Stop Windows Spying with hosts file
2 min read
4 months ago
Published on Apr 22, 2024
This response is partially generated with the help of AI. It may contain inaccuracies.
Table of Contents
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
- Open File Explorer on your Windows computer.
- Navigate to
C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc. - Look for a file named
hostsin this directory.
Step 3: Edit the Hosts File
- Right-click on the
hostsfile and select "Open with" then choose "Notepad" to open the file. - In the
hostsfile, add the IP address127.0.0.1followed by the domain names you want to block. - Ensure that each domain name is on a new line and preceded by
127.0.0.1. - Save the changes to the
hostsfile.
Step 4: Run Notepad as Administrator
- To save the changes to the
hostsfile, you need to run Notepad as an administrator. - Right-click on the Notepad application and select "Run as administrator".
- Open the
hostsfile within Notepad and make the necessary edits as described in Step 3. - Save the changes in Notepad.
Step 5: Clear Browsing Data
- After saving the changes to the
hostsfile, clear your browsing data in your web browser. - This step helps ensure that the changes take effect immediately.
Step 6: Verify Changes
- Open your web browser and check if the blocked websites are inaccessible.
- 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.