#Amalgamated hosts file
+This repo consolidates several reputable `hosts` files and consolidates them into a single hosts file that you can use.
+
+**Currently this hosts file contains 22210 unique entries.**
+
+## Source of host data amalgamated here
+
+Currently the `hosts` files from the following locations are amalgamated:
+
+* MVPs.org Hosts file at [http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.htm](http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.htm), updated monthly, or thereabouts.
+* Dan Pollock at [http://someonewhocares.org/hosts/](http://someonewhocares.org/hosts/) updated regularly.
+* My own small list in raw form [here](https://raw.github.com/StevenBlack/hosts/master/data/StevenBlack/hosts).
+
+## What is a hosts file?
+
A hosts file, named `hosts` (with no file extension), is a plain-text file used by all operating systems to map hostnames to IP addresses.
In most operating systems, the `hosts` file is preferential to `DNS`. Therefore if a host name is resolved by the `hosts` file, the request never leaves your computer.
127.0.0.1 ad.be.doubleclick.net
# etc...
-## Source of host data amalgamated
-
-Currently the `hosts` files from the following locations are amalgamated and de-duped to create one large consolidated hosts file.
-* MVPs.org Hosts file at [http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.htm](http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.htm), updated monthly, or thereabouts.
-* Dan Pollock at [http://someonewhocares.org/hosts/](http://someonewhocares.org/hosts/) updated regularly.
-* My own small list in raw form [here](https://raw.github.com/StevenBlack/hosts/master/data/StevenBlack/hosts).
-**Currently this hosts file contains 22210 unique entries.**
+## Location of your hosts file
+To modify your current `hosts` file, look for it in the following places and modify it with a text editor.
+**Mac OS X, iOS, Android**: `/etc/hosts` folder.
-## Location of your hosts file
-To modify your current `hosts` file, look for it in the following places:
+**Windows**: `%SystemRoot%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts` folder.
-**Mac OS X, iOS, Android**: `/etc/hosts`
+<style>
+h2 {color:red;}
+</style>
-**Windows**: `%SystemRoot%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts`