stevenblack/hosts🔒 Consolidating and extending hosts files from several well-curated sources. Optionally pick extensions for porn, social media, and other categories.
> [!IMPORTANT] > **Cloning this repository can take a long time!** > You probably just want to start with the latest version, not its whole history since 2018. > **Therefore** you probably want to use `git clone --depth 1 ...` to save significant time. > [!NOTE] > With the exception of issues and PRs regarding changes to `hosts/data/StevenBlack/hosts`, all other issues regarding the content of the produced hosts files should be made with the appropriate data source that contributed the content in question. The contact information for all of the data sources can be found in the `hosts/data/` directory. ---  [](https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts/releases) [](https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts/blob/master/license.txt) [](https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts) [](https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts/graphs/contributors) [](https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts/actions/workflows/ci.yml?query=branch%3Amaster) [](https://github.com/python/black) [](https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts/commits/master) [](https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts/commits/master) [](https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts/commits/master) # Unified hosts file with base extensions This repository consolidates several reputable `hosts` files, and merges them into a unified hosts file with duplicates removed. A variety of tailored hosts files are provided. **Therefore this repository is a hosts file aggregator.**  - Last updated: **October 26 2026**. - Here's the [raw hosts file Unified hosts file with base extensions](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/StevenBlack/hosts/master/hosts) containing 74,480 entries.  ## List of all hosts file variants This repository offers [31 different host file variants](https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts/tree/master/alternates), in addition to the base variant, with and without the unified hosts included. The **Non GitHub mirror** is the link to use for some hosts file managers like [Hostsman for Windows](https://www.abelhadigital.com/hostsman/) that don't work with GitHub download links. | Host file recipe | Readme | Raw hosts | Unique domains | Non GitHub mirror | | ---------------- | :----: | :-------: | :------------: | :---------------: | Unified hosts = **(adware + malware)** | [Readme](https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts/blob/master/readme.md) | [link](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/StevenBlack/hosts/master/hosts) | 74,480 | [link](http://sbc.io/hosts/hosts) Unified hosts **+ fakenews** | [Readme](https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts/blob/master/alternates/fakenews/readme.md) | [link](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/StevenBlack/hosts/master/alternates/fakenews/hosts) | 77,067 | [link](http://sbc.io/hosts/alternates/fakenews/hosts) **fakenews** | [Readme](https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts/blob/master/alternates/fakenews-only/readme.md) | [link](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/StevenBlack/hosts/master/alternates/fakenews-only/hosts) | 2,187 | [link](http://sbc.io/hosts/alternates/fakenews-only/hosts) Unified hosts **+ gambling** | [Readme](https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts/blob/master/alternates/gambling/readme.md) | [link](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/StevenBlack/hosts/master/alternates/gambling/hosts) | 81,591 | [link](http://sbc.io/hosts/alternates/gambling/hosts) **gambling** | [Readme](https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts/blob/master/alternates/gambling-only/readme.md) | [link](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/StevenBlack/hosts/master/alternates/gambling-only/hosts) | 6,723 | [link](http://sbc.io/hosts/alternates/gambling-only/hosts) Unified hosts **+ porn** | [Readme](https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts/blob/master/alternates/porn/readme.md) | [link](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/StevenBlack/hosts/master/alternates/porn/hosts) | 150,962 | [link](http://sbc.io/hosts/alternates/porn/hosts) **porn** | [Readme](https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts/blob/master/alternates/porn-only/readme.md) | [link](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/StevenBlack/hosts/master/alternates/porn-only/hosts) | 76,801 | [link](http://sbc.io/hosts/alternates/porn-only/hosts) Unified hosts **+ social** | [Readme](https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts/blob/master/alternates/social/readme.md) | [link](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/StevenBlack/hosts/master/alternates/social/hosts) | 78,656 | [link](http://sbc.io/hosts/alternates/social/hosts) **social** | [Readme](https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts/blob/master/alternates/social-only/readme.md) | [link](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/StevenBlack/hosts/master/alternates/social-only/hosts) | 3,808 | [link](http://sbc.io/hosts/alternates/social-only/hosts) Unified hosts **+ fakenews + gambling** | [Readme](https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts/blob/master/alternates/fakenews-gambling/readme.md) | [link](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/StevenBlack/hosts/master/alternates/fakenews-gambling/hosts) | 83,778 | [link](http://sbc.io/hosts/alternates/fakenews-gambling/hosts) **fakenews + gambling** | [Readme](https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts/blob/master/alternates/fakenews-gambling-only/readme.md) | [link](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/StevenBlack/hosts/master/alternates/fakenews-gambling-only/hosts) | 8,916 | [link](http://sbc.io/hosts/alternates/fakenews-gambling-only/hosts) Unified hosts **+ fakenews + porn** | [Readme](https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts/blob/master/alternates/fakenews-porn/readme.md) | [link](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/StevenBlack/hosts/master/alternates/fakenews-porn/hosts) | 153,149 | [link](http://sbc.io/hosts/alternates/fakenews-porn/hosts) **fakenews + porn** | [Readme](https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts/blob/master/alternates/fakenews-porn-only/readme.md) | [link](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/StevenBlack/hosts/master/alternates/fakenews-porn-only/hosts) | 78,994 | [link](http://sbc.io/hosts/alternates/fakenews-porn-only/hosts) Unified hosts **+ fakenews + social** | [Readme](https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts/blob/master/alternates/fakenews-social/readme.md) | [link](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/StevenBlack/hosts/master/alternates/fakenews-social/hosts) | 80,843 | [link](http://sbc.io/hosts/alternates/fakenews-social/hosts) **fakenews + social** | [Readme](https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts/blob/master/alternates/fakenews-social-only/readme.md) | [link](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/StevenBlack/hosts/master/alternates/fakenews-social-only/hosts) | 6,001 | [link](http://sbc.io/hosts/alternates/fakenews-social-only/hosts) Unified hosts **+ gambling + porn** | [Readme](https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts/blob/master/alternates/gambling-porn/readme.md) | [link](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/StevenBlack/hosts/master/alternates/gambling-porn/hosts) | 157,673 | [link](http://sbc.io/hosts/alternates/gambling-porn/hosts) **gambling + porn** | [Readme](https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts/blob/master/alternates/gambling-porn-only/readme.md) | [link](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/StevenBlack/hosts/master/alternates/gambling-porn-only/hosts) | 83,524 | [link](http://sbc.io/hosts/alternates/gambling-porn-only/hosts) Unified hosts **+ gambling + social** | [Readme](https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts/blob/master/alternates/gambling-social/readme.md) | [link](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/StevenBlack/hosts/master/alternates/gambling-social/hosts) | 85,367 | [link](http://sbc.io/hosts/alternates/gambling-social/hosts) **gambling + social** | [Readme](https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts/blob/master/alternates/gambling-social-only/readme.md) | [link](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/StevenBlack/hosts/master/alternates/gambling-social-only/hosts) | 10,531 | [link](http://sbc.io/hosts/alternates/gambling-social-only/hosts) Unified hosts **+ porn + social** | [Readme](https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts/blob/master/alternates/porn-social/readme.md) | [link](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/StevenBlack/hosts/master/alternates/porn-social/hosts) | 154,736 | [link](http://sbc.io/hosts/alternates/porn-social/hosts) **porn + social** | [Readme](https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts/blob/master/alternates/porn-social-only/readme.md) | [link](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/StevenBlack/hosts/master/alternates/porn-social-only/hosts) | 80,607 | [link](http://sbc.io/hosts/alternates/porn-social-only/hosts) Unified hosts **+ fakenews + gambling + porn** | [Readme](https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts/blob/master/alternates/fakenews-gambling-porn/readme.md) | [link](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/StevenBlack/hosts/master/alternates/fakenews-gambling-porn/hosts) | 159,860 | [link](http://sbc.io/hosts/alternates/fakenews-gambling-porn/hosts) **fakenews + gambling + porn** | [Readme](https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts/blob/master/alternates/fakenews-gambling-porn-only/readme.md) | [link](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/StevenBlack/hosts/master/alternates/fakenews-gambling-porn-only/hosts) | 85,717 | [link](http://sbc.io/hosts/alternates/fakenews-gambling-porn-only/hosts) Unified hosts **+ fakenews + gambling + social** | [Readme](https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts/blob/master/alternates/fakenews-gambling-social/readme.md) | [link](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/StevenBlack/hosts/master/alternates/fakenews-gambling-social/hosts) | 87,554 | [link](http://sbc.io/hosts/alternates/fakenews-gambling-social/hosts) **fakenews + gambling + social** | [Readme](https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts/blob/master/alternates/fakenews-gambling-social-only/readme.md) | [link](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/StevenBlack/hosts/master/alternates/fakenews-gambling-social-only/hosts) | 12,724 | [link](http://sbc.io/hosts/alternates/fakenews-gambling-social-only/hosts) Unified hosts **+ fakenews + porn + social** | [Readme](https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts/blob/master/alternates/fakenews-porn-social/readme.md) | [link](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/StevenBlack/hosts/master/alternates/fakenews-porn-social/hosts) | 156,923 | [link](http://sbc.io/hosts/alternates/fakenews-porn-social/hosts) **fakenews + porn + social** | [Readme](https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts/blob/master/alternates/fakenews-porn-social-only/readme.md) | [link](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/StevenBlack/hosts/master/alternates/fakenews-porn-social-only/hosts) | 82,800 | [link](http://sbc.io/hosts/alternates/fakenews-porn-social-only/hosts) Unified hosts **+ gambling + porn + social** | [Readme](https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts/blob/master/alternates/gambling-porn-social/readme.md) | [link](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/StevenBlack/hosts/master/alternates/gambling-porn-social/hosts) | 161,447 | [link](http://sbc.io/hosts/alternates/gambling-porn-social/hosts) **gambling + porn + social** | [Readme](https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts/blob/master/alternates/gambling-porn-social-only/readme.md) | [link](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/StevenBlack/hosts/master/alternates/gambling-porn-social-only/hosts) | 87,330 | [link](http://sbc.io/hosts/alternates/gambling-porn-social-only/hosts) Unified hosts **+ fakenews + gambling + porn + social** | [Readme](https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts/blob/master/alternates/fakenews-gambling-porn-social/readme.md) | [link](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/StevenBlack/hosts/master/alternates/fakenews-gambling-porn-social/hosts) | 163,634 | [link](http://sbc.io/hosts/alternates/fakenews-gambling-porn-social/hosts) **fakenews + gambling + porn + social** | [Readme](https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts/blob/master/alternates/fakenews-gambling-porn-social-only/readme.md) | [link](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/StevenBlack/hosts/master/alternates/fakenews-gambling-porn-social-only/hosts) | 89,471 | [link](http://sbc.io/hosts/alternates/fakenews-gambling-porn-social-only/hosts) **Expectation**: These unified hosts files should serve all devices, regardless of OS. ## Sources of hosts data unified in this variant Updated `hosts` files from the following locations are always unified and included: | Host file source | Home page | Raw hosts | License | Issues | Description | | ---------------- | :-------: | :-------: | :-----: | :----: | ----------- | Steven Black's ad-hoc list |[link](https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts/blob/master/data/StevenBlack/hosts) | [raw](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/StevenBlack/hosts/master/data/StevenBlack/hosts) | MIT | [issues](https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts/issues)| Additional sketch domains as I come across them. AdAway |[link](https://adaway.org/) | [raw](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/AdAway/adaway.github.io/master/hosts.txt) | CC BY 3.0 | [issues](https://github.com/AdAway/adaway.github.io/issues)| AdAway is an open source ad blocker for Android using the hosts file. add.2o7Net |[link](https://github.com/FadeMind/hosts.extras) | [raw](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/FadeMind/hosts.extras/master/add.2o7Net/hosts) | MIT | [issues](https://github.com/FadeMind/hosts.extras/issues)| 2o7Net tracking sites based on [hostsfile.org](https://www.hostsfile.org/hosts.html) content. add.Dead |[link](https://github.com/FadeMind/hosts.extras) | [raw](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/FadeMind/hosts.extras/master/add.Dead/hosts) | MIT | [issues](https://github.com/FadeMind/hosts.extras/issues)| Dead sites based on [hostsfile.org](https://www.hostsfile.org/hosts.html) content. add.Risk |[link](https://github.com/FadeMind/hosts.extras) | [raw](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/FadeMind/hosts.extras/master/add.Risk/hosts) | MIT | [issues](https://github.com/FadeMind/hosts.extras/issues)| Risk content sites based on [hostsfile.org](https://www.hostsfile.org/hosts.html) content. add.Spam |[link](https://github.com/FadeMind/hosts.extras) | [raw](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/FadeMind/hosts.extras/master/add.Spam/hosts) | MIT | [issues](https://github.com/FadeMind/hosts.extras/issues)| Spam sites based on [hostsfile.org](https://www.hostsfile.org/hosts.html) content. Mitchell Krog's - Badd Boyz Hosts |[link](https://github.com/mitchellkrogza/Badd-Boyz-Hosts) | [raw](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mitchellkrogza/Badd-Boyz-Hosts/master/hosts) | MIT | [issues](https://github.com/mitchellkrogza/Badd-Boyz-Hosts/issues)| Sketchy domains and Bad Referrers from my Nginx and Apache Bad Bot and Spam Referrer Blockers hostsVN |[link](https://github.com/bigdargon/hostsVN) | [raw](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/bigdargon/hostsVN/master/option/hosts-VN) | MIT | [issues](https://github.com/bigdargon/hostsVN/issues)| Hosts block ads of Vietnamese KADhosts |[link](https://kadantiscam.netlify.app/) | [raw](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/FiltersHeroes/KADhosts/master/KADhosts.txt) | CC BY-SA 4.0 | [issues](https://github.com//FiltersHeroes/KADhosts/issues)| Fraud/adware/scam websites. minecraft-hosts |[link](https://github.com/jamiemansfield/minecraft-hosts) | [raw](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/jamiemansfield/minecraft-hosts/master/lists/tracking.txt) | CC0-1.0 | [issues](https://github.com/jamiemansfield/minecraft-hosts/issues)| Minecraft related tracker hosts MVPS hosts file |[link](https://winhelp2002.mvps.org/) | [raw](https://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.txt) | CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 | [issues](mailto:[email protected])| The purpose of this site is to provide the user with a high quality custom HOSTS file. Dan Pollock – [someonewhocares](https://someonewhocares.org/) |[link](https://someonewhocares.org/hosts/) | [raw](https://someonewhocares.org/hosts/zero/hosts) | non-commercial with attribution | [issues](mailto:[email protected])| How to make the internet not suck (as much). Tiuxo hostlist - ads |[link](https://github.com/tiuxo/hosts) | [raw](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/tiuxo/hosts/master/ads) | CC BY 4.0 | [issues](https://github.com/tiuxo/hosts/issues)| Categorized hosts files for DNS based content blocking UncheckyAds |[link](https://github.com/FadeMind/hosts.extras) | [raw](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/FadeMind/hosts.extras/master/UncheckyAds/hosts) | MIT | [issues](https://github.com/FadeMind/hosts.extras/issues)| Windows installers ads sources sites based on https://unchecky.com/ content. URLHaus |[link](https://urlhaus.abuse.ch/) | [raw](https://urlhaus.abuse.ch/downloads/hostfile/) | CC0 | [issues](mailto:[email protected])| A project from [abuse.ch](https://abuse.ch/) with the goal of sharing malicious URLs. yoyo.org |[link](https://pgl.yoyo.org/adservers/) | [raw](https://pgl.yoyo.org/adservers/serverlist.php?hostformat=hosts&mimetype=plaintext&useip=0.0.0.0) | | [issues](mailto:[email protected])| Blocking with ad server and tracking server hostnames. ## Extensions The unified hosts file is optionally extensible. Extensions are used to include domains by category. Currently, we offer the following categories: `fakenews`, `social`, `gambling`, and `porn`. Extensions are optional, and can be combined in various ways with the base hosts file. The combined products are stored in the [`alternates`](https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts/tree/master/alternates) folder. Data for extensions are stored in the [`extensions`](https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts/tree/master/extensions) folder. You manage extensions by curating this folder tree, where you will find the data for `fakenews`, `social`, `gambling`, and `porn` extension data that we maintain and provide for you. ## Generate your own unified hosts file You have three options to generate your own hosts file. You can use our container image, build your own image, or do it in your own environment. Option #1 is easiest if you have Linux with Docker installed. ### Option 1: Use our container image (Linux only) > This will replace your `/etc/hosts`. We assume you have Docker available on your host. Just run the following command. Set extensions to your preference. ```sh docker run --pull always --rm -it -v /etc/hosts:/etc/hosts \ ghcr.io/stevenblack/hosts:latest updateHostsFile.py --auto \ --replace --extensions gambling porn ``` If you want to add custom hosts or a whitelist, create either or both files as per [the instructions](#how-do-i-control-which-sources-are-unified) and add the following arguments _before_ `ghcr.io/stevenblack/hosts:latest` depending on which you wish to use. ```sh -v "path/to/myhosts:/hosts/myhosts" \ -v "path/to/whitelist:/hosts/whitelist" \ ``` You can rerun this exact command later to update based on the latest available hosts (for example, add it to a weekly cron job). ### Option 2: Generate your own container image We provide the [Dockerfile](https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts/blob/master/Dockerfile) used by the previous step, which you can use to create a container image with everything you need. The container will contain Python 3 and all its dependency requirements, and a copy of the latest version of this repository. Build the Docker container from the root of this repo like this: ```sh docker build --no-cache . -t stevenblack-hosts ``` Or without cloning (directly from GitHub): ```sh docker build --no-cache https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts.git -t stevenblack-hosts ``` Then run your command as such: ```sh docker run --rm -it stevenblack-hosts updateHostsFile.py ``` > This will create the hosts file, and remove it with the container when done, > so not very useful. You can use the example in option #1 to add volumes so > files on your host are replaced. ### Option 3: Generate it in your own environment To generate your own amalgamated hosts files you will need Python 3.6 or later. First, install the dependencies with: ```sh pip3 install --user -r requirements.txt ``` **Note** we recommend the `--user` flag which installs the required dependencies at the user level. More information about it can be found on pip [documentation](https://pip.pypa.io/en/stable/reference/pip_install/?highlight=--user#cmdoption-user). ### Option 4: Generate it in Google Colab Spin up a free remote [Google Colab](https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1tYWXpU2iuPDqN_o03JW9ml3ExO80eBLq?usp=sharing) environment. ### Common steps regardless of your development environment To **run unit tests**, in the top-level directory, run: ```sh python3 testUpdateHostsFile.py ``` The `updateHostsFile.py` script will generate a unified hosts file based on the sources in the local `data/` subfolder. The script will prompt you whether it should fetch updated versions (from locations defined by the `update.json` text file in each source's folder). Otherwise, it will use the `hosts` file that's already there. ```sh python3 updateHostsFile.py [--auto] [--replace] [--ip nnn.nnn.nnn.nnn] [--extensions ext1 ext2 ext3] ``` #### Command line options `--help`, or `-h`: display help. `--auto`, or `-a`: run the script without prompting. When `--auto` is invoked, - Hosts data sources, including extensions, are updated. - No extensions are included by default. Use the `--extensions` or `-e` flag to include any you want. - Your active hosts file is _not_ replaced unless you include the `--replace` flag. `--backup`, or `-b`: Make a backup of existing hosts file(s) as you generate over them. `--extensions <ext1> <ext2> <ext3>`, or `-e <ext1> <ext2> <ext3>`: the names of subfolders below the `extensions` folder containing additional category-specific hosts files to include in the amalgamation. Example: `--extensions porn` or `-e social porn`. `--flush-dns-cache`, or `-f`: skip the prompt for flushing the DNS cache. Only active when `--replace` is also active. `--ip nnn.nnn.nnn.nnn`, or `-i nnn.nnn.nnn.nnn`: the IP address to use as the target. Default is `0.0.0.0`. `--keepdomaincomments`, or `-k`: `true` (default) or `false`, keep the comments that appear on the same line as domains. The default is `true`. `--noupdate`, or `-n`: skip fetching updates from hosts data sources. `--output <subfolder>`, or `-o <subfolder>`: place the generated