History Archive 2008

Current updates and notifications are maintained on the Change Log, Notifications page.

2008 Changes

                                        
                                         October 27, 2008:  If you use Mike's Ad Blocking HOSTS or the Bleeding Edge Threats' RBN Blackhole list in your version of ConFetch you should run the bulit-in Updater for the latest changes to those files. Run the Updater anyway if you're unsure. Mike's Ad Blocking HOSTS file (no longer online) is currently
                                        hosted on a mirror site and will be replaced when a reliable list is found. Emerging Threats' regularly updated RBN Exploit Domains replaces Bleeding Edge Threats' RBN Blackhole list.
                                      
                                         October 4, 2008:  If you use ConFetch Ultra v. 13.7.4.25 you should run the built-in updater to download and install the most recent ConFetch improvements. This update changes the parsing order for ConFetch Ultra components and includes preparations for upcoming changes that are
                                        intended to enhance the list compilation process that will be included with ConFetch Lite. (ConFetch Lite is still under development and will rely on multiple server locations for up-to-date, pre-fetched and pre-cleaned lists from many new sources.) This update does not apply to other versions of ConFetch.
                                      
                                         September 19, 2008:  This notice does not apply to "ConFetch Ultra v. 13.7.4.25". Users of "ConFetch *.6.9.6" versions should run the built-in updater to implement multiple ConFetch changes. The versions that this update applies to are: ConFetch (Basic) v. 0.6.9.6, ConFetch 1 v. 1.6.9.6, ConFetch 2 v. 2.6.9.6, ConFetch 3 v. 3.6.9.6, ConFetch 4 v. 4.6.9.6, ConFetch
                                        X v. 11.6.9.6, ConFetch PRO v. 13.6.9.6 and ConFetch LSE v. 13.6.9.6 (the relevent snippet used for the update script can be reviewed here "080919").
                                      
                                         August 23, 2008:  If you use ConFetch Ultra v. 13.7.4.25 you should run the built-in updater to download and install the most recent ConFetch improvements. The minor update involves auto-updating functions for ConFetch Ultra and doesn't apply to other versions of ConFetch.
                                      
                                         May 15, 2008:  If you use ConFetch Ultra v. 13.7.4.25 you should run the built-in updater to download and install improvements that have been released since March 21, 2008. This notification does not apply to other versions of ConFetch. Recent improvements involve auto-scripted changes to some ConFetch Ultra control files. It is still recommended to run the Updater prior
                                        to running ConFetch, in spite of the new auto-scripted updates. A newer version of ConFetch called "ConFetch Lite" (currently under development) is intended to eventually replace older versions of ConFetch, but those older versions will be maintained until such time that it becomes obvious that they should be removed from the site.
                                      
                                         March 21, 2008:  If you use ConFetch Ultra v. 13.7.4.25 you should run the built-in updater to download and install improvements that have been released since March 11, 2008. This notification does not apply to other versions of ConFetch. Recent changes involve new editions of 14 ConFetch Ultra components, some of which are slated for inclusion to older versions of
                                        ConFetch. A separate notice will reflect those changes once they are completed.
                                      
                                         March 11, 2008:  If you use ConFetch Ultra v. 13.7.4.25 you should run the built-in updater to download and install 15 ConFetch improvements that have been issued since Jan. 18, 2008. This notification does not apply to other versions of ConFetch.
                                      
                                         January 18, 2008:  All versions of ConFetch have been updated. (Some updates have been previously applied to ConFetch Ultra.)
                                      
                                        These important updates include the following changes:: 
                                        
                                            Bleeding Edge Threats' regularly updated RBN Blackhole (Text format) - bleedblock.cmd - replaces their discontinued Ad Domains list.
                                          
                                            hpHosts' maintained, large hpHosts' HOSTS file (HOSTS format) - hpguru.cmd (excluding hp.cmd which is used for ConFetch Ultra)
                                          
                                            Bluemicro's HOSTS File is no longer supported. If you have this file in your version of ConFetch, the ConFetch Updater script will remove it from your system. A replacement will be included in future versions.
                                          
                                            DNS Poisoners List 2007 from the Measurement-Factory (List format) - poisoners.cmd - a formatted text version of this file has been mirrored until it becomes available again.
                                          
                                            Microsoft Boot File from David Glosser's site (Text format) - bleedboot.cmd - this file has recently moved from the old Bleeding Snort's site (now Bleeding Edge Threats).
                                          
                                            A Windows port of UnZip 5.52 from Info-ZIP is currently used for inflating ".zip" files in 64-bit systems with ConFetch Ultra.

                                             (unzip.exe MD5: 75375C22C72F1BEB76BEA39C22A1ED68)
                                          
                                            Miscellaneous minor improvements have also been applied to ConFetch Ultra's core files.

Vista and ConFetch Ultra

Things you need to know about Vista, UAC, TreeWalk and ConFetch:

Vista's new User Account Control feature disrupts TreeWalk maintenance procedures, and ConFetch will fail to run if UAC is enabled. Therefore, there are currently some limitations to successfully installing, and running, the ConFetch plug-in with TreeWalk DNS. It can all be done in a matter of minutes if you review the process first! Here's a few pointers to get you going with TreeWalk and ConFetch Ultra on Vista...

Vista Helper, May 14, 2008. The Vista Helper script for TreeWalk v. 8.21 is available to aid Vista users to install, and remove, TreeWalk "Hawk". Due to difficulties for the Service Control Manager in Vista to handle spaces that some users might have included in their administrator account login credentials, those users will have to logon to the Service manually, as described below at item "d", sub-item "ii" (you should review that part anyway, before leaving here for the TreeWalk 8.21 Vista Helper page if you only need to install TWDNS).

Install TreeWalk DNS (Hawk) v. 8.21 using Administrative credentials:

Obtain the TreeWalk installer and run it under Vista. When you arrive at the final page with the restart options, select "No, I will restart later", then exit the installer.
Go to Vista's new "Start" button to access the menu and find "Control Panel" if the "Windows+R" key combination doesn't work for you. If "Control Panel" is not there you will need to add it - right-click the Taskbar, select Properties, select the "Start Menu" tab, press the "Customize" button, scroll to "Control Panel" and select "Display as a menu" or "Display as a link" if you prefer. Select "Okay", then press "Apply" and "Okay" to save changes.
Once you've found the "Control Panel", select "User Accounts", select "Turn User Account Control On or Off" and uncheck the check-box there. Press "Okay". Restart the computer as requested by Vista. Logon using the same Administrator account again and simply "Close" any ensuing notices regarding "named.exe", which is TreeWalk's executable.
There are two ways to orchestrate the next step.
- Either way, you will need to delete the "twdns" Service that the TreeWalk "Hawk" v. 8.21 installer has just created before you can use TreeWalk with Vista:
  · open a command prompt ("Windows+R" keys, type cmd, press "OK" or as described below at sub-item "iii")
  · type sc delete twdns and press the "Enter" key on your keyboard
  · if your Vista is a 32-bit version: type or paste (exactly as shown)
    sc create twdns binPath= %windir%\system32\dns\bin\named.exe
    ...and press the "Enter" key
  · if your Vista is a 64-bit version: type or paste (exactly as shown)
    sc create twdns binPath= %windir%\syswow64\dns\bin\named.exe
    ...press the "Enter" key
  · choose one of the following methods to logon to the newly created service
- Open the "Control Panel" again and select "Administrative Tools" to open the "Services" applet. Scroll down to the "twdns" Service and right-click for "Properties" (or double-click "twdns"). Choose the "Log On" tab and enable the "This account" option. Type ".\Local_Administrator_Account" (without the quotes, where "Local_Administrator_Account" is the Administrator's Account name you're running under, preceded by a dot and a backslash). Enter and confirm the correct password and "Okay" your way out. (Skip ahead to start the TWDNS service, below.)
- ...or, you can open the Start Menu and select "Run" (you may need to add this too, via the Taskbar, right-click for Properties, Start Menu tab, etc.). Once you have the "Run" box, type cmd and press "Okay" to open a command prompt. At the command line, type or paste this (each command must be all on one line with actual login credentials where those are required):
  sc config twdns obj= .\Local_Administrator_Account password= Local_Administrator_Password start= auto DisplayName= TreeWalk
  ...while keeping spaces intact and using proper credentials. Press the "Enter" key of your keyboard and you should receive "SUCCESS" (if not, please try the previous method). Optionally, you can also execute this at the command line (including quotation marks, with all on one line):
  sc description twdns "TreeWalk DNS Personal Server"
- Start the TWDNS service manually from within the Services applet, TreeWalk's Control Panel or with this command:
  net start twdns
  Confirm that TreeWalk is working normally before installing ConFetch Ultra.
- After you're done you should see "TreeWalk" as the displayed name but the service will still only respond to commands that define "twdns", just like it always has.

Install ConFetch Ultra v. 13.7.4.25 using Administrative credentials:

After you've satisfactorily installed TreeWalk, obtain the ConFetch Ultra installer and run it under Vista. You will not be able to run ConFetch with UAC "On" as ConFetch needs to update TreeWalk's configuration to activate filtering.

You can print a shortened text version of the above or download it in .zip format for reference.

* Trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
"Surf safely!" - the TWDNS Crew

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