Good Sam Community

TenOC · ‎Dec-15-2019

What is the difference (that is better) between having an entry in the "hosts" file, or a "rule" in a firewall application when trying to block inbound traffic from a known website or company.

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wa8yxm · ‎Dec-15-2019

I would say both actually (Belt and suspenders protection) the firewall blocks the site from SENDING stuff to you. the hosts file prevents your computer from REQUESTING stuff by re-directing to local-host. (So you get a 404) But the firewall blocks the remote from sending to you even if you did not request.

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fj12ryder · ‎Dec-15-2019

Yeah, using the "hosts file" was an old trick from waaaaay back. I think it was of use with Windows 98.

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pconroy328 · ‎Dec-15-2019

Frankly using 'hosts' was a new one to me and I've been aware of / etc / hosts for 30 years. 🙂 Never would have occurred to me to try that.

I'd always block a domain at the firewall, router level. Seems to me you've got more flexibility; easier to wildcard, easier to manage, no reboot etc.

Good Sam Community

Firewall vs entry in Hosts file ????