- Retrieve the IP address of any known host name by running ping (example):
ping microsoft.com
which returns this screen:
Pinging microsoft.com [207.46.130.108] with 32 bytes of data...
Then add this IP followed by its host name to your HOSTS file (example):
207.46.130.108 microsoft.com # Microsoft
PING.EXE is installed by default by all Windows 32-bit (Win32/x86) + 64-bit (Win64/x64) OSes in %windir% [95/98/ME = 9x OSes] or %windir%\SYSTEM32 [NT4/2000/XP/2003/Vista/2008 = NTx OSes].
Run:
ping
by itself to display all available command line parameters.
Some internet/network servers use dynamic IP addresses, meaning the numbers change periodically or every time you try to access them. Therefore you may need to ping the same server more than once at different times, and then add ALL IP numbers found for that server, followed by its host/web site name (see example above) on separate lines into your HOSTS file.
• HOSTS as ad, malware + popup blocker:
- The HOSTS file is only a primitive anti-adware, anti-spyware, anti-malware + anti-popup blocking tool.
But it can be used to successfully block adware, spyware, malware, viruses, trojans, worms, zombies + popups in all your web browsers by preventing an entire list of internet domains/servers/web sites from accessing your local computer(s).
Be aware that the HOSTS file can be easily deleted, modified, renamed, moved etc by malware/spyware to include malware/spying/rogue/phishing/virus/trojan/zombie servers or/and to remove/disable malware servers in the background, without user's knowledge.
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED:
Install + run a dedicated firewall, anti-spyware + anti-virus tools in order to monitor for, detect and remove any potential malware/spyware.
Block (deny access to and from) any host (force that server to default to localhost IP) by preceding its name with 0.0.0.0 (null = can be abbreviated to 0) or 127.0.0.1 (localhost = loopback). This example:
0.0.0.0 microsoft.com
or abbreviated to (faster):
0 microsoft.com
or (slower):
127.0.0.1 microsoft.com
denies access to and from microsoft.com domain name.
See MDGx HOSTS files for a list of blocked servers.
Rename all your HOSTS file 0.0.0.0 (or abbreviated to 0) instances to 127.0.0.1 (or the other way around) if too slow or if not working.
•NEVER• rename/modify/delete/comment/remark this HOSTS line:
127.0.0.1 localhost
Surf the internet safely... 
