[Governa]

HostsMan 3.0 beta 1 for Windows was released.

What's new:
- added: Auto-Updates;
- added: editable update list;
- added: option to mark updates as not installed;
- added: support for proxy basic authentication;
- added: option to restore original Windows hosts file;
- added: 'Additional Information' window;
- added: IPv6 support (hosts file);
- added: comment lines support;
- added: fix hijack of hosts file ('databasepath' registry value);
- added: support for regular expressions to the Exclusion List;
- changed: 90% of the code rewritten;
- changed: memory manager replaced;
- changed: hosts lock removed;
- changed: interface updated;
- changed: exclusion list improved;
- changed: editor improved (rewritten from scratch);
- changed: 'Block Adverts' removed from update list;
- changed: HostsServer replaces built-in HTTP Server;
- fixed: some encrypted backups are not created correctly;
- fixed: several bugs;
- etc.

More info and download here.

HostsMan is a freeware application that lets you manage your Hosts file with ease (now with auto-updates).

Features:
- online update and auto-update of hosts file;
- enable/disable usage of hosts file;
- open Hosts file with one click;
- merge two hosts files;
- built-in hosts editor;
- scan hosts for errors, duplicates and possible hijacks;
- find how many host names;
- easily install newly downloaded hosts file;
- create encrypted backups of your hosts file;
- resolve host names;
- keep log of latest blocked sites;
- exclusion list;
- etc.

No Spyware! No Adware! No Viruses! 100% Freeware! Clean and simple.

[guest]

I'm using it

A MUST if you are using hpHOSTS and/or MVPS HOSTS files.

[j3righo]

Although, this is beta, we (me and Governa) believe this version is even more stable than HostsMan 2.1. The only reason this is beta is because there are some features we want to add before launching the final version (inclusion list, export configuration, ...).

We also want to include proper documentation, but we almost don't have time to work on it. So, if anyone is interested (and have time, of course) in contributing to the documentation, please, contact us: info (at) abelhadigital.com

Suggestions are welcome too.

[guest]

I have offered to assist with documentation in English

[Haroldo]

I currently use eDexter.
The only time I touch my hosts file is to update it.
eDexter opens the file and I copy and paste and save.
In addition, my text editor allows me to search (should the need arise) to edit out an item.
What benefit will this be to someone with (very) limited needs?

[guest]

Quote

What benefit will this be to someone with (very) limited needs?

• Review HOSTS file hits that shows HOSTS file effectiveness
  
• option to restore original Windows hosts file
  
• Additional Information' window
  
• IPv6 support (hosts file)
  
• comment lines support
  
• support for regular expressions to the Exclusion List <== expert use

eDexter is good but a very basic HOSTS file proxy

[j3righo]

Haroldo, on Aug 22 2006, 04:08 PM, said:

I currently use eDexter.
The only time I touch my hosts file is to update it.
eDexter opens the file and I copy and paste and save.
In addition, my text editor allows me to search (should the need arise) to edit out an item.
What benefit will this be to someone with (very) limited needs?

eDexter, and most local-servers, always display an image when content is blocked. The server that comes with HostsMan can display an image, a message ("Blocked: >hostname>") or both (this is the default mode). In this case, it usually displays the message, unless, by analyzing the url, the server detects that the content to be blocked is an image. Example:

• domain.tld/thisisapic.jpg?blablabla

Another advantage is that HostsMan does some checks that a normal text editor doesn't. For example, if you try to add an entry that is already listed, it won't add it. Even if you try to add several new entries at once, HostsMan only adds those that aren't already listed. It doesn't allow to remove the localhost entry.

YoKenny, on Aug 22 2006, 04:19 PM, said:

[*] support for regular expressions to the Exclusion List <== expert use

We only listed part of the changelog. If you open whatsnew.txt, you'll see that regular expressions is also supported in the editor, when using the search (at the left of the search edit box you'll see a combo box that says "Equal (=)"; set it to "Regular expression").

