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This is a good reminder to add these to your HOSTS file if you don't already have them blocked (which I have done for over 2 decades now): 0.0.0.0 analytic

This is a good reminder to add these to your HOSTS file if you don't already have them blocked (which I have done for over 2 decades now): 0.0.0.0 analytics.google.com 0.0.0.0 google-analytics.com 0.0.0.0 ssl.google-analytics.com 0.0.0.0 www.google-analytics.com 0.0.0.0 www.googletagservices.com

Scoundreller 2y ago
You’ve unlocked a memory: Back in the day I ran a giant hosts file for the same reason. I guess dumb OSs didn’t index HOSTS files well (didn’t expect them to be very large?) and it slowed things down noticeably. Apparently it’s still a thing and the workaround doesn’t work either: > This is still relevant with Windows 11; adding a 20MB hosts file (to block every known malicious IP) makes a 24-core i7 /w nvme take 4+ hours to boot. Worse, DNS cache is now system-controlled and cannot be stopped. Do not attempt! https://serverfault.com/questions/322747/can-a-long-etc-hosts-file-slow-dns-lookup https://serverfault.com/questions/322747/can-a-long-etc-host...
- userbinator 2y ago
  That sounds like the result of an "accidentally quadratic" or worse algorithm. Interesting that they didn't bother to fix it after all these years; perhaps they knew what those with large HOSTS files were using them for, and (especially now with Win11) were against it.
SapporoChris 2y ago
I have 133 occurrences of google in my host file.(and I'm not even saying that's enough) Those five you listed are a good start, but you can do better. There are a lot of services available to update your host file.
NelsonMinar 2y ago
I block ads and trackers in my browser. But I had that turned off for Blue Shield's website because it is very broken in lots of ways. One way it's broken is it fails if you run an ad blocker. Not sure if blocking Google's surveillance is the problem or some other ad blocker rule.

Scoundreller 2y ago

You’ve unlocked a memory: Back in the day I ran a giant hosts file for the same reason. I guess dumb OSs didn’t index HOSTS files well (didn’t expect them to be very large?) and it slowed things down noticeably. Apparently it’s still a thing and the workaround doesn’t work either: > This is still relevant with Windows 11; adding a 20MB hosts file (to block every known malicious IP) makes a 24-core i7 /w nvme take 4+ hours to boot. Worse, DNS cache is now system-controlled and cannot be stopped. Do not attempt! https://serverfault.com/questions/322747/can-a-long-etc-hosts-file-slow-dns-lookup https://serverfault.com/questions/322747/can-a-long-etc-host...

userbinator 2y ago
That sounds like the result of an "accidentally quadratic" or worse algorithm. Interesting that they didn't bother to fix it after all these years; perhaps they knew what those with large HOSTS files were using them for, and (especially now with Win11) were against it.

SapporoChris 2y ago

I have 133 occurrences of google in my host file.(and I'm not even saying that's enough) Those five you listed are a good start, but you can do better. There are a lot of services available to update your host file.

NelsonMinar 2y ago

I block ads and trackers in my browser. But I had that turned off for Blue Shield's website because it is very broken in lots of ways. One way it's broken is it fails if you run an ad blocker. Not sure if blocking Google's surveillance is the problem or some other ad blocker rule.