Adding to the /etc/hosts file <resolved>

[Bierhundt]

I'm trying to add to my /etc/hosts file. The list I'm using is at this URL https://someonewhocares.org/
using the instructions from this site https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/modify-ma ... ile-linux/
When I went to the terminal and used nano, it said the /etc/hosts file is unwritable (??). There is already some info there, but it won't let me add the hosts file to stop all the ads I've been getting lately.

Is the /etc/hosts file in MX closed for some reason, or am I doing something wrong (wouldn't be the first time ;>) ). Years ago I used to modify my /etc/hosts file to get rid of ads, so I thought I'd do it with MX, since I saw a post here on post # 24 viewtopic.php?f=80&t=48115&start=20 by bigbenaugust.

He also says this:

I have a script for this: https://github.com/bigbenaugust/make_hosts that I have used for many distros.

But the block-advert.sh in the MX/antiX repos is nicer and has a GUI.

I have no idea how to use a script anymore (it's been too many years, and age has crept up on me). I'll do a search and look into using a bash script for now, but I'd really like to know why the /etc/hosts file is unwritable!
I went to the package manager and installed block advert, there was a selection named 'unblock' which I didn't check - is that another blocking service or is that checkbox meant for getting rid of the blocking services?

TIA, Bierhundt

[PondLife]

You will need to use "sudo" for root access to do this.

[Bierhundt]

You will need to use "sudo" for root access to do this.

I did use sudo, at least once - maybe I forgot the second or third time around - THX

[PondLife]

If using sudo/nano still gives you problems then you could try opening Thunar as root then copy and pasting the info into hosts that way, which worked for me.

[fehlix]

I'm trying to add to my /etc/hosts file. The list I'm using is at this URL https://someonewhocares.org/
using the instructions from this site https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/modify-ma ... ile-linux/

FWIW, antiX-Advert-Blocker is using /etc/hosts to block unwanted stuff.
In MX you'll find within populare apps.

antix-Advert-Blocker.png

[Bierhundt]

Thanks all, I went back and found out that 'advert' uses many of the names in 'someonewhocares' so I've got both just to make sure, since someonewhocares was updated/upgraded Jan 25th, and antix may or may not have added anything in quite a while. I then went onto You Tube and found that most ads have either disappeared or are blank, but I found a few that didn't go away, so I added those to my /etc/hosts as well, and so far I get no ads on You Tube - hopefully that will continue, now that I know how to find and add the addresses of those ads. Here are the ones I found so far:

#ads I have added below
127.0.0.1 mcdonaldads.com
127.0.0.1 donaldjtrump.com
127.0.0.1 haveenergyatanyage.com
127.0.0.1 groupon.com
127.0.0.1 forthepeople.com
127.0.0.1 squattingslav.tv
127.0.0.1 action.donaldjtrump.com
127.0.0.1 get.blaze.com
127.0.0.1 grammarly.com
127.0.0.1 organifishop.org
#end of ads I have added

It seems to work, because I've been watching a lot of intros to You Tube videos just to see if it works, and I've seen no ads. I'm sure there will be one every so often, but I'll add them to my list so I can have as much ad-free videos as I can get!

[Stevo]

The Ublock Origin browser extension also does a fine job of blocking ads on YT, as well as many other sites, along with a lot of other crud.

[fehlix]

... and antix may or may not have added anything in quite a while.

antiX-advert Blocker will download the latest, when (re-) activating the lists.

[Bierhundt]

The Ublock Origin browser extension also does a fine job of blocking ads on YT, as well as many other sites, along with a lot of other crud.

I mustof read that too fast, I thought it said Unblock - Thanks!!!

[Bierhundt]

... and antix may or may not have added anything in quite a while.

antiX-advert Blocker will download the latest, when (re-) activating the lists.

Oh, I figgered it would update sooner or later, I just wanted to get it over with, Thanks.