source file in a subfolder. If the subfolder does not exist, it will be created. `--replace`, or `-r`: trigger replacing your active hosts `--skipstatichosts`, or `-s`: `false` (default) or `true`, omit the standard section at the top, containing lines like `127.0.0.1 localhost`. This is useful for configuring proximate DNS services on the local network. `--nogendata`, or `-g`: `false` (default) or `true`, skip the generation of the readmeData.json file used for generating readme.md files. This is useful if you are generating host files with additional whitelists or blacklists and want to keep your local checkout of this repo unmodified. `--nounifiedhosts`: `false` (default) or `true`, do not include the unified hosts file in the final hosts file. Usually used together with `--extensions`. `--compress`, or `-c`: `false` (default) or `true`, _Compress_ the hosts file ignoring non-necessary lines (empty lines and comments) and putting multiple domains in each line. Reducing the number of lines of the hosts file improves the performances under Windows (with DNS Client service enabled). `--minimise`, or `-m`: `false` (default) or `true`, like `--compress`, but puts each domain on a separate line. This is necessary because many implementations of URL blockers that rely on `hosts` files do not conform to the standard which allows multiple hosts on a single line. `--blacklist <blacklistfile>`, or `-x <blacklistfile>`: Append the given blacklist file in hosts format to the generated hosts file. `--whitelist <whitelistfile>`, or `-w <whitelistfile>`: Use the given whitelist file to remove hosts from the generated hosts file. ## How do I control which sources are unified? Add one or more _additional_ sources, each in a subfolder of the `data/` folder, and specify the `url` key in its `update.json` file. Add one or more _optional_ extensions, which originate from subfolders of the `extensions/` folder. Again the url in `update.json` controls where this extension finds its updates. Create an _optional_ `blacklist` file. The contents of this file (containing a listing of additional domains in `hosts` file format) are appended to the unified hosts file during the update process. A sample `blacklist` is included, and may be modified as you need. - NOTE: The `blacklist` is not tracked by git, so any changes you make won't be overridden when you `git pull` this repo from `origin` in the future. ### How do I include my own custom domain mappings? If you have custom hosts records, place them in file `myhosts`. The contents of this file are prepended to the unified hosts file during the update process. The `myhosts` file is not tracked by git, so any changes you make won't be overridden when you `git pull` this repo from `origin` in the future. ### How do I prevent domains from being included? The domains you list in the `whitelist` file are excluded from the final hosts file. The `whitelist` uses partial matching. Therefore if you whitelist `google-analytics.com`, that domain and all its subdomains won't be merged into the final hosts file. The `whitelist` is not tracked by git, so any changes you make won't be overridden when you `git pull` this repo from `origin` in the future. ## How can I contribute hosts records? If you discover sketchy domains you feel should be included here, here are some ways to contribute them. ### Option 1: contact one of our hosts sources The best way to get new domains included is to submit an issue to any of the data providers whose home pages are [listed here](https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts#sources-of-hosts-data-unified-in-this-variant). This is best because once you submit new domains, they will be curated and updated by the dedicated folks who maintain these sources. ### Option 2: Fork this repository, add your domains to Steven Black's personal data file, and submit a pull request Fork this hosts this repo and add your links to [https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts/blob/master/data/StevenBlack/hosts](https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts/blob/master/data/StevenBlack/hosts). Then, submit a pull request. **WARNING**: this is less desirable than Option 1 because the ongoing curation falls on us. So this creates more work for us. ### Option 3: create your own hosts list as a repo on GitHub If you're able to curate your own collection of sketchy domains, then curate your own hosts list. Then signal the existence of your repo as [a new issue](https://github.com/StevenBlack/hosts/issues) and we may include your new repo into the collection of sources we pull whenever we create new versions. ## What is a hosts file? A hosts file, named `hosts` (with no file extension), is a plain-text file used by all operating systems to map hostnames to IP addresses. In most operating systems, the `hosts` file is preferential to `DNS`. Therefore if a domain name is resolved by the `hosts` file, the request never leaves your computer. Having a smart `hosts` file goes a long way towards blocking malware, adware, and other irritants. For example, to nullify requests to some doubleclick.net servers, adding these lines to your hosts file will do it: ```text # block doubleClick's servers 0.0.0.0 ad.ae.doubleclick.net 0.0.0.0 ad.ar.doubleclick.net 0.0.0.0 ad.at.doubleclick.net 0.0.0.0 ad.au.doubleclick.net 0.0.0.0 ad.be.doubleclick.net # etc... ``` ## We recommend using `0.0.0.0` instead of `127.0.0.1` Traditionally most host files use `127.0.0.1`, the _loopback address_, to establish an IP connection to the local machine. We prefer to use `0.0.0.0`, which is defined as a non-routable meta-address used to designate an invalid, unknown, or non-applicable target. Using `0.0.0.0` is empirically faster, possibly because there's no wait for a timeout resolution. It also does not interfere with a web server that may be running on the local PC. ## Why not use `0` instead of `0.0.0.0`? We tried that. Using `0` doesn't work universally. ## Location of your hosts file To modify your current `hosts` file, look for it in the following places and modify it with a text editor. - **macOS (until 10.14.x macOS Mojave), iOS, Android, Linux**: `/etc/hosts` file. - **macOS Catalina:** `/private/etc/hosts` file. - **Windows**: `%SystemRoot%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts` file. ## Gentoo Gentoo users may find [`sb-hosts`](https://github.com/PF4Public/gentoo-overlay/tree/master/net-misc/sb-hosts) in [::pf4public](https://github.com/PF4Public/gentoo-overlay) Gentoo overlay ## NixOS To install hosts file on your machine add the following into your `configuration.nix`: ```nix { networking.extraHosts = let hostsPath = https://raw.githubusercontent.com/StevenBlack/hosts/master/hosts; hostsFile = builtins.fetchurl hostsPath; in builtins.readFile "${hostsFile}"; } ``` - NOTE: Change `hostsPath` if you need other versions of hosts file. - NOTE: The call to `fetchurl` is impure. Use `fetchFromGitHub` with the exact commit if you want to always get the same result. ### Nix Flake NixOS installations which are managed through _flakes_ can directly use the `flake.nix` in this repository as an input. It contains a `nixosModule` that can be used to install the `hosts` file locally, as well as a package containing config files for the [Unbound](https://github.com/NLnetLabs/unbound) DNS server to be used as blocklists. ```nix { inputs = { nixpkgs.url = "github:NixOS/nixpkgs?ref=$YOUR-REF"; hosts = { url = "github:StevenBlack/hosts"; # or a fork/mirror inputs.nixpkgs.follows = "nixpkgs"; }; }; outputs = { self, nixpkgs, hosts }: { nixosConfigurations.my-hostname = { system = "<architecture>"; modules = [ # nixosModule to install hosts file locally: hosts.nixosModule { networking.stevenBlackHosts = { enable = true; # optionally: # enableIPv6 = true; # blockFakenews = true; # blockGambling = true; # blockPorn = true; # blockSocial = true; }; } # configure unbound to use config as blocklist: { { services.unbound = { enable = true; settings.server.include = [ "${hosts.packages.${system}.unbound}/hosts" # alternates are also available, e.g. /fakenews, /fakenews-gambling etc. ]; }; } } ]; }; }; } ``` ## Updating hosts file on Windows (NOTE: See also some third-party Hosts managers, listed below.) ### For older versions of Windows On Linux and macOS, run the Python script. On Windows more work is required due to compatibility issues so it's preferable to run the batch file as follows: ```sh updateHostsWindows.bat ``` This file **MUST** be run in command prompt with administrator privileges in the repository directory. In addition to updating the hosts file, it can also replace the existing hosts file, and reload the DNS cache. It goes without saying that for this to work, you must be connected to the internet. To open a command prompt as administrator in the repository's directory, do the following: - **Windows XP**: Start → Run → `cmd` - **Windows Vista, 7**: Start Button → type `cmd` → right-click Command Prompt → "Run as Administrator" - **Windows 8**: Start → Swipe Up → All Apps → Windows System → right-click Command Prompt → "Run as Administrator" - **Windows 10**: Start Button → type `cmd` → right-click Command Prompt → "Run as Administrator" ### For new versions of Windows On modern versions of Windows (10 and especially 11) not all features of the aforementioned batch script work (specifically checking if the current shell has administrative priviliges) and therefore a more modern approach is recommended. --- [Read more](https://github.com/stevenblack/hosts)
