Blocking Runescape Ads - No programs needed!

Why do I need this?
Blocking ads means faster internet (less things to load), less distractions, and many of the ads have errors or obstruct the game window.

All the advise on this forum concerning blocking ads says that you need to install Firefox and then install Ad-Block Plus, but Firefox takes a lot of memory to run and slows down a computer when running multiple copies with Virtual Machines. This is inefficient and over complicated.

The following method is already on your computer! And it'll work for any browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, etc) The main advantage is that it'll block the ads on Runescape.exe which is probably the most efficient browser for running Runescape. Its small size makes it perfect for multiple VMs.

Ok, so how do I do it?
Go to C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc\hosts
When you double click 'hosts' it'll ask you what program you want to use to open it- select Notepad. Alternatively, you can open notepad, and just drag the file into it and it'll open it.

Now that you have it open, paste this at the very end of the file:

127.0.0.1 advert.runescape.com

Save and close. Now try running Runescape, now ads should not appear!

Help it didn't work!
-If it won't let you save the file, then the problem is probably that you are not logged in as the computer's administrator. Only the admin can edit it.
You can go to Start>Control Panel>User Accounts to see who the administrator is and who you are logged in as right now.
-If it saved, but they still appear, try restarting your browser.
-Still not working??? Post everything you know about the problem.

Does this work for ads on other websites?
Yes. You just need to know the host website of the add. (Example: I knew that Runescape downloads the ads from 'advert.runescape.com'
Then you just add another line at the bottom of 'hosts' with:

127.0.0.1 (insert address you want to block here)

If you want to block ALL ads on the internet, then Firefox with Ad-Block is indeed the best option. The above method is best for Runescape because it blocks the ads when using any browser.

I want to learn! How does this work? / Is it safe?
Once you do the above steps, and you try to load a Runescape page, Runescape will tell your computer, "Go download this ad from http://advert.runescape.com/AnnoyingFordAd"

Your computer will now say, "Oh! my 'hosts' file says that is located at 127.0.0.1" (NOTE: 127.0.0.1 is what everyone's computer calls itself) So your computer will try to load the ad from your computer.

Of course it doesn't exist on your computer- when you edited the 'hosts' file, you were lying to your computer. Therefore, when the webpage finishes loading, the ads will have been replaced with mini error pages!

JAGEX DOES NOT DETECT IT!
I, and other people have been using this method forever, and none of use have had any trouble. The hosts file has been around ever since Windows had internet so if Jagex is capable of detecting this, then they have not done it yet.

Post any problems/questions/compliments please!

Nice Guide =D

Sweet, thanks for that... the ads were really starting to get annoying
how they would unselect my window in the middle of play and cause me to go back when hitting backspace

nice it worked

It won't let me save hosts as the original file it saves as a txt or something else (wont overwrite the old file..)

Edit: That was on my Main computer and I didn't need it anyway cuz I don't use runescape.exe on it but I used it on my VM and it worked thanks :) I got that error that popped up and stopped scripts I saw you talking bout on another thread so this fixes it right? Hope So. :D

thanks man
it works great

Quote:

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Originally Posted by awesom

I used it on my VM and it worked thanks :) I got that error that popped up and stopped scripts.

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Yup, that's where I use it. My VM kept stopping from that lame error.

I'm glad it worked for you all!

Its automatik blocket there file. idk how.
There is runescape block by james lol:bart:

Really nice, although:

1. Blocking those god damn ads can get you banned o:
2. Just use ScarScape!

Firefox > IE.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by EvilChicken

Really nice, although:

1. Blocking those god damn ads can get you banned o:
2. Just use ScarScape!

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Last time that I checked, JaghaX isn't good enough to find out what text files are/have been edited on your computer...And plus, what they don't know won't hurt 'em!

:sasmokin::sasmokin: I love colorful Java...lol...

Lulz, good point.

But my other argument still stands :sasmokin:

Thanks dude!

Extremely helpful.

Yeah, the only way Jagex could find out that you're not displaying their ads is if they could view that text file, which would be illegal anyways. They just say it can get you banned to scare you.

SS isn't a bad choice either, but I still like RS.exe better. Just a matter of opinion I suppose.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by awesom

It won't let me save hosts as the original file it saves as a txt or something else (wont overwrite the old file..)

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To fix this all you need to do is after pasting 127.0.0.1 advert.runescape.com on your host file. Just delete the old one and do save not save as. it should work

Edit: Or you can right click on the hosts file. Click properties. Then uncheck read-only. It should allow you save over it. After you're done just recheck read-only.

