About
The HostsFile.org web site is a collaborative effort between David Alexander Harvey (hereafter referred to as Henry Hertz Hobbit), Danny R Johnston, and Eric Phelps. Danny does most of the programming, Henry does most of the testing, and Eric does most of the web work. The arrangement seems to be working out. At least it works out for Eric and Danny. Once a web site is running, there isn't much work for Eric. Likewise, once a program is written, there isn't much work for Danny. However, the "bad guys" are always changing, so Henry's work of identifying and testing never ends.
The original idea for blocking bad sites with a PAC file came from John Lo Verso's Bust Banner Ads with Proxy Auto Configuration web page and Sheryl Canter's Kill Internet Ads with HOSTS and PAC Files article. Eric realized that a PAC file could (and should!) be extended to blocking pornography in his Block Porn with Proxy Auto Configuration Files web page. Henry and Danny used Eric's page as a starting point, but quickly took their project so far beyond Eric's work that they shamed Eric into pulling his work off the web and replacing it with their work.
In short order, the host names hostsfile.org, pacfile.org, and proxyfile.org were registered to support the new products being generated. We employ no trackers, and in fact have nothing but HTML on the site. We may put in a counter of the downloads in the future to determine whether it is worth it to keep the site. If we do, you will see it. It will not capture any personally identifiable information.