Warning

  There are potential issues with web site functionality, ethics, and
  breaking your OS if you follow the below steps. Your Mileage May Vary.
  If you break something or find yourself in existential anguish over the
  moral implications of this recipe (see Ethics, &c. below), they are
  totally on you.

Recipe

  I take a "defense in-depth" approach to security. While I use ad
  blocking add-ons in my web browsers and often use text-only browsers to
  reduce the attack surface, they don't help for other apps. Here is how
  I keep my hosts file updated for another layer of ad blocking on my
  hosts.

  First, we need to get the latest version of an ad blocking hosts file.
  I get mine from [1]winhelp2002.mvps.org.
cd ~/Downloads
wget http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.txt

  Then we need to calculate the difference between the system's current
  hosts file and the one we downloaded.
diff -ud /etc/hosts hosts.txt > hosts.patch

  Let's back up the hosts file including permissions in case we make an
  error.
sudo cp -p /etc/hosts hosts.bak

  Next, we apply the patch to the hosts file as root.
sudo patch -b /etc/hosts hosts.patch

  Finally, we need to refresh the DNS cache to reflect the changes.
sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder && echo macOS DNS Cache Reset

  If you find something is wrong with your host or your soul, you can
  revert the change.
sudo cp -p ~/Downloads/hosts.bak /etc/hosts

  … and then re-execute the DNS cache refresh command just above.

  For Windows hosts, download the hosts.zip file from the above link. It
  includes a batch file to automate the process.

  For GNU/Linux, BSD, and Unix hosts something similar to the macOS
  instructions will work for you.

Ethics, &t．

  Many will argue that this type of system-wide ad blocking is unethical
  up to and including theft. This is a valid argument. However, I do
  subscribe to the sites and services I value the most, such as the New
  York Times & Japan Times for home delivery(!), magazines like the
  Atlantic, and websites like the Brooks Review.

  There are security risks, privacy concerns, and system performance
  issues that are equally valid. And some ads (auto-playing videos,
  anyone?) consume an inordinate amount of bandwidth at additional cost
  to me when I am on a metered network. These tip the scales toward
  blocking, in my humble opinion.

  Once ad networks and the sites that use them prove their commitment to
  effective security practices, exhibit proper security hygiene, and
  respect users' privacy by default I will reconsider my approach.

  Please feel free to comment constructively. Don't be evil.
  Also on:

  [2]Twitter [3]Twitter
    __________________________________________________________________

  My original entry is here: [4]Using the hosts file for system-wide ad
  blocking. It posted Mon, 16 Apr 2018 22:00:28 +0000.
  Filed under: personal, privacy, tech,

References

  1. http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.htm
  2. https://twitter.com/prjorgensen/status/986100647220137984
  3. https://twitter.com/TokyoGringo/status/986001457123127302
  4. https://www.prjorgensen.com/?p=999

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