Stop Microsoft from getting your data!

[@jtc1947]

I keep telling people that MS wants TOTAL control of THEIR Personal Computers! MS doesn't want you doing things for YOURSELF! Many Thanks Liron!

[@gregvisioninfosoft]

dont forget, it used to be "My Computer', today its 'This Computer', tomorrow 'Subscription based Computer'... they try to be subtle, when its not subtle at all. we need to avoid companys who try to lead us into the slaughter house.

[@6hypnone]

Could also be said of the state of the world as well re ownership, so absolutely makes sense ms is going this way. But, another story.

[@JeanTheron-cf8zl]

Richard Stallman has been warning us against this for decades.

[@jeffmccloud905]

You're thinking of Apple.

[@JeanTheron-cf8zl]

​@@jeffmccloud905Different sides of the same coin

[@MondoLeStraka]

I was an IT consultant and won a Microsoft Achievement Award and this is one of the most incredible security/privacy videos I have seen.

[@LironSegev]

Appreciate you being here 🔥

[@Insomnia74]

@@LironSegev or, you can just get Linux mint. It's so easy that a child can do it.

[@LironSegev]

@@Insomnia74 there is so much wrong with this statement it's ridiculous. Let's start by compatibility issues (can't run Adobe apps as an example), Libre office doesn't do macros, gaming is getting better but still isn't there yet, drivers for peripherals are buggy etc.

[@chrismoule7242]

@@Insomnia74 yes it may be. Won't run apps that are crucial for me. So....

[@Insomnia74]

@@LironSegev Unrelated to the subject, it's all about getting Microsoft out the way.

[@winterspree1]

I followed the instructions and was worriedly uncomfortable with the amount of data being harvested !!! I encourage everyone who has had enough of the constant gathering of our browser habits to delve into this. Thank you, Liron Segev

[@vvorldnewsmedia]

do no use this you won't get access to the internet just your local i just did it and have to do a system restore cuz i couldn't do anything just a heads up

[@Cypherdude1]

@@vvorldnewsmedia Why did you have to do a System Restore? All you had to do was change the HOSTS file name back.

[@alexlowe2054]

Shutup10 is really what the new Windows settings menu should have been. It's incredible how worthless the Windows settings menu is, how hard it is to find different settings, and how little information you get in the settings menu. Shutup10 is one of the first programs I install on any machine.

[@ReikiMaulana]

not to be pessimistic, but does it actually blocks Microsoft's telemetry completely?

[@vvorldnewsmedia]

dont use this nothing but your local stuff will show up i just did this and i could not get on the internet as I have internet i checked everything just does not work

[@Johnny-gc1er]

And? Have you solved the Problem? Can you now to on the internet

[@robertsaca3512]

He said it wasn't a program you had to install.

[@Fahqth]

that hosts lists has now got over 600 entries, was around 250 in this video lol also thank you so much, i've been looking how to make my system leaner. New Subscriber!

[@christonieuwoudt7185]

Thank you so much my friend, I said so many times in the past that they want to control us. We must control them, and that is exactly what you taught us here. Best

[@outbackeddie]

I'm not even remotely saavy about computer stuff, but even I understood this video. Thank you for this excellent production.

[@teekev125]

A step you missed is flushing the cached DNS entries on your computer. The least technical way to do it is to reboot the computer once the host file is updated. Of course, you can flush the DNS for an ipconfig command in a command prompt.

[@eduardopekurned1505]

Not everyone can flush the toilet, What is the command?

[@teekev125]

@@eduardopekurned1505 OPen a command prompt. Ctrl R CMD then type ipconfig /flushdns enter This will delete all cached DNS entries

why would it matter? None of them are going anywhere after you set it up like he said. They are all blocked.

[@Mikein203]

​@@eduardopekurned1505lmao! Remember Google is your friend 🧡

[@therealromster]

DNS entries are cached with a TTL (time to live), I am pretty sure those DNS entries will be cached the moment the PC is on the internet. "ipconfig /flushdns" To flush the DNS cache.

