Blocklist Manager

The hosts file is a local DNS override used to block domains or redirect websites. (C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts) A filter get's added via e.g. uBO - filter within the browser -> no system wide blocking.

Preview (not up to date):

blocklists.mp4

Examples:

0.0.0.0 ads.com -> non routable address
127.0.0.1 ads.com -> loopback address

||ads.com^ -> filter (browser)
@@||ads.com^ -> exception

First numbers (IP address) is where the domain will be directed to, the second (domain name) is the site, which is getting redirected (blocked).

• 0.0.0.0 blocks/drops the request instantly - making them "unreachable" (known as being faster than 127.0.01, but may be incompatible on some systems)
• 127.0.0.1 redirects the domain to the localhost (your computer) - called "loopback address"
• ||ads.com^ blocks the domain - wouldn't block http://domain.com/redirect/http://ads.com/ -> can't be used within the hosts file ⠀ You should never use all blocklists! This would break most of your applications & slow down your system by a lot. Applying all lists won't give you a better browsing experience! Try to use at least lists as possible. (or use the default preset) Using big lists system wide (hosts file) is also not recommended - if you're planning to use a big list, do that via e.g. uBO (even if the list is compatible with the hosts file). Importing a list will override your current hosts!

Hosts File Editor (PowerToys) can be used for editing, adding, removing, and managing hosts file entries. It's not compatible with the entries Blocklist-Manager.ps1 makes, as it compresses the entries, e.g.:

# Default formatting
0.0.0.0 5noxi.github.io
0.0.0.0 5noxi.github.io
0.0.0.0 5noxi.github.io
0.0.0.0 5noxi.github.io
0.0.0.0 5noxi.github.io
0.0.0.0 5noxi.github.io
0.0.0.0 5noxi.github.io
0.0.0.0 5noxi.github.io
0.0.0.0 5noxi.github.io
0.0.0.0 5noxi.github.io
0.0.0.0 5noxi.github.io

# Compressed
0.0.0.0 5noxi.github.io 5noxi.github.io 5noxi.github.io 5noxi.github.io 5noxi.github.io 5noxi.github.io 5noxi.github.io 5noxi.github.io 5noxi.github.io 5noxi.github.io

It's included in PowerToys (winget install Microsoft.PowerToys), but doesn't need to be installed if you use Blocklist-Manager.ps1, unless you want to manage single entries (which is buggy anyway). I'll probably add my own editor soon that correctly handles compressed host entries.

Issues after importing multiple lists?

Open cmd and paste del /f /q C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts into it. If it shows that the DNS client used it, flush your DNS (ipconfig /flushdns). Still not? Boot into safemode (bcdedit /set safeboot minimal) & remove the hosts file. This may be needed, if importing too many lists.

Default hosts content:

# Copyright (c) 1993-2009 Microsoft Corp.
#
# This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
#
# This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
# entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
# be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
# The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
# space.
#
# Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
# lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol.
#
# For example:
#
#      102.54.94.97     rhino.acme.com          # source server
#       38.25.63.10     x.acme.com              # x client host

# localhost name resolution is handled within DNS itself.
#    127.0.0.1       localhost
#    ::1             localhost

GUI Buttons

The presets are just examples, use lists from the vendor you prefer.

Button	Description
Minimal	Preset, which can be used by anyone (hosts/filter).
Default	Default preset, compact size (filter).
Maximum	For users who want aggressive blocking (filter).
Import	Imports the currently selected lists into the hosts file (if compatible).
Copy Links	Copies URLs of all selected lists. Add these links to the custom filter lists:
Restore	Imports the backup from: C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts.noverse.
Open File	Opens the file: C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts.

Additional Features

• Click on the category name (blue) to open the source link
• Adjust the window size, to increase the size of the hosts/log box
• hosts preview refreshes itself automatically
• You can edit the hosts file via the panel in the GUI (doesn't create a backup)

More lists/information:

https://github.com/gorhill/uBlock/wiki/
https://github.com/yokoffing/filterlists
https://adblockplus.org/filter-cheatsheet
https://github.com/DandelionSprout/adfilt
https://github.com/uBlockOrigin/uAssets
https://filterlists.com/
https://pi-hole.net/
https://sefinek.net/blocklist-generator
https://github.com/pixeltris/TwitchAdSolutions
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/powertoys/hosts-file-editor
https://pyfunceble.github.io/#/
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/privacy/windows-11-endpoints-non-enterprise-editions
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/privacy/manage-windows-11-endpoints