pm »

Quote from: Boggin on August 04, 2016, 04:40:26 pm

Quote from: Samson on August 04, 2016, 04:32:11 pm
Or use Shane's tool

http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/tweaking_com_repair_hosts_file.html

I've been to Spec Savers but I'll have to have a look at all of the tools Shane has created.

Still awaiting my Specsavers appointment but I think that Repair Hosts File is currently No 9 in the WR AIO list of repairs

- so no need to search further!

Samson · « **Reply #8 on:** August 05, 2016, 02:58:28 am »

J, yes you can add individual sites to your hosts file, this way they will loopback to your machine 127.0.0.1 without going via a DNS lookup.

You could use precompiled lists, such as the MVPS Hosts file direclty or indirectly using the filter list in another blocking program, uBlock Origin offers this very feature.

But, as your issue seems specific to your internet provider, then manual addition like you have done may be the only solution.

If the redirects occur when replying to an email link, then check in your browser settings that the correct email client or webmail is selected from the drop down menu. Enlosed screenshot is from Palemoon, but Firefox is the same

jraju · « **Reply #9 on:** August 05, 2016, 04:53:05 am »

Hi, Thanks Samson,
I looked in my firefox, in application tab. mailto is related to the outlook. Should i do something there? I have never used outlook and scary of using outlook, as it is eating away the previous emails.
What does this denote ?

Samson · « **Reply #10 on:** August 05, 2016, 05:18:41 am »

J, Just set it to whatever webmail you use from the list (Or click "other" then select) or choose what application you use (Like Thunderbird etc).

Left click on mailto to get the dropdown menu choices

jraju · « **Reply #11 on:** August 05, 2016, 05:27:59 am »

Thanks. I set it for gmail as i use only gmails to send emails.
That redirection problem is done by the service provider and numerous letters to him did not evince any response. So, i had to use the trick to add the site in my hosts file. Thanks once again

Samson · « **Reply #12 on:** August 05, 2016, 05:30:20 am »

J, You are welcome, hope it resolves your problem....Back to watch the cricket

jraju · « **Reply #13 on:** August 13, 2016, 11:22:04 pm »

Hi,
Now, i could see that the service provider mail is redirected, but as i had already added this address to the hosts file, the server not found error is returned . And on restart of firefox, my browser, the page loads without any problem.
Even hosts file change prevents the redirection to the site, and i think that this is the cure that could have with this. pl confirm.
Now, i do not have that page loading with rummy.com and other pestering ads and click button.
Hi, samson,
So, the host file definitely stops loading of the page, but it allows trying connection to the persistent redirection to the mail site? is that would be a server program to redirect to the website for adv purpose

Samson · « **Reply #14 on:** August 14, 2016, 04:30:13 am »

J, A quick DDG search shows endless complaints from BSNL users about this, seems to have been going on for a while too. Some argue it is unethical and others see it as just a general annoyance.

You have done what you can, blocked access, but the request will stilll be made.

http://telecomtalk.info/bsnl-redirecting-broadband-users-mail-bsnl-in/143602/

I guess you either live with it, hope BSNL change their ways, or move to another provider.

jraju · « **Reply #15 on:** August 15, 2016, 01:49:55 am »

Hi, S,
It is interesting that you have given the exact link, of service provider with out my naming it in previous posts.
It is also interesting that it redirects to the first http site and not on https sites. Further it has prompted me to know more about http and https.
I wrote a long reply, but while sending, it tried the redirection , and i lost all of my typed words
I will try to copy the words, and try to send to this website again.
i came to know about green padlock and all padlock icons in mozilla browser and browser is the main thing that is connecting to the server at the other end.
But i want to know, what if the site is shown as www. tweaking.com without http or https.
Moreover, some sites having long addresses, in search items, are hiding http or https in the address bar at the left of it. how to know about those.
Are there ways to show whether the site i visit is http or https.

Samson · « **Reply #16 on:** August 16, 2016, 04:06:01 am »

Quote from: jraju on August 15, 2016, 01:49:55 am

It is interesting that you have given the exact link, of service provider with out my naming it in previous posts.

Shows what a good search engine DDG is

Quote from: jraju on August 15, 2016, 01:49:55 am

Are there ways to show whether the site i visit is http or https.

DDG searches show the full site URL for searches, I guess Google does too? So you can tell from that.

Pale Moon shows the full URL in the address bar, does n't Firefox? If no padlock symbol is shown then it is plain http.

jraju · « **Reply #17 on:** August 16, 2016, 04:41:27 am »

Hi, Thanks. One more advice . Do you mean total DDG or DDG in firefox.

Samson · « **Reply #18 on:** August 16, 2016, 04:50:07 am »

Either from DDG main page or from within the browser.

DDG is the default search engine in Pale Moon

jraju · « **Reply #19 on:** August 16, 2016, 04:54:34 am »

Hi, It is new from you Pale Moon. Please say something about it.
I can surf, but knowing from one using would be better . I suppose, it is a browser like firefox. I have not surfed thro the net still for pale moon. Is it secure browsing with palemoon

Samson · « **Reply #20 on:** August 16, 2016, 05:42:17 am »

Pale Moon forked from Firefox a while back, it is now a browser in its own right, separate from Firefox.

I switched, from Firefox, quite a long time ago and have n't looked back

It is not for everyone, but that is personal choice I guess.

Yes it is safe to use http://www.palemoon.org/faq.shtml#Is_Pale_Moon_safe_to_use
Well suported with an active user forum.

There are versions for all, portable and installer, even XP and also for older hardware (non SSE2 processors), so retro geeks like me can still use it

jraju · « **Reply #21 on:** August 17, 2016, 04:42:36 am »

Hi, Thanks for the advice . Will try. But what about storing of history and unwanted access to privacy? Pl

Samson · « **Reply #22 on:** August 17, 2016, 04:54:03 am »

Easily set, see screenshot.

Also DDG does not track you unlike Google

jraju · « **Reply #23 on:** August 17, 2016, 06:26:11 am »

Hi, when i click the http link, the first time it tries to redirect to the mail page. but as it could not , problem loading pages appears. But , it again tries again randomly when you are at a middle of browsing or sending reply. If it is not loading , simply it tries for the third time .
So, would it be better to leave the first choice so that it does not trouble me again and then i could browse. It is total annoyance and no reply from higher authorities on this .
When i tried to download palemoon, it tries for the mail site, but after that when i downloaded, the speed was barely 13 kbs. But when i just closed it and downloaded again after pausing it and then retry in firefox, it took just few sconds for download. about 860kbs.
So, i think that it first tries to go to the page successfully.
If it is one time, i could start viewing forums after its first loading. Annoyance to the extreme .This will probably create negative impression on the ISP.

Samson · « **Reply #24 on:** August 17, 2016, 09:15:59 am »

Annoyance, it would drive me crazy and I'd dump BSNL for another provider, but I don't know how many choices of ISP that you have there. Perhaps, if people complain enough or leave, they will get the message and stop the redirect? Time will tell....

Until then, maybe you are right, connect to an http site and get the redirect out of the way at the start of each session so that your browsing remains uninterrupted. Or set http://mail.bsnl.in/ as your homepage

I wonder if it will try to rediect from its own http address? Using an adblocker it takes no time to load the site (see screenshot), and then you should be left alone.