[@katokatokato4354]

Just found out your video. I started doing your recommendations, opening my task manager, my cpu from 90% went down to 5%, thanks man, one subscribe for you. You dont know how much I thank you for this

[@Corteum]

Wow, youve been running your cpu at 90% for years and now suddenly only in the last few hours you fixed it just as this video came out

[@katokatokato4354]

@@Corteum the way you put it make it sound like I run multiple heavy applications at once for years... I just stated the estimates. Before I follow his suggestions, my pc has many microsoft whatshit in task manager and running and uses my pc's resources. I cant end them all fearing errors or something bad might happen, it was high at 60% - 90% and I uses two browsers with multiple tabs and one vpn, I open the same applications after Im done with his suggestions (include restart) and voila it was now at the range of 5% to 20%.

[@Corteum]

@@katokatokato4354 At least you found a solution that works. Many peoeple havnet got clues about any of this stuffs

[@aros007z]

Awesomeness

[@TheBoyCalzone]

Just sounds like you had a terrible computer to begin with to be honest

[@shokama]

Hmm... I wonder what kind of risks are when changing the DNS for Windows/Microsoft telemetry. Will I be unable to access certain apps?

[@DreamsComeTrue007]

Im so happy to run into this Channel. You know THE TRUTH and the vulnerability it exposes for us all.

[@spikekent]

Great video Liron. I've just added the list to my Pihole, that way it works across all devices on my network.

[@LironSegev]

Perfect!

[@dotTomdotcom]

that may be a worthwhile video for Liron to cover. Making and setting up a Pihole.

[@billant2]

I used to run a separate Pihole, but recently swithed to AdBlock-Lean running on my OpenWRT router. No need for all the traffic to hop through another device. Also, it's easier to administer and configure on a single device.. ;)

[@billant2]

​@@LironSegev - Hey Liron, at 6:55 you used "0_0_0_0" as a DNS "black-hole". A better option is to use local the host address "127_0_0_1" ("_" is a dot).

[@spikekent]

@@dotTomdotcom There are many tutorials out there. But it would be good to have one from Liron too 👍

[@JBSbass]

Thanks!

[@LironSegev]

Appreciate you and thanks for being here 🔥

[@AppleyardAndy]

The only real problem with using the hosts file is that some software, not Windows yet but probably soon, don't use DNS as the ip address is hard coded into the software.

[@adamnealis]

Then it's firewall time to block access to those IPs via your home router, etc.

[@beyondpc9421]

Sounds like some really weak software. Maybe find a better alternative.

[@AppleyardAndy]

@@beyondpc9421 it's more common in mobile apps than Windows software at the moment. KZbin on android is one of them.

[@md742]

Thanks for this Liron. I have a question, doesn’t the second method interfere with the Microsoft 365 subscription?

[@samuraiwarriorsunite]

Great info as usual, Liron. Also, kudos to Gerd hagezi who apparently took the time and effort to compile these lists.

[@dotTomdotcom]

I second that. 👍 Gerg Hagezi

[@boines]

Note that some browsers use an internal dns server Bypassing hosts etc. also at a work environment gp settings can be stored on a server thus using it instead host. Reason why i use pihole with added dns from iblocklists and its across all devices on network free.

[@LironSegev]

note that these apps don't use the browser - they do the DNS lookup and that uses the host file. I was just showing the browser so you can visually see what happens. Its not like Office opens up your browser first.

[@DataJuggler]

Will Teams or Visual Studio have any problems if all MS is blocked?

[@smoguli]

For the really important data, windows is bypassing the hosts file and even dns (they have hardcoded ip addresses)

[@Maybe-So]

Now that you mention it, this makes sense. 😠

[@Maybe-So]

Now that you mention it, this makes sense. Firewalls? pfsense? What would you recommend for non it folks?

