Advertising in Winamp - REMOVE IT! - Guide by the community.

[cyanideghost]

This is a complete compilation of the hosts list, so far it seems to be blocking most of the advertising, I live in Toronto, Canada - I believe this should suffice perfectly for that dashboard and Shoutcast advertising.
Keep in mind you should still rename the file in Winamp\Plugins\ml_dash.dll to something else or delete it still to get rid of that major advertising banner.

Advertising for people paying for the Professional version is a total rip off, why pay when you can simply use other players then? VLC Player is better than Winamp use it.
And oh yeah you can ban me I dont care I wont be back anyways, its meant to help the community facing this advertising blitz. I could understand if they had ads but allowed an option to disable it, you can customize your dashboard but can't turn this crap off.

Have fun - edit the hosts file in Notepad:

C:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts

# Blocked Ads
127.0.0.1 img-a2.ak.imagevz.net
127.0.0.1 m.de.2mdn.net
127.0.0.1 ad.de.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1 twx.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1 doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1 ad.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1 ad.uk.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1 aka-cdn-ns.adtechus.com
127.0.0.1 an.tacoda.net
127.0.0.1 anrtx.tacoda.net
127.0.0.1 tacoda.net
127.0.0.1 cfiles.5min.com
127.0.0.1 5min.com
127.0.0.1 embed.5min.com
127.0.0.1 s.moatads.com
127.0.0.1 moatads.com
127.0.0.1 premium.servedby.yell.com
127.0.0.1 ds.serving-sys.com
127.0.0.1 ace-tag.advertising.com
127.0.0.1 bannerfarm.ace.advertising.com
127.0.0.1 leadback.advertising.com
127.0.0.1 uac.advertising.com
127.0.0.1 servedby.advertising.com
127.0.0.1 advertising.com
127.0.0.1 content.yieldmanager.edgesuite.net
127.0.0.1 edgesuite.net
127.0.0.1 row.bc.yahoo.com
127.0.0.1 eu-pn2.adserver.yahoo.com
127.0.0.1 cdn.eyewonder.com
127.0.0.1 ads.bluelithium.com
127.0.0.1 hosting.adjug.com
127.0.0.1 ads.aol.co.uk
127.0.0.1 a1767.g.akamai.net
127.0.0.1 aolwinamp.122.2o7.net
127.0.0.1 122.2o7.net
127.0.0.1 2o7.net
127.0.0.1 cdn2.adsdk.com
127.0.0.1 img.mediaplex.com
127.0.0.1 img-cdn.mediaplex.com
127.0.0.1 ad.yieldmanager.com
127.0.0.1 adsdk.com
127.0.0.1 adsfac.net
127.0.0.1 adopt.euroclick.com
127.0.0.1 amgdgt.com
127.0.0.1 m1.au.2mdn.net
127.0.0.1 subtracts.userplane.com
127.0.0.1 cover.m2y.siemens.ch #China
127.0.0.1 adserver.adtech.de #Germany/Belgium/Switz/Austria
127.0.0.1 im.adtech.de #Germany
127.0.0.1 aka-cdn-ns.adtech.de #Germany
127.0.0.1 adtech.de #Germany
127.0.0.1 ad.dc2.adtech.de #Germany
127.0.0.1 ad.de.doubleclick.net #Germany
127.0.0.1 adserver.aol.fr #France
127.0.0.1 ad.fr.doubleclick.net #France
127.0.0.1 adserver.aol.be #Belgium
127.0.0.1 ad.be.doubleclick.net #Belgium
127.0.0.1 a1767.g.akamai.net #Belgium
#
# Comment out the following line if getting script errors (requires Winamp restart) *
#
127.0.0.1 at.atwola.com

========END========

* Maybe try adding the last entry (at.atwola.com) to Restricted Sites zone in "IE Options -> Security" instead,
if getting script errors with it in hosts (and ads with it not in hosts).

Notes
1. Close & reopen Winamp for changes to take effect
2. If you block o.aolcdn.com then the SHOUTcast views will not load at all.
3. If you block js.adsonar.com then the AOL Radio view won't work properly (page will load, but links won't work).
4. Blocking ar.atwola.com might also result in breakage....
5. More tips here.

[Nunzio390]

Although I'm not "endorsing" this hosts file edit , the above hosts file entries eliminates the ad in the "Now Playing" section as well.

[General_Zod]

hmm, so that means, if I have winamp open while playing an online game, it will lag me when it changes adverts in this window, is that correct?

[Gamesoul Master]

I never really noticed any ads. Although that's probably because I use the HOSTS files provided at MVPS.org...

[Ropey]

Thanks for the good fix. Had I known that Winamp also funds their products (at the retail level) with advertising as well as the retail sales price I would have never purchased it.

I will be more careful in the future as I WILL NOT knowingly play this foul game.

Winamp's advertising at the retail level is distasteful at best and completely FOUL at worst.

[only_johhny]

Thank you for the fix!

[509ParrotHead]

I'm confused...what needs to be done exactly to accomplish this?

[J_Darnley]

Edit C:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts and include the lines from the first post. The hosts file is plain text if you didn't know so you can use any text editor.

