HOSTS file entries to avoid using

Okay, it's important to block some websites, and using the HOSTS file is an efficient means of accomplishing this, but equally as important is to know what sites to NOT block. Now sometimes dealing with the HOSTS file can be tricky. Some sites use multiple servers and using certain entries in the HOSTS file can cause improper viewing of sites or block them entirely. This is what this thread is for. If you have an entry that you think causes a legitimate site to be blocked, please post it.

How can I find out what entries block legitimate site?
1) Well, if for whatever reason when you go to a site and you get a "Page Cannot be Displayed" error, then you should be able to look in the address bar to find out what URL is needed to be removed.
2) If the site you goto has an excessive amount of red Xs on it, then you can right-click on some of those red Xs and look at the Address (URL). Post whatever you find.

The entries below are a collection I have found on other HOSTS files I found online and know they block legitimate sites. These are on my permenant exclusions or "No-No" list.
=================================================
Entries that block legitimate sites:
127.0.0.1 27meg.com
127.0.0.1 4d5.net
127.0.0.1 a1112.g.akamai.net
127.0.0.1 a12.g.akamai.net
127.0.0.1 a1360.g.akamai.net
127.0.0.1 a16.g.akamai.net
127.0.0.1 a248.e.akamai.net
127.0.0.1 a4.g.akamai.net
127.0.0.1 a408.g.akamai.net
127.0.0.1 a692.g.akamai.net
127.0.0.1 a744.g.akamai.net
127.0.0.1 a772.g.akamai.net
127.0.0.1 a840.g.akamai.net
127.0.0.1 ad.suprnova.org
127.0.0.1 addme.com
127.0.0.1 ads.gamespy.com
127.0.0.1 ads.monster.com
127.0.0.1 ads.msn.com
127.0.0.1 aim-charts.pf.aol.com
127.0.0.1 ak.buy.com
127.0.0.1 ak.imgfarm.com
127.0.0.1 allposters.com
127.0.0.1 anna-kournikova.com
127.0.0.1 ashampoo.com
127.0.0.1 askgates.com
127.0.0.1 att.com
127.0.0.1 audiogalaxy.com
127.0.0.1 av.com
127.0.0.1 away.com
127.0.0.1 babelfish.altavista.com
127.0.0.1 beta.windowsmedia.com
127.0.0.1 bfc.myway.com
127.0.0.1 braincast.nl
127.0.0.1 build.tripod.com
127.0.0.1 c.msnbc.com
127.0.0.1 c4.myway.com
127.0.0.1 cache.ultramercial.com
127.0.0.1 cgi.tripod.com
127.0.0.1 charterzone.charter.com
127.0.0.1 citi.bridgetrack.com
127.0.0.1 citigroup.com
127.0.0.1 click.linksynergy.com
127.0.0.1 click.myreg.net
127.0.0.1 clickit.go2net.com
127.0.0.1 clickserve.cc-dt.com
127.0.0.1 conferences.oreillynet.com
127.0.0.1 download.macromedia.com
127.0.0.1 dps1.travelocity.com
127.0.0.1 ea.pogo.com
127.0.0.1 famulus.msnbc.com
127.0.0.1 ffmedia.ign.com
127.0.0.1 fpdownload.macromedia.com
127.0.0.1 freewebs.com
127.0.0.1 freshdiagnose.com
127.0.0.1 frontiernet.net
127.0.0.1 gk.myway.com
127.0.0.1 global.msads.net
127.0.0.1 googleadservices.com
127.0.0.1 gs.myway.com
127.0.0.1 h.msimg.com
127.0.0.1 harmony-central.com
127.0.0.1 has.it
127.0.0.1 hotpop.com
127.0.0.1 i.cmpnet.com
127.0.0.1 i.i.com.com
127.0.0.1 i.timeinc.net
127.0.0.1 ia.imdb.com
127.0.0.1 ifrance.com
127.0.0.1 image.imgfarm.com
127.0.0.1 imagecache.allposters.com
127.0.0.1 imagecache2.allposters.com
127.0.0.1 images.ircspy.com
127.0.0.1 images.stoneage.com
127.0.0.1 imdb.com
127.0.0.1 img.cmpnet.com
127.0.0.1 infobeat.com
127.0.0.1 jumpeu.altavista.com
127.0.0.1 localhost
127.0.0.1 lt.angelfire.com
127.0.0.1 macromedia.speedera.net
127.0.0.1 mds.centrport.net
127.0.0.1 media.collegepublisher.com
127.0.0.1 media.expedia.com
127.0.0.1 mirrorsearch.speedbit.com
127.0.0.1 more.women.com