[@coskuarsiray]

provided link takes user to o&o web page and it says "Microsoft Partner" ...what?

[@j7v7a2]

Blocking DNS is a great start, i'm actually using pi.hole, so that list is automatically updated. I like the option to have the dns blocking done on a device that is NOT under the control of the OS. What happens when Microsoft just uses the IP address directly? do you have any suggestions that use the firewall to block IPs or has a whitelist feature?

[@Theopheus]

The consensus seems to be that anytime you take action against Microsoft, they fix it with an update or when you reboot it overwrites the file you changed. What makes this method different?

[@LironSegev]

This has been around since the original Windows and so this isn't a feature but rather integral to how the system works.

[@Theopheus]

@@LironSegev Lol. So I did this to my pc and it triggered windows defender, who gave me a warning about SettingsModifier:Win32/PossibleHostsFileHijack that it warns could make changes to the host files. Which sounds an awful lot like Windows taddling on itself.

[@GUIRADE95]

I'm watching your videos and I i like it very much, straight to the point with no bs. Keep on going my man. Kind regards from Bogotá.

[@starkiller7278]

Almost 700 as of 5 sept 2024. Thanks Mr.Liron, this is a huge help, not just for Microsoft, but for a lot of other sites like Amazon.

[@PhilU2B]

Can we divert the output to have it write to a text file so we can examine what is being pushed out to each now-blocked site?

[@peterschmidt9942]

I'm on a Linux PC ATM watching this. I'll definitely be revisiting this next time I login to my Windows machines. I just pulled up the MS blocklist suggestion from your link and WOW! I wouldn't have thought there was so many addresses that collect data and this is just from MS! However I have a couple of questions that if you block all of these domains, will - Windows updates still work? - The Outlook app still work? Will Outlook still work through a browser? - In the blocklist it specifically states - "Expires: 7 Days", so I gather you'd have to update your config file every 7 days?

[@Ari0och]

I migrated to Linux and never looked back, I don't regret it

[@RocknR00ster]

Same, I don't get paid for them using my data, so no data for them.

[@AceMoonshot]

This is why you have a well deserved 1m subs. Glad I am one of them. Thank you.

[@LironSegev]

Appreciate you 🔥

[@johnison76]

Another great segment. Thank you as always, Liron!

[@LironSegev]

Thanks again!

[@ddgyt50]

I recently watched somebody install Linux Mint. It was easy and it was fast.

[@SpaceCadet4Jesus]

Installing Wiindows is easy and it's fast. In fact, if you buy a new computer, it's already installed. So what's your point?

[@Maikro-cg7ph]

@@SpaceCadet4Jesus probably that microsoft doesnt own linux

[@rawmaterials3909]

​@@SpaceCadet4Jesus until you have to reinstall it. Happens quite often.

[@SpaceCadet4Jesus]

@@rawmaterials3909 dude, let's be honest. If you have to reinstall your operating system and it happens quite often, it's not the operating system's fault. The code hasn't been nearly that unstable since Windows 8, which was quickly countered with Windows 8.1 which was stable. You might want to look at the user who's screwing it up so bad, doesn't know the real answer to the problem and just simply reinstalls thinking that's going to solve their issue. Reinstalling is the same code you had before, so what's the difference? The difference lies in the screw-ups that people have wiped out by reinstalling. Another thing people don't seem to understand is that hard drives decay. That is, they get worse over time and people think that reinstalling is solving the base problem but the fact is the hard drive needs change out. It's likely you don't even know how to diagnose a condition based on an increasingly bad hard drive. Lastly, another easy tip is corrupt operating system files which can be fixed easily with an Administrator Command Prompt running the command "Sfc /scannow".

[@The_DuMont_Network]

​@@SpaceCadet4JesusAnd pollute every time they are started

[@mojoneko8303]

I have been using Windows Firewall to block/deny the outbound telemetry from Windows 10. Britech has a video on how to do that and a link to a script to disable the dozens of Windows outbound telemetry services. Does this accomplish the same thing as changing the IP address in your second method? Thanks for the video

[@beyondpc9421]

You're using a MS firewall to block MS sending data? Do you not see the problem with this?

[@mojoneko8303]

@@beyondpc9421 Yes I do. That's why I use my Windows PC primarily as a gaming console now and do every thing else on my Linux PC.

[@Tobycentresydney]

Once ithis is done , how does this effect Windows update? does it still work normally? Do you know what this telemetry data shows about the computer you're on to justify what we're blocking to Microsoft?

[@neshotah1976]

Question: Doing this will stop all Microsoft updates, including the security updates and software updates from windows, correct? So how do we stay current with all the updates?

[@LironSegev]

Doesn't block updates.

[@unlap9377]

This was a step I completely forgot to do. Thanks for this! I noticed when I first did it Windows Security noticed and reverted it back, but it hasn't happened again.

[@raincatchfire]

You can make an exception in Defender when it notices the modded host file

[@unlap9377]

@@raincatchfire I forgot I did that to stop it from reverting. Also, widgets will not work.

[@test-rj2vl]

Keep in mind that if you have "wrong" addresses in hosts file then Windows Defender wants to "liberate" you from "virus" so make sure make sure you do backup so you don't lose your effort and you could even start by adding exception for that file.

it's "lose". not "loose"

[@test-rj2vl]

Tnx, fixed.

[@buda3d2007]

Could you also show traffic before and after using Wireshark, I also want to run windows on a virtual machine in linux and do the same thing to see if there is no other surprises

[@georgijandrejev7585]

And what about Windows updates then?

[@JS-tr7oo]

THAT is a very good question, however Liron answered this question at the very beginning of his video.

[@LironSegev]

those are going to be fine as long as you don't block any Windows update urls - those are not in the host list as of the time of commenting this. But you can just google what are the urls for the update and make sure those are not there.

[@RobC1999]

@RAM_845that means you’re not getting security updates which mean your computer is more vulnerable to attacks. Many websites have malicious code.

@RAM_845 so does all the malicious code that gets on your computer from not updating. Not updating is like leaving your front door to your home unlocked....just ridiculous.

@RAM_845 you're clueless.

[@noithinknot4583]

The host file mod is said to cause an error msg in defender, could't you block those websites in you router. Protect the whole house and no windows defender error. Ps: we need instructions for installing Shutup 10 "silently" so we can use ntlite to just bundle it into our 10 or 11 install. Just a thought.

[@LazyPersian]

Thank You...won't it affect MS Store functionality or other important services such as Windows updates? because MS Store already doesn't work properly specially in Windows 10

[@LironSegev]

nope as you are not blocking any updates - just telemetry and "diagnostic" data. Been doing this for years and I get my updates with no issues.

[@LoraCoggins]

The number of entries at 9:46 jumped to 681 as of July 5th.

[@devilsadvocate2570]

Can changing the host file be used to bypass analytics queries like Google Analytics during searches, or does that not require a DNS lookup?

[@fbifido2]

1. what if you just want to block only the Telemetry? and you want to use OneDrive, Teams, Word, etc... 2. how would you find these host entries??

[@henryd4331]

I believe your ISP manages DNS, not Microsoft. Am I right? In any case, a modified hosts file will override DNS requests anyway as Windows looks there first.

[@LironSegev]

Yup. You can set your DNS to any DNS provider like cloudflare or google.

[@stevecato]

What is to stop MS from just sending the data to a numeric IP address? This would bypass DNS.

[@louisax4058]

Will this affect Windows updates or MS apps updates?

[@davidj231]

Block anything MS-related at an external firewall level. IMHO, trusting the OS to block all paths back to its maker, through host files, seems incredibly naïve in 2024.

