What's the best way to secure the hosts file?


kelper said:
I'm still using Webroot (beta) and they gave me two years subscription. It's so fast and I only 'see' it very occasionally. I don't think the testers can cope with it's not using definition files and not reacting until a bad actor starts encrypting or misbehaving. BitDefender seems more in-your-face' and uses a lot of space! Webroot uses 36MB and has no extra bells and whistles.
Click to expand...
Oh, yeah, its small footprint and speed were definitely factors in my initial decision to choose Webroot.

However, one thing I'm sure you've noticed that, to this very day that has still not resolved, is the crazy growth of the WRData folder! My fix for that has been to take a baseline copy of the WRData folder and when it grows to an unacceptable size, I delete and restore it to the baseline.
 

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If you contact support, they will whitelist any files that are triggering this journalling. Then they give instructions for reinstalling Webroot and removing WRData folder. Mine is currently 500MB. I will send you a PM.
 

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Looking in my stuff, I found this little gem called Secure Folders. It has a filter driver, very stable. It's able to set the hosts file as read-only. In fact, I decided to use it again in my Windows 10 machine to secure some drives and folders.

Download: UPLOAD.EE - SetupSecureFoldersV1.0.0.9.rar - Download
Password: ElevenForum

Note: you have to add the full path to the hosts file manually, not by browsing within the app.
The driver .sys file is digitally signed, but the setup is not. It doesn't matter since the important file is the driver sys file.
 

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Any decent antimalware would protect the hosts file.
 

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System One System Two Other systems

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 26200.8973AMD Ryzen 7 5825U with Radeon Graphics16GB
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 26200.8973
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acemagic LX15PRO
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 5825U with Radeon Graphics
    Motherboard
    BIOS CT_BI_AMI_LX15PRO_AB8139_A-004
    Memory
    16GB
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    SSD 2TB
    Internet Speed
    30 Mbps
    Browser
    Brave
    Antivirus
    Webroot SecureAnywhere Complete beta

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 22631.2506Atom N450 1.66GHz2GB
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 22631.2506
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Mini 210-1090NR PC (bought in late 2009!)
    CPU
    Atom N450 1.66GHz
    Memory
    2GB
    Browser
    Brave
    Antivirus
    Webroot
  • Acer Swift SF114-34 laptop
    OS Windows 11 Pro 26200.8894
    CPU Pentium Silver N6000
    RAM 4GB
    BIOS v1.17
    SSD Samsung 970 EVO Plus SSD 2TB (an upgrade)
Yes both files have the same hash:
Rich (BB code): 
SetupSecureFolders.exe    SHA-256    355F9C7AE0CCB2885D1CB6AFFB4BA89102A78BE43EB2604A90084BCB34CA1DD4
 

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How about using an ad blocker, system-wide or as a browser extension?
I make use of an AdBlocker extension for Chrome. Zero fake download screens. I'm amazed you don't know...
 

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It’s not that we don’t know about ad blockers.

“No discussion or promotion of ad-blocking tools. The Site is ad-supported—advertising funds its operation and maintenance.”

Terms and rules

You must agree to these terms and rules before using the site.
www.elevenforum.com www.elevenforum.com
 

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Not everyone who visits ElevenForum "knows" about ad-supported file hosting sites, and it's helpful to point that out to them. We have visitors from many different experience levels.
 

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pseymour said:
It’s not that we don’t know about ad blockers.

“No discussion or promotion of ad-blocking tools. The Site is ad-supported—advertising funds its operation and maintenance.”

Terms and rules

You must agree to these terms and rules before using the site.
www.elevenforum.com www.elevenforum.com
Click to expand...

What's not really been said is you can add and make exceptions to it so it won't do that for certain websites.
 

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    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 build: (26200.7623)
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    Microsoft 25H2 ProIntel Core Ultra 764GBIntel Integrated Graphics
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    Dell Pro 14 - PC14250
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    Intel Core Ultra 7
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    64GB
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garlin said:
I hate upload.ee,
Click to expand...
I even have that website blocked on all my networks. :hug: Can only get it from my vm in dmz. Anyway spooled up a test vm, installed it, extracted the driver. Will take a look with ida if i can reverse engineer it and make my own working. When i have the time.. big project at the moment, hope that is fished in about 6months.
 

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