127.0.0.1 msid.eu.msn.com
127.0.0.1 msid.msn.com
127.0.0.1 my.myway.com
127.0.0.1 my.netzero.net
127.0.0.1 mysearch.myway.com
127.0.0.1 myway.com
127.0.0.1 netzero.com
127.0.0.1 netzero.net
127.0.0.1 newdata.box.sk
127.0.0.1 ns2.lunarpages.com
127.0.0.1 omen.ru
127.0.0.1 owns.it
127.0.0.1 pestpatrol.com
127.0.0.1 pics.ebaystatic.com
127.0.0.1 pinger.macromedia.com
127.0.0.1 qksrv.net
127.0.0.1 quickreplies.net
127.0.0.1 quizilla.com
127.0.0.1 r.hotwired.com
127.0.0.1 rd.yahoo.com
127.0.0.1 real.com
127.0.0.1 redir.opera.com
127.0.0.1 rmads.msn.com
127.0.0.1 sdc.shockwave.com
127.0.0.1 search.myway.com
127.0.0.1 service.bfast.com
127.0.0.1 sp.ask.com
127.0.0.1 spamarrest.com
127.0.0.1 spe.atdmt.com
127.0.0.1 ssl.catalog.com
127.0.0.1 stat.livejournal.com
127.0.0.1 stats.surfaid.ihost.com
127.0.0.1 stoneage.com
127.0.0.1 stopzilla.com
127.0.0.1 theozone.tripod.com
127.0.0.1 theproxyconnection.com
127.0.0.1 tm.wc.ask.com
127.0.0.1 tmarket.tripod.com
127.0.0.1 townews.com
127.0.0.1 ukonline.co.uk
127.0.0.1 us.a1.yimg.com
127.0.0.1 us.ac2.yimg.com
127.0.0.1 us.i1.yimg.com
127.0.0.1 us.js1.yimg.com
127.0.0.1 us.rd.yahoo.com
127.0.0.1 util.anonymizer.com
127.0.0.1 vicinity.com
127.0.0.1 view.atdmt.com
127.0.0.1 web.da-us.citibank.com
127.0.0.1 webshots.com
127.0.0.1 wisconsin.com
127.0.0.1 womenswire.com
127.0.0.1 worldnetdaily.com
127.0.0.1 www.27meg.com
127.0.0.1 www.acesewvac.com
127.0.0.1 www.acs3.com
127.0.0.1 www.addme.com
127.0.0.1 www.aprelium.com
127.0.0.1 www.askgates.com
127.0.0.1 www.audiogalaxy.com
127.0.0.1 www.bbbonline.org
127.0.0.1 www.bcspl.com.au
127.0.0.1 www.boutell.com
127.0.0.1 www.braincast.nl
127.0.0.1 www.ccmaui.com
127.0.0.1 www.charterevision.com
127.0.0.1 www.chinkii.com
127.0.0.1 www.definitivesolutions.com
127.0.0.1 www.firmament.com
127.0.0.1 www.freedomcharge.com
127.0.0.1 www.freewebs.com
127.0.0.1 www.freshdiagnose.com
127.0.0.1 www.googleadservices.com
127.0.0.1 www.harmony-central.com
127.0.0.1 www.has.it
127.0.0.1 www.hotpop.com
127.0.0.1 www.infobeat.com
127.0.0.1 www.lockdown2000.com
127.0.0.1 www.mbnet.fi
127.0.0.1 www.members.tripod.com
127.0.0.1 www.msn.co.uk
127.0.0.1 www.msn.com
127.0.0.1 www.msn.com.ar
127.0.0.1 www.msn.com.au
127.0.0.1 www.msn.com.az
127.0.0.1 www.msn.com.br
127.0.0.1 www.msn.com.bz
127.0.0.1 www.msn.com.fj
127.0.0.1 www.msn.com.hk
127.0.0.1 www.msn.com.lv
127.0.0.1 www.msn.com.mt
127.0.0.1 www.msn.com.mx
127.0.0.1 www.msn.com.my
127.0.0.1 www.msn.com.ni
127.0.0.1 www.msn.com.ph
127.0.0.1 www.msn.com.pl
127.0.0.1 www.msn.com.pt
127.0.0.1 www.msn.com.sa
127.0.0.1 www.msn.com.sg
127.0.0.1 www.msn.com.tw
127.0.0.1 www.msn-bc.com
127.0.0.1 www.myciti.com
127.0.0.1 www.myway.com
127.0.0.1 www.mywebattack.com
127.0.0.1 www.ohio-usa.com
127.0.0.1 www.omen.ru
127.0.0.1 www.orlafla.com
127.0.0.1 www.pestpatrol.com
127.0.0.1 www.qksrv.net
127.0.0.1 www.quickreplies.net
127.0.0.1 www.softconsulting.com
127.0.0.1 www.spamarrest.com
127.0.0.1 www.techiwarehouse.com
127.0.0.1 www.thelist.com
127.0.0.1 www.usbank.com
127.0.0.1 www.vicinity.com
127.0.0.1 www.webshots.com
127.0.0.1 www.worldnetdaily.com
127.0.0.1 www.youngrebels.com
127.0.0.1 www.zap2it.com
127.0.0.1 www1.myway.com
127.0.0.1 xtra.co.nz
127.0.0.1 z.about.com
127.0.0.1 zap2it.com
127.0.0.1 inventory.uk.overture.com
127.0.0.1 inventory.overture.com
127.0.0.1 www.angelfire.com
127.0.0.1 af.lygo.com
127.0.0.1 www.snopes.com
127.0.0.1 members.shaw.ca
=================================================


Now, it's important to note something. Just because you don't like a site, isn't enough to not call it a legitimate site. If it is dangerous or distribute obnoxious ads, malware, or spam, then that is a reason to block a site. When I post Supertrick XG, I try to make it for everyone. The HOSTS file gurus online do this too, but not all of them. I'm sure this can help r00ted as much as it can help me.

-- Xero Grid --

This one should be added to the exclusions too. It blocks all Yahoo Mail Javascript (so buttons, menu dropdowns and the overall formatting does not work at all... been wondering about this one for months)

us.js1.yimg.com

I have these in my hosts file and they still get through .. , I need admuncher to eat them up..

127.0.0.1 googleadservices.com
127.0.0.1 www.googleadservices.com

Nice. I wouldn't have found that one.
I haven't used yahoo in a while.

As for the google entries, I don't block them because the prevent some of the sponsered ads on the side of google searches, some of which aren't worth blocking.

-- Xero Grid --

I know!!! That one was bugging me. It made it so when I log into Yahoo Mail, it looks all wierd and crap because there was no scripts. It took me awhile to figure it out. I had to find out if it was any of my firewalls, protowall, PAC or HOSTS file or ect. Finally narrowed it down to the HOSTS file then I had to search through it to see if its redirecting any needed sites and finally I found out it was us.js1.yimg.com.

*sniffles* I feel so loved! Praise! Praise!

is it just me or is www.newyorktimes.comblocked?

I can use that URL. It redirects to www.nytimes.com, though.
Are you using r00ted's HOSTS file, yours, or mine?
Beware, you may have CWS.

-- Xero Grid --

no CWS. my machine is clean as can be.

I'm using r00ted's list.
both www.newyorktimes.com and www.nytimes.com are blocked - they are not listed in the HOSTS though.

Sometimes, a site can be hosted on an ad server, like akamai (the most infamous ad company of all time and also hosting LOTS of legit sites). So, I suggest removing the entries on my exclusions list.
To do that, you can clear you HOSTS file, move the entries from the exclusions list into the HOSTS file, then use Aldo's HOSTS Manager to merge r00ted's HOSTS file and when it's done and saved, remove the exclusion entries at the beginning of the HOSTS file.
Seems kinda weird, huh?

-- Xero Grid --

Added the following entries to the exclusions list:
127.0.0.1 www.vicinity.com
127.0.0.1 vicinity.com
127.0.0.1 us.js1.yimg.com
127.0.0.1 us.a1.yimg.com
127.0.0.1 us.ac2.yimg.com
127.0.0.1 newdata.box.sk
127.0.0.1 media.expedia.com
127.0.0.1 www.pestpatrol.com
127.0.0.1 pestpatrol.com
127.0.0.1 famulus.msnbc.com
127.0.0.1 www.boutell.com
127.0.0.1 www.audiogalaxy.com
127.0.0.1 ak.buy.com
127.0.0.1 dps1.travelocity.com
127.0.0.1 my.netzero.net
127.0.0.1 www.thelist.com
127.0.0.1 audiogalaxy.com
127.0.0.1 netzero.com
127.0.0.1 netzero.net
127.0.0.1 www.mbnet.fi
127.0.0.1 att.com


Once again, these are not neccesarily in r00ted's HOSTS file. These are entries that have been found on HOSTS files I find posted sites.

-- Xero Grid --

This thread should be stickied IMHO