[@mokurai8233]

Yeah, Microsoft has been known for ignoring some specific hosts file settings for a long time now.

[@cyberdami]

Thanks for the very informative video.... Does either of these methods for blocking telemetry have a negative impact on MS Flight Simulator 2020? 🙂

[@itsqlex]

What are your thoughts on 0patch? Would you recommend it for people who want to stay on W10 after October 2025?

[@jimmyriddle3899]

Why do you drag the hosts file to desktop to edit. Can’t it be edited in place?

[@marcmacinnis6610]

because the file is in windows\system32, you need an extra step to run notepad as administrator or it won't save/overwrite the file. what he's doing is a simple workaround to that.

[@WayneWatson1]

I found an issue with the 2nd method with host file. If you have another login on your system, it won't read from that file evidently. I have a 2nd account on the system for kids and logged in and it let me go to the website I was trying to block

[@LironSegev]

you may need to reboot. But also remember that these systems don't use your web browser, they do the DNS lookup and use the Windows hosts file. You can also check the host file when loging in with their account to make sure it is still there. If not, add the entries to their host file too.

[@mickwolf1077]

could that list be used at the router level to benefit all devices running windows and solve the problem with updates undoing your changes on a PC?

[@bobhopkins3520]

Does the host file method prevent downloading apps from the windows store or windows update from working?

[@LironSegev]

Nope.

[@mikepond8898]

I don't use MS OS (I may need too soon though). I understand why you made a backup of the hosts file but why did you move the host file to the desktop and then back to it's original location, could you have just modified it in place? Thanks.

[@KUOLEMA_]

HE MIGHT'VE DONE THAT in case he 'messed something up' while doing what he was doing.Had he left the (edited) host file in its original directory/location , maybe something could go south w/his PC in case he made an error.This way , by moving it to the desktop 1st , he can review everything to make sure all is copacetic before finally moving the file back to where it was originally located.Just a guess tho' ...

[@Zonfeair]

Great you showed us how to block the sending of data but how do we stop the collecting of data before it is sent?

[@SuspiciousAra]

I was just looking for this software on their wepage and guess what? it says "Microsoft Partner" ..... what kind of partner i'd like to ask?

[@ikfc-f5z]

I just realised recently, in Notepad (Win 11) it has both Spellcheck and auto correction Enabled... ummmm when a word is misspelt, Where does the data/verification come from? I disabled both options. Keep up the good work, Cheers

[@LironSegev]

it seems these are kept locally on the computer which is why they work even when you don't have internet access.

[@Soupie62]

So, when a toggle is GREEN (On) the item is disabled? That's a badly phrased interface page.

[@robriot6882]

Green MS gets your data. Red no

[@RedcarMikeUK]

Again you are brilliant with upto date information. thanks from the uk.

[@RC-qk5ph]

How about blocking at the router level, i know not all routers work that way but the more expensive ones do.

[@PeterHonig.]

Superb information!!! Though I am a Linux user, and this does not apply to me directly, I do a lot of troubleshooting of Windows problems for my friends. This is quite helpful, as I utterly dislike Microsoft's snooping (or snooping by any entity for that matter). Thanks much!

[@MikeHF]

It would not allow me to use Notepad.exe to edit the host file. I had to use Word instead. In fact, Notepad does not exist in the "open with" menu when right clicking on the Host file.

[@GehMemories]

okay... this is cool stuff 💕💕.... i have a question, in shutup10, once we make the changes, it is applied right? cause there is no save button ??

[@raincatchfire]

That's right. No save button, but make sure to export your settings so if windows updates ever reverts them, you will be able to quickly restore them.

[@smark1180]

After I changed the hosts file as shown in your video, Windows Security reported: Threat found - action needed. Detected: SettingsModifier:Win32/PossibleHostsFileHijack (text skipped) file:C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts

[@jameslong3351]

The original HOST file came from the Unix OS. Think about it, in the seventies there were no DNS servers so everyone had to know the numerical address of every node on the network that they wanted to get to. I have over 16K servers that route to [0.0.0.0] in my HOST file, I don't see ads.

