Lance Hill wrote:
> "Lance Delacroix" <lance_delacroix@fastmail.fm> wrote...
>> On Thu, 03 Jul 2003 01:11:20 GMT, "d11@anywhere.com" <> prounounced a
>> fatwah thus:
>>
>>> How do I get the IP address of different spyware.
>>
>> From Sponge, of course.
>
> Help educate a newbie. Sponge looks like a list of "bad" IP addresses
> you can use with your firewall. The HOSTS file I see around here
> looks like a similar list, but it's used to misdirect software to a
> null or false IP address.
>
> So which is "better"? Or what are the pros and cons of either method?
>
> Another Lance
> *****

I do not know which is "better" but I find HOSTS file much easier to manage.

Tools that I use to manage it.
HOSTESS
http://accs-net.com/hostess/
Has Add, Edit, Delete, Search, Group, Import/Export and create Registry
Restricted Zone entries.
Automatically removes duplicates.
Note: The program author has commited to provide a function to validate
HOSTS entries.

HOSTS forum
http://asp.flaaten.dk/proxo/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=20
Has over 17,000 ad sites and was updated June 1st.

The only con that I can think of is that site addresses can not be a range
ie: 127.0.0.1 *.doubleclick.com will not work.