A hosts file used to block out ads, trackers and malware specific to Czech websites.
A hosts file is a plain-text file used by operating systems to map hostnames to IP addresses. By mapping hostnames serving unwanted content to a non-existent domain, we can prevent any outgoing connections to this domain.
Using a hosts file in your system can be easy. There are several ways how to do it so pick the one that works best for you.
An easy way to add this hosts file to your computer is to use a manager app, such as SwitchHosts! (available for Mac, Windows and Linux).
You can copy and paste the contents of HostsLion to your manager but you would miss on any potential future updates. A better way is to add our hosts file's URL so that your computer always stays up to date.
If for some reason you don't wish to use manager app, you can also add the records from HostsLion to your local hosts file manually.
- Mac, Linux and other Unix-based systems:
/etc/hosts - Windows:
%SystemRoot%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts
You might need administrator privileges to save any changes to your hosts file.
Also, don't forget to restart your DNS service:
- Mac, Linux and other Unix-based systems:
sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder - Windows:
ipconfig /flushdns
Perhaps the most convenient way to use HostsLion is through the network-wide protection of Pi-hole.
You can set up a cheap Raspberry Pi such as the Zero (and an optional Ethernet module such as the ENC28J60) to act as a DNS server for all your devices. This will protect all your computers, mobile phones, tablets and other devices where software protection might be limited and manual editing of the hosts file outright impossible.
See the Pi-hole documentation for more information.