[Governa]

Interesting reading/listening for everyone wanting to know a bit more about the hosts file.

Episode #45 | 22 Jun 2006 | 26 min.

The 'Hosts' File

Quote

Leo and I reveal and describe the 'HOSTS' file, which is hidden away within every Internet-capable machine. We explain how, because it is always the first place a machine looks for the IP address associated with any other machine name, it can be used to easily and conveniently intercept your computer's silent communication with any questionable web sites you�d rather have it not talking to.

High Quality MP3 : http://media.grc.com/sn/SN-045.mp3
Small MP3 : http://media.grc.com/sn/SN-045-lq.mp3
Supplementary Notes : http://www.grc.com/sn/notes-045.htm
Text Transcrip as web page : http://www.grc.com/sn/SN-045.htm
Text Format Transcript : http://www.grc.com/sn/SN-045.txt
PDF Format Transcript : http://www.grc.com/sn/SN-045.pdf

[Governa]

HostsMan and VideoCalc support forum now open

This is a small experimental support forum for abelhadigital.com products and services.

HostsMan and VideoCalc may be freeware apps but we would like to assist you in every way we can. Please help us improve our software by sending bug reports, questions or just your suggestions.

Support Forum : http://forum.abelhadigital.com

[guest]

Quote

This is a small experimental support forum for abelhadigital.com products and services.

I'm there

[Governa]

YoKenny, on Sep 3 2006, 02:51 PM, said:

I'm there

Welcome! We need members like you!

[hewee]

Well I had the pass version of hostman but only used it to find duplicates.
Had edexter because of how it worked with Netscape so pages loaded faster.
I am using Firefox now and have after getting your new hostman changed over and am using it now in place of edexter and I like it.
Still getting used to it because it's not the same but it does so much more.

It's a great program so keep up the good work.

[Governa]

Thank you very much for your kind words. Feel free to use the support forum if needed.

Being a Mac user I can report that HostsMan also runs great on both WinXP through Boot Camp and Parallels Desktop. Like stated in Apple's Boot Camp website, Windows running on a Mac is like Windows running on a PC. That means it’ll be subject to the same attacks that plague the Windows world. So be sure to keep it updated with the latest Microsoft Windows security fixes... and by running HostMan to keep your Hosts file up to date with the latest blacklists of known advertising and malware websites.

Once we get confortable with Xcode, maybe some day we can port it to the Mac OS X platform... and, who knows, Linux.

[hewee]

Your welcome. By the way I am using 98SE.
You know the more I think about running Windows on a Mac Pro the more I like it.
But then again I don't like it because you can still get into the same trouble.
To bad they don't make it so you can swap out the boot drive more easy so could just change out drives.
Not sure I would like it or not having windows on a Mac just because you can get something that screwes thing up because of Windows.

[Governa]

Getting a bit offtopic now but here it goes anyway

Don't worry, it is totally secure. The Windows partition can't interact with the Mac OS X partition.

Mac OS X can read NTFS volumes or read and write FAT volumes, but Windows can't read or write HFS+ volumes by default. So with Mac OS X you can access all your Windows files in the FT32 or NTFS partition, but with Windows XP you won't be able to access the Mac OS X partition... meaning you (or any malware) won't be able to screw the Mac OS X partition.



If something goes wrong with Windows XP, you just need to reinstall it. Nothing will happen to Mac OS X, it will always be there for you when needed.

More info about Boot Camp here.
Frequently Asked Questions here.

You can also run Windows (or almost any other OS) with a virtualization solution like Parallels Desktop for Mac. This way you can run Windows sandboxed inside Mac OS X (no need to reboot and switch OS).

Here's an example:

This post has been edited by Governa: 04 September 2006 - 03:23 AM

[hewee]

Thanks for that info.

[EarlofLeicester]

hewee, on Sep 3 2006, 05:41 PM, said:

It's a great program so keep up the good work.

I agree. HOSTSMan is great.