are HOST files safe for pc?

i learned about host files yesterday from here

Code:

http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

since I dont want a adblocker program installed to my pc host files seems like the best thing for me..

but im curious can it lead to any problems? virus/malware/ or somehow screw up my pc?

I never used host files before, i want to hear from someone who knows about them feedback.

thanks

 

Hostfiles are a builtin utility to the os, can be tweaked with very little problems. At most what would happen is blocking a legit site, which you can easly fix by setting the host file back to default.

 

I used Host files ages ago and copied a list of sites to block from somewhere and it helped - it even blocked ads on web pages (I was on dial up at the time, so any useless traffic on the network that could be excluded was great).

It was very easy to use and never caused any problems. There is software you can use to manipulate this file.

 

I recently had a HOSTS file debacle that took me some time to figure out = couldn't view some desired websites. Did this download = http://www.majorgeeks.com/HOSTS_Manager_d4568.html and used the info it generated, the help I got here, and the help I got at http://forums.mozillazine.org/ to fix the issue = seems that the "Immunize" feature of SPYBOT S&D had filled my HOSTS file with addresses - some of which, I wanted to view.
Anyway, I'd recommend the above download - it'll help you keep track of what's in the file.
Blessings,
Port-O-San

 

...or you can use SpywareBlaster to keep your hosts file updated. Even the author of Spybot said this but maybe the situation has changed since then.

BTW, thanks for the link Port-O-San to the editor.