[@christianl8276]

Do you have one i haven't seen for Apple desktop user ?

[@arma5648]

Iron, r u aware of any downsides of blocking Microsoft IP addresses?

[@uChat619]

Hey Liron, should I make changes to the host file if I use NextDNS with Hagezi and OISD already?

[@Chris558576]

Ive been using a host file for years & also i have taken advantage of the web filter under parental controls in my router so this applies to all devices on my network.

[@LironSegev]

Nice! 👍

[@smanqele]

Wow, as a Microsoft 365 user on macbook how would I do that exercise?

[@MoonbeameSmith]

How do you do the red highlight and the "spark" upon clicking?

[@rudder3084]

thanks for this video, I was hankering to find out how to stop the DNS connections to Microsoft data collection, great simple to follow and informative video... I would switch to linux but app support isn't there for me.

[@no-stresscat1519]

This has always been an awesome program. How is it suppose to function when MS removes local accounts completely and requires on online MS account for your Windows to work? it is coming, just a matter of when. I use Linux Mint by the way.

[@northwestrepair]

I never expected those options to actually do anything.

[@robh5695]

Great video as always, Liron. This is priceless information. 👏

[@LironSegev]

Much appreciated!

[@Acceleronics]

I've set up Linux Mint on a spare NVMe drive so I can choose between Mint and Win10 at boot time. So far, the only program I can't find a Mint equivalent for is Garmin Express, which sends the bike ride data from my Garmin 830 to the Garmin Connect website. Even Minecraft was pretty easy to set up in Mint. Getting back to this video - thanks for the thorough guidance!

[@justliberty4072]

I think you can put a Garmin app on your phone and have your Garmin sync with your phone which will automatically sync it with the Garmin db and with strava, if you wish.

[@Casey2262]

Dual boot is a security risk, and kinda defeats the purpose of using Linux in the first place. Virtual machines are better if you care about privacy.

[@zipy2008]

Thanks is there something similar for android tablet?

[@ChrisWijtmans]

hosts files and shutup10 settings are completely ignored by microsoft telemetry unless you use enterprise edition.

[@motoryzen]

It doesn't matter what version of Windows you use because any PC you boot into windows that is connected online for any reasonable amount of time even if it's one day a year let alone daily Microsoft can and will do what they want with that computer. The Telemetry engine is built into the core AKA kernel just like the Windows update engine. This has been a fact since guaranteed Windows 8 and from what I have understood and read thoroughly about and actually spoken to some Microsoft software development members about, they have actually shoehorned that functionality as an update into Windows 7

[@scronx]

Thanks so much for this advice. Do you thing MS is still bothering to do it on Win7 users? If so, is there an antidote?

[@motoryzen]

Microsoft has already implemented Telemetry into the windows kernel via forced update many many months ago in Windows 7 so yeah it's just the same

[@johnflores3103]

Liron, always making helpful videos! 👍

[@thorr2]

Very cool for the first part of the video. For the DNS part, couldn't you just run a Pi-hole instance on your local network and point the DNS settings to that? That would take care of all hosts on the network if they get their settings from DHCP.

[@LironSegev]

Not everyone can just run pihole. You need technical skills to run Linux, change router settings etc.

[@bbestman3707]

I use windows live mail 2012 should I be concerned? Will I still be able to use the Live Mail? I have installed Shutup 10 THX so much also only have a local account on both my laptops MICROSOFT SUCKS!!!!

[@melpeshlakai8598]

following directions, adding the list entries to the host file triggered Defender to a host file hijack and removed the host file. restoring the backup, no Defender trigger.

[@lioncolor3]

Incredible sollution. Done. Thanks Liron.

