Security adblocking automation privacy security
Source (link to git-repo or to original if based on someone elses unmodified work): https://github.com/angela-d/autohosts
Auto Hosts will automate the setup process for maintaining an up to date hosts file, by:
- Installing a weekly cronjob to pull fresh/updated copies of hosts lists (default is every Sunday at 7:22pm)
- (Default custom_filters and firefox-includes) source appends Facebook trackers, Linkedin ads, Google fonts, Firefox telemetry and other harvester sites that curated lists for whatever reason, have not added to their blacklists
- Refreshes DNS to instantiate the re-routed changes (Mac Only)
- If Devdom is installed, append all local virtualhosts
- Uninstall offers the ability to revert to a fresh hosts file and undo any changes made by Autohosts; a backup will be copied to /tmp
- Add custom blacklists, whitelists and host sources from ~/autohosts on your desktop
Hosts files will reroute unwanted traffic to a blackhole; routing to 0.0.0.0 (localhost; your PC) when a request is made to a URL on the blacklist.
Which means any traffic that would have left your system for that destination, is sent inward, to your localhost and then abandoned.
Despite what some may suggest, hosts files are not "1980s technology" and still very useful today, as an additional layer of security.
Hosts file are a useful redundancy when coupled with ad blockers like uBlock Origin and uMatrix - while debugging or 'Temporarily Allow All on this Site' with Noscript can open you up to underlying attacks or privacy intrusions.
In-browser filters won't protect you if the browser itself is phoning home.
If you have an up-to-date hosts file, the risk is severely lessened.
Who Should Use Autohosts?
If you are frequently mobile, your privacy-hardened installs of Pi-Hole, OpenWRT or DD-WRT on your home router will not protect you. Autohosts will shield you while on the go, independent of whose network you logon to.
Likewise, not everyone has the means to flash custom router firmware or the skill necessary to do so. Autohosts can fill that gap.
Safe icon by DesignContest http://www.designcontest.com
The example whitelist was impeding blockage of improving.duckduckgo.com tracking 9 months ago
If you previously installed Autohosts, running this update won't block improving.duckduckgo.com
To block improving.duckduckgo.com (for existing installs):
Edit your ~/autohosts/whitelist and remove duckduckgo (and any other example filter you don't care to whitelist).
This release is primarily to fix the minor bug for future installs.
The example whitelist was impeding blockage of improving.duckduckgo.com tracking 9 months ago
If you previously installed Autohosts, running this update won't block improving.duckduckgo.com
To block improving.duckduckgo.com (for existing installs):
Edit your ~/autohosts/whitelist and remove duckduckgo (and any other example filter you don't care to whitelist).
This release is primarily to fix the minor bug for future installs.
v3.0.0 - Freedom of choice! 11 months ago
- You can now utilize your own choice upstream hosts curators, rather than being content with the (previously) hardcoded host list by Steven Black.
- Logic improvements and bugfixes
v2.0.1 1 year ago
- Bugfixes for the .deb installer
- Whitelisting capabilities added
2.0.0 1 year ago
- Minor bugfixes for MacOS
- System paths reworked for the .deb installer in order to share the codebase between Debian and non-Debian based systems
Custom filters added 1 year ago
- The ability to add custom filters that stick around after subsequent cron updates has been added!
- Tidying of the codebase, so its more readable and organized
- Fixed addons/extensions AWS domain block
1.2.0 1 year ago
- Removed over-zealous blocking of Mozilla's addon subdomains
- Wipe hosts file upon removal & save a backup to tmp
- Change logic on Firefox telemetry inclusion
Firefox Telemetry 1 year ago
Numerous Firefox telemetry URLs added
adgellida
Mar 02 2020
matafleur
Oct 24 2019
tw0faz3
Dec 11 2018
LionBit
Nov 20 2018
Support-Box
Autohosts - Block Ads Spyware and Tracking at the Root Level is part of Libre Apps, Games and Add-ons, which is supported by the following people:
More Security from angelad:
Other Security:
sdmf
1 year ago
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