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Stop Windows Spying with hosts file

2 min read 6 months ago
Published on Apr 22, 2024 This response is partially generated with the help of AI. It may contain inaccuracies.

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Tutorial: Stop Windows Spying with Hosts File

Step 1: Understand the Issue

  • In the video, it is mentioned that Windows may send your data to third-party sites without your consent for studying your behavior.
  • The solution presented involves editing the hosts file to prevent your computer from connecting to these sites.

Step 2: Locate the Hosts File

  1. Open File Explorer on your Windows computer.
  2. Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc.
  3. Look for a file named hosts in this directory.

Step 3: Edit the Hosts File

  1. Right-click on the hosts file and select "Open with" then choose "Notepad" to open the file.
  2. In the hosts file, add the IP address 127.0.0.1 followed by the domain names you want to block.
  3. Ensure that each domain name is on a new line and preceded by 127.0.0.1.
  4. Save the changes to the hosts file.

Step 4: Run Notepad as Administrator

  1. To save the changes to the hosts file, you need to run Notepad as an administrator.
  2. Right-click on the Notepad application and select "Run as administrator".
  3. Open the hosts file within Notepad and make the necessary edits as described in Step 3.
  4. Save the changes in Notepad.

Step 5: Clear Browsing Data

  1. After saving the changes to the hosts file, clear your browsing data in your web browser.
  2. This step helps ensure that the changes take effect immediately.

Step 6: Verify Changes

  1. Open your web browser and check if the blocked websites are inaccessible.
  2. Verify that your computer is no longer connecting to the third-party sites mentioned in the video.

Step 7: Additional Tips

  • You can use Wireshark to monitor your network traffic and verify that the connections to the specified domains are blocked.
  • Remember that this method focuses on blocking specific domains on your computer.

By following these steps, you can prevent Windows from connecting to certain third-party sites without your consent by utilizing the hosts file on your system.

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