[509ParrotHead]

Got it, thanks.

[yamaplos]

love it!

[anthi]

Winamp is going downhill...

I could understand if the free versions of Winamp has ads in it and that the upgrade to a Pro version would in the same way remove the ads as in many other programs.

Well, it's becoming more and more clear that Winamp no longer is the player most people should go for. Winamp has lost its simplicity, user-friendliness and is packed full with useless crap and now-a-days even ads, regardless of whether you paid for it or not.

I'm done with Winamp, VLC Player is free and has all the necessary stuff i need. So i just say goodbye and turn my back to ten years of Winamp use only... Too bad they could not keep their hands where they should and left the player free of ads and other crap!

//Anthi - signing off

[olargues]

Indeed can't understand why we have to endure ads in the pro version ?
I thought that if I pay and go for the pro version, ads will not show up well I was wrong...

[dd_wizard]

I didn't mind the advertising that much, but a number of the URLs in the OP are known for their tracking cookies. Girl Scout cookies are one thing, but tracking cookies I can do without. How does the Bento Browser handle tracking cookies? Do they end up in the IE cookie jar? Thank God I use Firefox with Cookie Safe! CS Lite actually.

dd_wizard

[bitchtow]

Aren't all the ads just in the now playing area which is in the media library?

I don't know, i never use now playing, but it's just a couple of ad banners on a website, isn't it?

I know if i never go in there, ill never see any ads, and I assume that they wont be downloaded until i go into now playing. So......

[Nunzio390]

Aren't all the ads just in the now playing area which is in the media library?

No. Ads can also appear in other sections within Winamp that displays online content.

Here's the situation (an explanation)

Click-n-read the above.

[tflood]

Did I do this right? I added the lines specified into the hosts file, saved it, then I renamed the DLL file. I restarted Winamp, but the adds are still there.

[Nunzio390]

Originally posted by tflood
Did I do this right? I added the lines specified into the hosts file, saved it, then I renamed the DLL file. I restarted Winamp, but the adds are still there.

OK. Browse to this folder on your HDD...

C:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\

In the etc folder, locate a file named hosts (no file extension). Open it in any ASCII text editor (eg: Windows Notepad or Editpad, which is what I always use).

Add these lines of text to the hosts file...

# Winamp Advertisements
127.0.0.1 im.adtech.de
127.0.0.1 img-a2.ak.imagevz.net
127.0.0.1 m.de.2mdn.net
127.0.0.1 cover.m2y.siemens.ch
127.0.0.1 ad.de.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1 twx.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1 doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1 ad.doubleclick.net
127.0.0.1 aolwinamp.122.2o7.net
127.0.0.1 122.2o7.net
127.0.0.1 2o7.net
127.0.0.1 cdn2.adsdk.com
127.0.0.1 adsdk.com
127.0.0.1 servedby.advertising.com
127.0.0.1 advertising.com
127.0.0.1 subtracts.userplane.com

Save the hosts file and close the text editor.

That's it. All ads will be gone.

btw... I assume you are trying the hosts file edit due to my reply to you here. Correct?
_____________________________________

Also, what DLL file did you rename?
This has nothing to do at all with any dynamic link library file. Don't rename or change any DLL file. The hosts file is not a DLL file. As I indicated above, it has no file extension in its name, so don't add one, and do not change the name in any way. Its name is hosts, and nothing else - no file extension.

[DJ Egg]

It could also depend on what country you're in...
The ads are geo-targeted, so the ad server(s) will be different for different countries.

EDIT: List in first post updated :-)

[Nunzio390]

Originally posted by DJ Egg
It could also depend on what country you're in...
The ads are geo-targeted, so the ad server(s) will be different for different countries.

Yeah. True enough. Which means some more entries may be needed as well. BUT... how to easily determine this/ locate the geo-generated URL's?

Egg...

You're in the UK. I'm in the US. Are there other ad URL's that you specifically know about that need to be added for the UK? Have you tried the edit for yourself, and if so, does it work for you "as is"?

[DJ Egg]

All I needed to add to hosts was twx.doubleclick.net, none of the others.
And I get no ads in any of Now Playing, Online Services, Dashboard views.

Well, actually, twx.doubleclick.net was already in my hosts file, along with a few other *doubleclick* entries, and was auto added by one of Spybot Search & Destroy or SpywareBlaster, a long time ago.

That was why I was initially confused by all the reports of ads, because I've never seen any.

ar.atwola.com was also originally in my hosts file, but I had to remove it, because that's what causes the script errors...

[tflood]

So the hosts file, which I've saved as just simply "hosts" like the original, contains the twx.doubleclick.net and not ar.atwola.com. I live in Canada, but the ads are still all there. Really appreciate your help, you guys. Thanks for what you've already posted.

[Nunzio390]

Originally posted by tflood
I live in Canada, but the ads are still all there.

tflood...

The original poster in this thread, cyanideghost, lives in Toronto Canada, and he both supplied and applied the hosts file edit and all works well for him, as it does for me and so many others.

Something is amiss in your case. You are having a number of issues. It could be a system-wide problem, but let's handle Winamp first. Please read my reply to you here, where I suggested a completely clean install. Try that first.

