Host File questions........

Need a bit of advice, education with windows 7 host files. I honestly was not sure if I should put this here or spyware fourm. So please forgive me if this in the wrong place.

Which offers better protection, A program like "hostsman" that allows you to download a host file to help block advertisement, spyware. Or is spybot and spyware blaster a better choice?

I know adding to much to a host file can really slow down your computer. If you disable DNS Caching that is supposed to help. Is turning off DNS caching a good or bad idea?

The reason I am messing with Host files, is I so LOVE using opera, while they FINALLY got a adblocker, its still a work in progress, Thought with using "hostsman" it may help with opera. I am just unsure. I thought if anyone would know, you guys and gals may.

One other question I forgot to ask. If you suggest "hostsman". Which list or lists should I get. I know the MVP? Is a good one. Do I need more than that?

Educate me please. I did google. But with google, you simply can never be sure if the information your reading is right. So I can here to find out for sure. Thanks.

 

The DNS Cache is more or less a way for Windows to anticipate what your looking at. I personally use this hosts file and disable the DNS Cache. I also add some things to the hosts file that prevent things like facebook and twitter junk because I don't use either.

I haven't used Spybot Search and Destroy in a long time so I can't speak to it's suitability for the purpose and I have never used Spyware Blaster.

I run Nod32 for AV, Windows Firewall and a hosts file only on my computer for security but I also have AV, Ad Blocker, Web Filter and more built in to my Router (Untangle).