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Things to do to Improve your Internet Surfing Experience

This info is intended primarily for Windows computers - not for MAC, UNIX, Linux, etc. But some of these tricks (like editing the hosts file) will work across platforms.

Install AdSubtract
Install PopupStopper
Block known Ad Servers
Switch from Netscape to Mozilla(?)
Tighten your Browser's Security

  1. Install AdSubtract to remove many of the annoying ads. It is available for free download. Make sure you get the Standard Edition which is free. Note that AdSubstract may interfere with certain download/updates such as from McAfee or other anti-virus vendors. If you find that a download/update is failing, right-click on the AdSubtract icon in the tray next to the time, then click Exit and retry your download/update.

  2. Install PopupStopper to prevent annoying popup ads. It is available for free download. Make sure you get the FREE Edition. You will probably want to enable a sound to indicate a popup has been closed in case you really do want to see a popup. If you actually want to see a popup, hold down the Ctrl key when you click the link that causes a popup window to appear.

  3. You can kill some of the most annoying and bandwidth hogging ads by adding the following entries to your hosts file:

    The hosts file can usually be found on Win/NT/2000/XP at

    The hosts file can usually be found on Win/95/98/ME at

    Use NotePad to edit the hosts file - you can just cut and paste the above.

    The address 127.0.0.1 is a bogus address within your own computer, so attempts to download anything from the above known advertising sites will result in only a text message of "Network error Unable to request URL from host www.blah.blah.com Connection refused" rather than wasting a lot of time downloading an ad you don't care about with possible Active-X or Java weirdness. For an even more complete hosts file, click here.

    Notes for Netscape and Mozilla users

    If you use Netscape 6.x or 7.x or Mozilla prior to 1.2, you should use 216.238.35.206 instead of 127.0.0.1 for all except the line "localhosts" above. The IP 216.238.35.206 is a "safe address" on the web where no offending ads will be found. You will be using some bandwidth to access 216.238.35.206 but it will definitely be less than the ads would use.

    Better still (see the following) ...

  4. If you are using Netscape 6.x or 7.x or Mozilla prior to 1.2, you might want to conside upgrading to Mozilla 1.2.1 or later. This will give you a much more user friendly program. Then add the following line to your prefs.js file:

    Then you can use 127.0.0.1 in your hosts file and no bandwidth will be consumed in blocking these ads.

    Furthermore, in Mozilla if you go to the Edit > Preferences menu item and double-click Advanced (or single click the little + sign next to Advanced) and then click Scripts & Plugins, you can uncheck

    and prevent most popups without needing PopupStopper.

    The downside of Mozilla is that its email client is much less reliable than the Netscape 4.7x email client. You also have to install a separate spelling checker from http://www.mozillazine.org/talkback.html?article=2677.

  5. Nothing ruins a surfing expreience like wiping out - tighten the security of your browser. Also you can set your Browser's Preferences to enhance your experience; click here to see how I set Internet Explorer's Advanced Options, click here to see how I set key Mozilla options.

 For an even more complete hosts file, click here 2002/11/30
 hosts file from "how to make the internet not suck (as much)"
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Leigh Brasington / / Revised 05 Jan 03