Help File & Explanation of Basic Options in CWP Utilities

  1. The first two utilities offered are hosts file updaters, options 1 and 2. By default, either option will generate a fresh hosts file for ad, tracker, telemetry, and malware blocking, from the sources listed HERE. After the program retrieves, combines, sorts, de-duplicates and optimizes those lists into a single file, the result will be installed over Windows' default hosts file (which is essentially empty and does not block anything).

  2. The next option, 3, is a PAC (or Proxy Auto Configuration) file updater. This utility will perform a similar set of routines as the hosts file updaters do, on lists from the sources enumerated HERE, and for the same purposes. When the utility is finished working, it will open an Explorer Window for you to easily access the PAC file. This PAC file will need to be stored / uploaded to a place where it can be accessed over the internet. Then you point your browser or your device to the address where it is stored, so it can catch and prevent that device from accepting connections to the bad addresses which the PAC file contains. For most devices, a PAC file is unnecessary, as the hosts file does a better job, and various other ad-blocking utilities also do a better job. There are some - especially older - devices which do not offer the user any means of modifying a hosts file, or installing ad-blocking software, which is why I included this tool. If you happen to use a device like that, then this option is for you. If you don't, then move along.

  3. The next two options, 4 and 5, are block list updaters for file sharing applications (like BitTorrent). Many torrent clients (and other file-sharing programs) allow for the use of a blocklist from their settings dialog. Transmission and qBitTorrent are two examples of popular clients that allow you to specify a block list to use. The block list is meant to prevent malicious traffic like corporate and ISP snooping (responsible for those piracy warning letters some people get from their ISPs), and other bad actors from connecting to your machine.

I will do my best to expand upon this help file as time allows, and If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me. Jahbless.

P.S. Help with the advanced options of CWP Utilities can be found here: https://github.com/bongochong/CWP-Utilities/blob/master/Help-Advanced.md