[@umitsayman]

Hi Liron, does stopping Microsoft DNS's also prevent updating the OS?

[@LironSegev]

Nope. You still get the security and windows updates

[@ital1489]

Does windows update still function properly after modifying the hosts file? Edit - Nvm, I saw your response to the same question.

[@davidengelbrecht777]

I can't find the list of host services, please help

[@JamaicaWhiteMan]

I stopped them about 5 years ago by installing Linux Mint on my machines. A bonus is they run faster, workflow is faster, and it's all totally free.

[@qtrax100]

Jah!

[@jeffmccloud905]

Microsoft owns tens of thousands of patents on tech used in Linux. But they were nice and didn't sue anyone over them.

[@ros8737]

Never mind the data, I will apply it to stop Microsoft using my computer and wasting my time. Computers are so slow today! I have to disconnect my new computer from the internet to have it respond to what I need it to do.

[@Nightrapture]

Do the updates and other OS services like the store or MS account or xbox still work after this?

[@LironSegev]

Yes Uodat s and security updates still work. Only blocks telemetry

[@stopthink7202]

Awesome video. Thank you so much for all your helpful advice and for not telling us all to click lots of obscure folders and options that simply don't exist on our machines. (like so many other You Tube clips do)

[@dDoOyYoOuUtTuUbBeE]

But if the IP is hard coded in the monitoring function, the destination is not searched in the hosts file.

[@harveybc]

Excellent information. You did say one thing that was hilarious: quickly restart windows. Somehow the words quick and windows just don't seem to go together.

[@reinoldwalser8501]

How do we protect ourselves from Windows Recall? Microsoft said it would be disabled but it could reactivate at the next update. Just asking.

[@LironSegev]

yeah - watching this closely...

[@jkbobful]

Can you check out Portmaster

[@EagleEye_ACH]

Is there any indication that this blocked data is being logged anywhere, waiting for the connection to be restored, even briefly, if they change the url?

[@joycedudzinski9415]

I have an all-in-one computer with Windows 7 and it's great. I don't remember what I did to it years ago but I go where I want to go and Microsoft doesn't pop up anywhere with their ads or anything. On the other hand I bought a used computer with Windows 10 which now it's Windows 11. It forced me to download Windows 11 or I couldn't shut it off. It's unbelievable how much junk is on that computer. It's loaded down with the weather, ads and a bunch of stuff that I have no use for. All I want is a system that I can go to Google, enter where I want to go, do what I need to do and shut down. That is exactly how the Windows 7 computer works. One of these days, on that Windows 11 I'm going to figure out how to get rid of all that junk.

[@d.aardent9382]

PS; ...in addition, i meant to say i had been wanting to change it back to a windows 8 but i guessi have to buy windows 8 software again and then some browsers i like may not work with it either if i go back to the 8. it actually worked faster at times than the current ones. i havent had time to do rresearch on if doing it is feasible and what all i would need to change things to work right.

[@hybridinfodesk409]

Dual boot is your friend. The most OSes I got running besides my drivers and manu bios updater Win is 3 more. Haven't tried it with Win 11.😅

[@smark1180]

What is the purpose of moving hosts to and from the desktop? Why can't it be edited in its folder?

[@LironSegev]

It's protected. You can do it just open up notepad on Admin mode. The drag and drop is just simpler to explain.

[@smark1180]

@@LironSegev Thanks!

[@mpmpm]

#1: O&O sees all kind of settings which it says are red, but I _already_ had disabled them, and thus the setting should be seen as green. How come? #2: There are some domains, like msn, who are built in into Windows, and _can not_ be blocked via the hosts file!

[@thedonofdank2538]

Wow, great video! Can i ask, will the last part cause any issues with windows updates?

[@LironSegev]

Not as long as you don't block the update site. I make sure to remove or look out for any sites that are like: windowsupdate.microsoft.com. You can do a google search to find those urls