eDexter
Are you tired of those empty boxes from missing ads? Get eDexter!
What is eDexter?
eDexter is a program that acts as a local-only (it is not accessible throught the Internet) HTTP server on your computer. It is used to replace the empty boxes that occur when you use the Hosts file to block ads. eDexter will put one of its own images into the box that would have been occupied by the advertisement. This way, you will not have large, empty boxes in your browser and will instead have an image where the box used to be.
The site you have blocked in your Hosts file will still not be contacted at all, and so your web browsing can not be monitored by that site in any way as they won't even know your IP address because the Hosts file has blocked it. The replacement images will load completely off your hard drive and not from an external site, so eDexter is completely self-contained on your computer.
eDexter can use either its own internal 43 byte image, which is very fast, or it can use the included images. To use the internal image, make sure the check mark is gone from the "use images" setting in eDexter. To use the included images or your own images, check the option for "use images."
eDexter will listen locally (within your computer, and not to the Internet) on Port 80 (the HTTP port, used for web browsing), and does so to enable it to put the images into your browser. eDexter will leave your port 80 closed to all port scans. However, if by some remote chance a hacker got through on your port 80, eDexter will respond to them with a "server not found" message. This should make the hacker think they have been unable to connect with the computer.
The best advice is to run a personal firewall on your computer. Not only will this eliminate the very remote chance of someone getting through to eDexter, it will also eliminate a hacker's ability to get through on any of your ports. This means, in short, that you are as immune to hackers as you can be. To find out how to keep your computer secured, go here to read about firewalls.
Special Note for Netscape users: eDexter will also eliminate the "hang" problem with Netscape. If you use Netscape, it will keep waiting for a response from the blocked servers in your hosts file longer than it should - which will delay the page loading. eDexter will prevent that by pretending to be the server that has been blocked and will "talk" to Netscape for it. Internet Explorer 5 and up does not usually exhibit this problem, but you can still benefit from eDexter's other uses.
Special Note for adware blockers: If you are using the Hosts file, and it blocks adware programs from receiving ads (I do not advocate this behavior as it deprives the software author of their revenue and violates the EULA's), you should run eDexter without any images. If you run it with images, it can cause the adware program to hang. If you feel you must block adware programs, then either don't use eDexter while they are running, or run eDexter with its images turned off. (To turn images off, right-click on the biscuit, and click on "use images" to disable them)
Download the new eDexter Version 1.34 Today!
To learn more about this new version, please click here to visit Pyrenean's site. My site will be updated as soon as possible.
Feature List Summary:
Works in Windows 95/98/Me and Windows NT/2000
eDexterJavaDog available for cross-platform use (Linux, Macintosh, etc.)
Speeds your browsing with popular browsers
Free for personal use (others contact it's author, Pyrenean)
Blocked images are replaced with eDexter's images
You can use your own images instead of eDexter's
Includes transparent (invisible) gif and Rick's Indicators (you choose which to use)
eDexter is fully controllable from the Start Menu - even while hidden!
Option to hide eDexter from your system tray
eDexter now has command line parameters!
Small download size
Download the new eDexter Version 1.34 Today!
What is the JavaDog?
eDexter's JavaDog version is an open source edition of the terrific eDexter program. If you have been unable to run eDexter because you don't use Windows, then this is the program for you!
Why do I want the JavaDog?
If you run an OS other than Windows, you may have been wanting to run eDexter. Well, now is your chance! The JavaDog will run under any OS that can run Java code. This means that Mac and Linux users of the Hosts file will now have their own version of eDexter to go with it. If you run Windows, you will want to stick with the Windows version of eDexter. The JavaDog is a less complex version of the Windows program, and is meant for non-Windows users. It does run under Windows though, so if you want to run it you can, but it does lack some of the extra features of the Windows version.
How do I use the JavaDog?
Instructions are included in the download, and you should be able to get it up and running fairly quickly. The download also includes two batch files to automate the running of eDexter under Windows.
Does Gorilla Design Studio offer support for the JavaDog?
At this time, I do not have the resources to fully support the JavaDog program. It was written by Pyrenean for those who wanted eDexter but did not use Windows. Those users should be able to get JavaDog up and running with minimal difficulty. I hope that you all enjoy the JavaDog, but I have only tested it under Windows 2000 and so can not offer much advice on getting it to work on your system.
eDexterJavaDog Version 1.0 Today!
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