Windows 10: Which Software bloated my hosts file?

I was just checking my hosts file and I saw over 4000 entries of pirate sites with 127.0.0.1 And after an empty line, there are the entries below: 0.0.0.0 pubads.g.doubleclick.net 0.0.0.0 securepubads.g.doubleclick.net 0.0.0.0 Error 404 (Not Found)!!1 0.0.0.0 gads.pubmatic.com 0.0.0.0 ads.pubmatic.com 0.0.0.0 tpc.googlesyndication.com 0.0.0.0 pagead2.googlesyndication.com 0.0.0.0 googleads.g.doubleclick.net I am not interested in using any pirate sites, just I am wondering which software could have added all these lines. I am only using Windows Defender, no other anti-virus or spyware installed. Last saved day is March 3rd. I am writing that just in case it is something common. Is there any known software that has access to windows hosts file and can change it? (Other than anti-virus and spyware software) Windows 10 Pro 1909 Thanks.

:)

 

Hosts file editing

I have to jump in and say I use, and have used the host file for years. It's an easy way to take stress off of old name servers. I don't add everything, but major shares I do add to the host file. I've used the host file for some tunneling as well. I try to optimize my network as much as possible and I have a solid network. But Easy Rhino is right as well, you'll want to have everything he suggested as well. *Toast :toast:

 

What software should I host?

Hey guys,

I'm in the process of building myself a website... and i'm planning on making it a super-site, to cover many things, including forums, a possible blog, a bunch of videos and tutorials, etc. and one of the things that i wanted to do is host some software that really needs to be made popular and more accessible... and so i'm looking for suggestions of what software to host,

currently i know that i will be hosting all of solaris's works (solaris dvd, etc.)
and im thinking about hosting many programs from the awesome uncommon software thread (like super)

also keep in mind that its not going to be like download.com etc, just hosting software that it think nedes to be hosted/deserves to be

 

Browser /connection security, hosts file and DNS service

You're saying that Open DNS(and other services like it) house their own list of known 'bad' sites, and by using their DNS servers, it will filter out sites based on that list?

Would you believe I was already using Open DNS servers.
This means the hosts file is moot?

And furthering that, if there's any bespoke sites I want to manually add, I could do it through my router directly.

Thus I can empty my local hosts file and turn my DNS service back on?