[flymorox]

I live in France. Just add this lines in hosts file:

127.0.0.1 a1767.g.akamai.net #french
127.0.0.1 adserver.aol.fr #french
127.0.0.1 ad.fr.doubleclick.net #french

[Nunzio390]

flymorox...

Thanks for the info!

[tflood]

Nunzio,
Sorry I missed that part about Toronto above.

[OlexijL]

Dear community,

I live in Germany. Developed something like a patcher.

This is a modified winrar sfx (thanks to resource hacker) with a default hosts file and all entries above in it.

the hosts file i used is a default one. I added the blocking content from the 1st. message and works superb.

Do not use it, if you have customized hosts file downloaded from somewhere. If you have a default file with a localhost in there, use this patcher.

Winamp should be restarted to take any effect.

Information to newbies: Winamp uses IE (Internet Explorer) engine to work with streams and display webpages. So Winamp cannot disable Ads, because IE still display them. To disable them, you have to modify hosts file to make IE believe these Ads are on your own PC. So IE tries to find Ads on your PC and cannot display them.

Patcher (from rapidshare, sendspace): http://rapidshare.com/files/109019010/Winamp_NoAds_hosts.exe
http://www.sendspace.com/file/7l4989

Copy URL to clipboard and use it.

[tflood]

Yeah didn't work for my script error. But, I've no luck trying to fix any of my winamp problems, implying there's no hope for my cpu

[tflood]

Is there any way to undo the patcher?

[P$ycHo™]

if it doesnt do a backup you cant.
look for a file called hosts.old or hostsbackup or something like that. if there is nothing like that, you cant restore the old hosts file.

[DJ Egg]

Edit it in Notepad.

[tflood]

done. thanks.

[Mr. Coffee 2.0]

Editing the hosts file is a bit of a pain though. Not the editing, but it can lock you out of any videos with forced advertisements that this blocks, rare though they me be. Seems the only solution is to browse shoutcast directly where you can filter the content to your hearts content. Maybe a software firewall could restrict those domains for winamp exclusively and leave the dynamic stuff for the browsers. If it weren't for ipod support I would still be happily be using 5.08e which is the version that predates the use of the IE engine for the online/shoutcast content and online settings. Additionally, the url for the now playing feature in that version is actually broken which I can only see as a feature should you forget to disable it.

It's still one of the best free players so there's little merit behind any complaints, but it's a shame that it's on my "The older version is better" list.

[Caeadas]

FYI: for those with vista (like me) you have to run notepad as an admin in order to change the hosts file:

1) Click on Start -> All Programs -> Accessories
2) Right click "Notepad" and select "Run as administrator"
3) Click "Continue" or "Allow" on the UAC prompt
4) Click File -> Open
5) Browse to "C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\etc"
6) Change the file filter drop down box from "Text Documents (*.txt)" to "All Files (*.*)"
7) Select "hosts" and click "Open"
8) Make the needed changes and close Notepad. Save when prompted.

After i did this, Windows Defender popped up and warned me about it. Defender reffered to it as a:

"SettingsModifier:Win32/PossibleHostsFileHijack"

and listed it as a medium-grade threat. i just selected "always allow" in the drop down menu, since i did actually do that. now the advertisements don't appear, but Defender has a nice little note in it's history. if necessary, you can go into "allowed items" and undo it.

underneath is the links to the relevant MS webpages and the CNET page where i got the info on the hosts file

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=923947
http://www.microsoft.com/security/po...08427027806866
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-6121_102...sageID=2488002

[robdog2004]

for some people if the savings wil not work try editing down in safe mode(no networking)

[reza666]

Would be nice if someone with knowledge could explain what
127.0.0.1 im.adtech.de
actually means in the host file?
i'm guessing that when Winamp tries to access in this example "im.adtech.de" it will be routed to 127.0.0.1 which is the localhost so it will not find anything. is this a correct assumption? (my interpretation of the text in hosts file)

Also Winamp should be a shame to charge for the pro version!
Only reason i still use winamp is because of Streamripper plugin which allows me to record the music with the tags or i would just stick to iTunes or something else.

[robdog2004]

127.0.0.1 is your computers internal ip address so if a site has been told to redirect to there by the host files it will give you a screen (can not find host) which is good in most cases (say false sites or virused sites) but in some cases its bad (may prevent you from logging on to a trusted site) just be careful which sites you reroute

[screamin_jesus]

They should remove the ads for pro users and have the free version ad supported. Win Win.

[robdog2004]

it a whole lot easier to just have a program that removes the ads in the first place
winamp themselves cant remove the ads since they are supported by aol (tm) which is who makes most of the ads in the first place
now to remove them you can either use the host file edit or if you have a security suite you can block them from there but dont wait around for winamp to remove the ads themselves

[screamin_jesus]

I did the hosts file edit and I still get the ad on the now playing page. I live in the US

[robdog2004]

from what i know is that the only ads your gonna get is from any page in winamp that connects to an external source/site (i.e. now playing,browser, dashboard to name a few) there are only a few ways to stop the ads the 2 ways i told you and/or not allowing winamp to connect to the internet