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HOW to set up VPN so that my HOSTS file is consulted?



 
 
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  #1  
Old August 19th 19, 10:19 PM posted to alt.windows7.general,microsoft.public.windowsxp.general,alt.comp.freeware
Arlen George Holder
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Posts: 28
Default HOW to set up VPN so that my HOSTS file is consulted?

My question here is HOW to set up VPN so that my HOSTS file is consulted?
Is it possible?

In another thread moments ago, I explained to a noob how to set up a
freeware VPN test environment on Windows in about five minutes (or less)
where any noob would be "on VPN" to test it out for himself (see caveats as
they always apply to VPN)
o VPN, by Alek
https://alt.comp.os.windows-10.narkive.com/vEl01FHX/vpn

My question here is HOW to set up VPN so that my HOSTS file is used?
Is it possible?
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  #2  
Old August 19th 19, 10:24 PM posted to alt.windows7.general,microsoft.public.windowsxp.general,alt.comp.freeware
Arlen George Holder
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 28
Default HOW to set up VPN so that my HOSTS file is consulted?

On Mon, 19 Aug 2019 21:19:52 -0000 (UTC), Arlen George Holder wrote:

My question here is HOW to set up VPN so that my HOSTS file is used?
Is it possible?


I should have been clear that I'm not "rolling my own VPN", where it
_would_ be easy to use my hosts file.

I'm using free public services for my VPN, for example:
https://www.freeopenvpn.org/

When we use public openvpn servers, we end up using their crappy HOSTS
files instead of ours, which have 100,000 lines in them to block things.

Is it possible to use a free VPN service but use our own HOSTS file?
How?
  #3  
Old August 20th 19, 06:23 AM posted to alt.windows7.general,microsoft.public.windowsxp.general,alt.comp.freeware
JJ[_11_]
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Posts: 744
Default HOW to set up VPN so that my HOSTS file is consulted?

On Mon, 19 Aug 2019 21:24:28 -0000 (UTC), Arlen George Holder wrote:

When we use public openvpn servers, we end up using their crappy HOSTS
files instead of ours, which have 100,000 lines in them to block things.

Is it possible to use a free VPN service but use our own HOSTS file?
How?


By default, local HOSTS file will always used (unless disabled manually).

However, a domain which isn't listed in the local HOSTS file, will be
resovled remotely via VPN. If the VPN server uses DNS filter (HOSTS file or
DNS filter software), a domain name needs to be added to the local HOSTS
file in order to bypass VPN server's DNS filter.

If a domain is already added to the local HOSTS file, and the site is still
blocked, it means that either the VPN server uses IP filter, or the target
site blocks connection from the VPN server. The only way to bypass this is
to use other network to connect to the target site. e.g. use a different VPN
server, use a remote proxy (via VPN or not), or don't use VPN at all.
  #4  
Old August 20th 19, 09:13 AM posted to alt.windows7.general,microsoft.public.windowsxp.general,alt.comp.freeware
Arlen George Holder
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 28
Default HOW to set up VPN so that my HOSTS file is consulted?

On Tue, 20 Aug 2019 12:23:28 +0700, JJ wrote:

By default, local HOSTS file will always used (unless disabled manually).


That's not my experience, so maybe something isn't what I think it is?

1. I can put a domain in my HOSTS file, e.g., 127.0.0.1 google.com
2. Then I can't go to that domain from my local PC anymore (which is ok)
3. But then, I connect to a VPN service (e.g., https://www.freeopenvpn.org/)
4. I can connect to google.com (even though that's in my local HOSTS file)

Clearly, it uses the vpn services' hosts file.
This makes sense because the entire connection goes though that host.
I can't imagine it working any other way by default.

Does anyone else use a VPN service who can confirm how it works for them?
 




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