Has anybody tried this? -> IE-SPYAD

  • Thread starter Thread starter Andreas Perfora’tus [Stu]
  • Start date Start date
A

Andreas Perfora’tus [Stu]

http://www.staff.uiuc.edu/~ehowes/resource.htm

IE-SPYAD is a Registry file (IE-ADS.REG) that adds a long list of known
advertisers, marketers, and crapware pushers to the Restricted sites zone
of Internet Explorer. Once IE-ADS.REG is "merged" into your Registry, most
direct marketers and crapware pushers will not be able to resort to their
usual "tricks" (e.g., cookies, scripts, popups, et al) in order to monitor
and track your behavior while you surf the Net.


Has anybody tried this? opinions? comments?
 
Hello YK,
You wrote on Sat, 26 Jul 2003 14:11:14 GMT:
I have and like it. Much more effective is to use a HOSTS file so
request for the ad site never leaves your PC.
I use both.
Click to expand...

True, but I prefer to use PAC file instead of a HOSTS file because you can
filter a URL on any word/pattern you care to use. Works like a HOSTS file in
that the request for the ad site never leaves your PC because you point your PAC
to localhost (or whatever IP/host you want). Should work for any browsers that
can be configured to use auto config scripts (like IE and Netscape). Downside
is that (I believe) PAC files only work for browser requests whereas a HOSTS
file works for all requests.
 
Hello YK,
You wrote on Sat, 26 Jul 2003 14:11:14 GMT:


True, but I prefer to use PAC file instead of a HOSTS file because you
can filter a URL on any word/pattern you care to use. Works like a
HOSTS file in that the request for the ad site never leaves your PC
because you point your PAC to localhost (or whatever IP/host you
want). Should work for any browsers that can be configured to use
auto config scripts (like IE and Netscape). Downside is that (I
believe) PAC files only work for browser requests whereas a HOSTS file
works for all requests.
Click to expand...

That is correct. So use both. I suppose overkill is to include
spywareblaster and IEspyad. I like some kind of feedback though whether a
site is being blocked.






Aaron
 
Hello Aaron,
You wrote on 27 Jul 2003 21:13:29 +0800:
That is correct. So use both. I suppose overkill is to include
spywareblaster and IEspyad. I like some kind of feedback though whether a
site is being blocked.
Click to expand...

The PAC file does that for me although having a little dialog box pop up stating
that a site has been blocked can get annoying when there are so many ad sites
you hit along the way so I only have the feedback turned on for sites like the
porno ones etc. Although the concept behind IE-Spyad is great, filling your
registry with 1000's of additional lines which are continually read and reread
is going to slow down your computer, hence I don't use it. Having a HOSTS file
and a PAC file would seem (to me anyhow) to be a better solution although a
large HOSTS file would also slow down the computer.
 
Mick said:
Hello Aaron,
You wrote on 27 Jul 2003 21:13:29 +0800:


The PAC file does that for me although having a little dialog box pop
up stating that a site has been blocked can get annoying when there
are so many ad sites you hit along the way so I only have the
feedback turned on for sites like the porno ones etc. Although the
concept behind IE-Spyad is great, filling your registry with 1000's
of additional lines which are continually read and reread is going to
slow down your computer, hence I don't use it. Having a HOSTS file
and a PAC file would seem (to me anyhow) to be a better solution
although a large HOSTS file would also slow down the computer.
Click to expand...

Why do you say that having a large HOSTS file will slow down the computer?
If you are talking about Win2K or WinXP then this may be true. They cache
the HOSTS file through the DNS Service. It is recommended to disable this
service.
 
Hello YK,
You wrote on Mon, 28 Jul 2003 01:13:02 GMT:


My bad - I should have taken the time to word it a little better.
I can confirm this using my own HOSTS file (over 1000 KB).
Click to expand...

You have a 1000kb host files? once, i tried using Hostess to combine and
remove duplicates of the dozen or so third part host files available, and
the file size didnt come up to more then 700kb



Aaron
 
Hello Aaron,
You wrote on 5 Aug 2003 19:03:23 +0800:
You have a 1000kb host files? once, i tried using Hostess to combine and
remove duplicates of the dozen or so third part host files available, and
the file size didnt come up to more then 700kb
Click to expand...

It's the Adult sites one (something like 40,000 entries). Unlike the AD's HOSTS
file, I haven't yet got around to distilling it down via the PAC file but intend
doing so in the very near future. So many things to do and not enough time it
seems :-)
 
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