Is editing Host file in windows 7 is dangerous?

AI Thread Summary
Editing the Hosts file in Windows 7 is generally safe and does not damage the operating system. Users can bypass blocked sites by modifying this file, but it is important to back up the original Hosts file before making changes. Mistakes can disrupt networking capabilities, but these can be easily fixed. Keeping antivirus software updated is recommended for added security. For those looking for alternatives, using free proxy services can also help bypass restrictions. Overall, editing the Hosts file is a straightforward process that can enhance browsing experiences without risking system integrity.
Benjamin_harsh
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Is editing Host file in windows 7 is dangerous?
i want to edit Host file, so that i can bypass blocked sites. :)
but i am fear whether will my pc's OS get damaged or not? :(
 
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If you don't know what you are doing you can disrupt networking ability, but its pretty easy to fix any mistakes. Changing website IPs etc is pretty easy. Is this a school lab computer? I would advise against anything other than with your personal computer.
 
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A free proxy service, like StartPage, can enable some blocks to be avoided
 
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Benjamin_harsh said:
Is editing Host file in windows 7 is dangerous?
i want to edit Host file, so that i can bypass blocked sites. :)
but i am fear whether will my pc's OS get damaged or not? :(
No, will not damage your OS, but I would save my original HOSTS file if I were you. Also, be sure that your anti-virus is updated and active.
 
http://lifehacker.com/5817447/how-to-block-unwanted-ads-in-all-applications-and-speed-up-web-browsing-with-the-hosts-file

Here a is a site with host files
http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.htm

And here is a host file that blocks ads
http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.txt

I used the host file that way before firefox/adblock

Editing the host file is safe, easy and works well.
 
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If you change any files such as the HOST file then be sure to back it up somewhere in case you need to revert back to it. It won't effect your OS though, and if you ever did anything that disastrous then you can always just roll back to a Windows restore point or back to factory settings if you have a recovery partition.
 
meBigGuy said:
http://lifehacker.com/5817447/how-to-block-unwanted-ads-in-all-applications-and-speed-up-web-browsing-with-the-hosts-file

Here a is a site with host files
http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.htm

And here is a host file that blocks ads
http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.txt

I used the host file that way before firefox/adblock

Editing the host file is safe, easy and works well.

Oh NICE Hostfile! Thanks! Sure beats adding them in one by one.
 
To bypass blocked sites, I use free proxy server http://fineproxy.org/eng/ to hide my real location. It works for me fine and OS is not damaged.
 
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