David,

Appreciate all the info. I will be using it forthwith...

You're kids must hate that you're as tech savvy as you are. <g>

>Jay,
>
>It's hidden away at: C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc\hosts
>
>If you don't have one yet, copy lmhosts.sam to HOSTS with no extension. and start blocking the junk you don't want. I have a fairly large file at home, here at the office I don't surf much so these are the only places I've blocked here:
>
>

127.0.0.1       localhost
>
>127.0.0.1 apps5.oingo.com
>127.0.0.1 www.allsearcher.com
>127.0.0.1 webfile.com
>127.0.0.1 us.adserver.yahoo.com
>127.0.0.1 a.rn11.com
>127.0.0.1 a4.g.akamai.net
>127.0.0.1 ad.doubleclick.net
>127.0.0.1 ad.linksynergy.com
>127.0.0.1 ar.atwola.com
>127.0.0.1 ads.amazingmedia.com
>127.0.0.1 ads.web.aol.com
>127.0.0.1 ads.doubleclick.net
>127.0.0.1 ads.yourfreedvds.com
>127.0.0.1 ads.x10.com
>127.0.0.1 autosearcher.com
>127.0.0.1 cserver.mii.instacontent.net
>127.0.0.1 www.domainsystems.com
>127.0.0.1 m2.doubleclick.net
>127.0.0.1 partner11.firehunt.com
>127.0.0.1 rocketsearch.com
>127.0.0.1 servedby.advertising.com
>127.0.0.1 view.atdmt.com
>127.0.0.1 www.newaol.com
>127.0.0.1 oz.valueclick.com
>127.0.0.1 img.mediaplex.com
>127.0.0.1 adfarm.mediaplex.com
>

>
>I also use the parental controls feature on my wireless router at home because it can block based on partial names. I can post some examples of those later. This is useful for identifying requests that come from "randomized" subdomains.
>
>
>>I was just about to ask you what/where is the HOSTS files when I actually decided to try and look it up myself. For anyone lurking: http://www.accs-net.com/hosts/what_is_hosts.html