On 17 Oct 2003 00:59:46 GMT, in <alt.privacy.spyware>, data64
<me@privacy.net> wrote:

> > Should have done that before I posted . I can see now that in fact
> > Opera does exclude the Ads .
[snip]

Opera is NOT "excluding" the ads. In fact, Opera has nothing to do with it.
The HOSTS file works at a level significantly "below" that of the browser,
regardless of what browser you might tbe discussing. In effect, it acts
like a local DNS server (yes, that is an oversimplification; but it will
suffice for the current purpose). When a browser renders a web page
containing embeddied images, it has to send an HTTP GET request for each
such image file. So when the browser asks for the ad-image file from
<www.xyx.com/adbanner.gif>, but <www.xyx.com> is listed as 127.0.0.1 in your
HOSTS file, the browser never makes the HTTP connection to <www.xyx.com>,
and hence simply cannot display the image in question.

> Both Opera and Mozilla handle this quite intelligently. IE developers
> never bothered to add this feature.
>
[snip]

In light of the above, what "feature" are you referring to?

--

Jay T. Blocksom
--------------------------------
Appropriate Technology, Inc.
usenet01[at]appropriate-tech.net


"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
-- Benjamin Franklin, Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 1759.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
NOTE: E-Mail address in "From:" line is INVALID! Remove +SPAMBLOCK to mail.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Unsolicited advertising sent to this E-Mail address is expressly prohibited
under USC Title 47, Section 227. Violators are subject to charge of up to
$1,500 per incident or treble actual costs, whichever is greater.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -