I'm sorry about digging up an old thread. I discovered this thread via Google while researching about the "optimized"
hpHosts HOSTS file maintained by Steven Burn.
In regards to an
"optimized" HOSTS file that
m00nbl00d mentioned in the original post above, some follow-up information in this thread seems lacking (and I also use Spybot S&D) so I am contributing some more info.
According to the
hpHosts Download page, using a large HOSTS file can be particularly problematic, especially when the Windows
DNS Client Service is enabled. That apparently is their rationale for providing an "optimized" HOSTS file. (Read the hpHosts Download page for more details.)
Here are
direct links to the "optimized" Hosts file maintained by hpHosts' Steven Burn.
I am considering switching to the "optimized" hpHosts' file instead of their standard format file. However, I want to avoid any problems/conflicts with my computer's configuration if possible.
I do not wish to "hijack" this thread so I ask only two questions that I think are in line with the original poster's concerns.
- Does Spybot S&D play well with a large "optimized" HOSTS file (9 hosts per line, as described in the original post)?
- If so, then does (or will) Spybot's "Immunize" feature append entries to the HOSTS file in the same "optimized" format?