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
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Read our verdict in the software roundup.
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