Hostsblock is a POSIX-compatible script for Linux designed to take advantage of the HOSTS file available in all operating systems to provide system-wide blocking of internet advertisements, malicious domains, trackers, and other undesirable content.
Hostsblock also provides a command-line utility that allows you to configure how individual websites and any other domains contained in that website are handled.
This is free and open source software.
Key Features
- System-wide blocking (all non-proxied connections use the HOSTS file).
- Zip- and 7zip-capable (can download and process zip- and 7zip-compressed files).
- Non-interactive (can be run as a periodic cronjob without needing user interaction).
- Extensive configurability (allows for custom black and white listing, redirection, post-processing scripting, target HOSTS file, etc.).
- Bandwidth-efficient (only downloads blocklists that have been changed, uses compression when available).
- Resource-efficient (only processes blocklists when changes are registered, uses minimal pipes).
- High performance blocking (when using DNS caching and pseudo-server daemons).
- Extensive choice of blocklists included (allows user to customize how much or how little is blocked).
- Redirection capability (combats DNS cache poisoning).
Website: gaenserich.github.io/hostsblock
Support: GitHub Code Repository
Developer: Jacob A. van der Kolk
License: GNU General Public License
Related Software
| Anti-Malware Tools | |
|---|---|
| ClamAV | Antivirus engine for detecting trojans, viruses, malware and other threats |
| YARA-X | Re-incarnation of YARA |
| YARA | Pattern matching swiss knife for malware researchers |
| Maltrail | Malicious traffic detection system |
| ClamTk | Graphical frontend for ClamAV |
| LMD | Malware scanner focusing on threats faced in shared hosted environments |
| phpMussel | PHP-based anti-virus anti-trojan anti-malware solution |
| Raspirus | Lightweight signature-based malware scanner |
| FastFinder | Fast suspicious file finder |
| Rootkit Hunter | Scans for rootkits, backdoors and possible local exploits |
| Unhide | Forensic tool to find hidden processes and TCP/UDP ports |
| Hostsblock | Malware-blocking cronscript |
| libredefender | Antivirus program using libclamav |
| Lenspect | Lightweight security threat scanner |
| chkrootkit | Locally checks for signs of a rootkit |
Read our verdict in the software roundup.
 Explore our comprehensive directory of recommended free and open source software. Our carefully curated collection spans every major software category.This directory is part of our ongoing series of informative articles for Linux enthusiasts. It features hundreds of detailed reviews, along with open source alternatives to proprietary solutions from major corporations such as Google, Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, IBM, Cisco, Oracle, and Autodesk. You’ll also find interesting projects to try, hardware coverage, free programming books and tutorials, and much more. Discovered a useful open source Linux program that we haven’t covered yet? Let us know by completing this form. |