How-To Geek Forums / Windows 8
(Solved) - hide host file
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Welcome to HTG cj,
you may find this helpful:
http://www.opendns.com/parental-controls
and Sanoj, your answer was not very helpful but welcome to you too.
Read this...it might not be them that is removing your entries:
Very hard to hide anything on a computer if one has either Administrator access, can turn on the hidden Administrator, or boot the computer with a CD/DVD and then 'explore' the computer. P/W protection for files are OK, but program access can be a problem, especially with the file you are talking about.
Off hand, about all you can do possibly is create a file that runs at boot and copies a hidden HOSTS file in another place to the proper location which in effect resets the file on every boot. If your kids know how to circumvent to HOSTS file though it would probably not take a long time for them to disable that.
Are you using individual USERID's for the kids with LIMITED RIGHTS? That should stop what is happening.
Irv S.
Sometimes using a third-party software can be helpful in this case.
I use a freeware program called "Winmend".
It's a very simple program which will hide any folder or file of your choosing. It has a double layer of protection, in that you can set a password which will be required in order to even run the program - making it impossible for "youthful eyes" to open the program and unblock any folders you may choose to hide.
I've used it for a number of years with great success. It's very simple, basic and easy to use. Just be careful to write down the password you choose and keep it in a safe place, in case you forget it.
You can download the program directly from the developer's website:
http://www.winmend.com/folder-hidden/
Hope this helps.
Straspey, a lot of those types of programs though also restrict program access, they even state this on their web page, "The data is completely invisible to other programs or on other operating systems." so it probably wouldn't work here.
The 'real' way here is to restrict the access via permissions. Using 'normal' userID's, vs. Administrator UserID's would not allow the 'normal' user to see these folders where it is stored. However, easily circumvented if one has a bootable OS to change the file.
Irv S.
Don't use blocking in a host file as it slows the computer down too much.
You can put the "Bad" Domains in the Registry as spyware blaster does and the computer will ignore the websites plus still be fast as lightning.
I'll post the trick if you are familiar with adding entries to the machine Registry.
Rick P.
Kids are kids. I don't think there are to many easy to edit registry entry changes. The HOST file is an easy one to fix or swap out as needed. The registry is another matter.
If the kids start getting into the registry to make their access changes then you need to gently unplug the computer and throw it out the window.
