hosts file is a small but very important document, which by default takes only 1 KB of disk space.His appearance was the result of the desire of developers programs shells increase PC performance.Looking at this file and its principle of operation, can be carried out to better understand the analogy of using a notebook.
So, what is the host file?Every computer connected to the Internet, connects by a simple algorithm.The user accesses any of the sites checked by the browser for finding ip-address of the resource in the host file.There are two possible scenarios.
1. If such an address is not found, the computer generates an appropriate request to the provider, and only after receiving it opens the selected Internet resource.At this particular time is spent.
2. If the hosts file contains the specified ip-address, the browser immediately opens the site you want, which greatly speeds up the work, as the above procedure is skipped.
Obviously, the record keeping of the ip-addresses of the most visited sites - it's very useful, but here there is one "but".Quite often, the hosts file stores information about advertising and simply unnecessary random sites.In addition, he is a potential victim of the actions of some viruses, which usually redirect the user to the sites of social networks for special phishing resources to lure money from the user.
Thus, it is important to periodically check and clean the contents of this file.But how to find the host?It should be noted immediately that can see hidden files are not useful, and you can find it at the following address: C: \ WINDOWS \ system32 \ drivers \ etc.To gain access to its contents, you must click on the file's icon, right-click and apply the "open with" where to choose one of the standard programs Windows - Notepad.
access the file, you should know how to clean the host, to prevent excessive flow of traffic or to protect your computer from malware actions.Opening it, you should pay special attention to the records that are contained after «127.0.0.1 localhost».If this entry is not visible, it is necessary to carry out the downward movement with the help of the slider to the right.All ip-addresses located below said, should be subjected to scrutiny.It should immediately be noted that in the original host file entries below «127.0.0.1 localhost» nothing.
Sometimes when you open or edit some difficulties.The most common when a file can not open or save the changes.To solve this situation in two ways.
1. Open using administrator privileges.
2. Download or copy the original file and replace the one that is located on your computer.
described solutions may not help if the system remains virus program, since it alone will periodically check and change the contents of the host.So at first it is necessary to identify and neutralize, and then check and correct the contents of the file again.
Applying this knowledge, surfing the web will be faster and safer.