Thanks King but I don't really need it on my main comp anyway I don't get the error.

I know when I had ZoneAlarm (if not better just as good as Norten Antivirus) that they where automaticly blocked. And I mean completly gone so that the rs window would shift up as it does for members.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by osmm

I know when I had ZoneAlarm (if not better just as good as Norten Antivirus) that they where automaticly blocked. And I mean completly gone so that the rs window would shift up as it does for members.

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Did it do that for all ads? Is ZoneAlarm free or is it easy to install sneakily?

The only problem is that its a baneable offense to block the ads D:

But i dont think they are able to detect it o.o

Just use firefox download the adblock plus addon. And just block the add. Easiest.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by zasz

Just use firefox download the adblock plus addon. And just block the add. Easiest.

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Did you even read the first paragraph? I know about that, I use FF with adblock. But for autoing it is not efficient to have a program as huge as FireFox with Adblock installed and running on EVERY virtual machine. This is for if you want to use the RS client because it is much smaller.

EDIT:

ok I AM NOOB CAKE! thanks munk, and turtle for sharing your 1337n3ss with me and every one else! ^_^"


i got it workin now =)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by red eyes 20

um,, i am noob cake, but have do i access the Go to C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc\hosts
file.....

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haha i just posted in your thread for you to try this. If you cant see files in that folder, find something that says "show hidden files"

Quote:

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Originally Posted by red eyes 20

EDIT:

ok I AM NOOB CAKE! thanks munk, and turtle for sharing your 1337n3ss with me and every one else! ^_^"


i got it workin now =)

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Lol, I was at school and checked the forums and saw your thread, but didn't want to risk being seen answering it. I'm happy you found me instead! Have fun without errors now!

If we all took the time to do this w/ vms, we could make Jagex go oh so broke...

I've been using scarscape, but I have some questions about it.
It will show the RS2 java client WITHOUT ads.
I little while ago (few weeks) the scarscape java would not load runescape. Now it is working again and I've been using it, but why did it stop working?
Did jagax learn about it and are they using it to catch people? (I sound really paranoid :( )

There have been a lot of people mentioning that lately. I haven't used ScarScape recently, so I don't know, but all the topics I've seen on this say that it is still safe. A lot of people on this forums use it and if there was a security problem I'm sure it would have been mentioned.

If SS ever stops working again, there's a similar program called SCSS which is about the same thing and comes with SRL.
Look in C:\Program Files\SCAR 3.13\includes\SRL\SCSS and then open SCSS.exe
Nothing to install, just run it like ScarScape.

I may try this later to keep the runescape client from locking up on me with server busy messages. Runescape had some ads that I thought must be spyware. Scans came up clean, so I guess they were just normal advertisements. I hope this can fix the lockups.

works yay!! i have noticed i get more script errors from the adds then i do from srl haha...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by munk

haha i just posted in your thread for you to try this. If you cant see files in that folder, find something that says "show hidden files"

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Its in tools, folder options, view :)

hmm, it said it can't save it

Thanks a lot :D

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Originally Posted by xraye

hmm, it said it can't save it

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Right click on the 'hosts' file and select Properties. At the bottom of the window make sure 'Read-only' is UNchecked. Then hit ok and try editing it again.

it wont let me save it.i un-checked read only and im using vista, so i might just be s. o. l. lol.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tlowe90

it wont let me save it.i un-checked read only and im using vista, so i might just be s. o. l. lol.

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Try deleting the old file.
Read my other post on the first page for a little more detail

Quote:

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Originally Posted by KingNoob

Try deleting the old file.
Read my other post on the first page for a little more detail

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King, I'm going to put parts of your first post in the main topic under the help section to see if that helps people. I'll credit you. Thanks for helping out.

gosh dangit ur a genius! thanks s00000 much!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JackLKrawl

If we all took the time to do this w/ vms, we could make Jagex go oh so broke...

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not realy. jagex gets paid each time they load the add. ie, when they send it to ur comp.

Ok, import information for people who have been having problems saving the hosts file!
If it gives you an error when you try to save, then you are not logged in as the administrator of your computer. You need to be the admin to edit that file.

You can go to Start>Control Panel>User Accounts to see who is the administrator and who you are logged in as right now.

I even tested this, by logging in on a guest account and it gave me the EXACT same error that posters have described.