Hosts - plea for help!

Question

HI, There are threads on this elsewhere, but I am still struggling to get my hosts file set up and ban some of the advertising pop ups on the internet
I use textwrangler to edit my hosts file (in my etc folder) (usually have to authenticate myself). I do it this way rather than using the Terminal (tried Terminal way and its not worked for me!)
Since updating to the latest 10.8 software, its stopped working for me.
Quick questions and to let you know what ive tried:
1. What should the read/write permissions on the file be?
2. Should the file be locked (or doesn't it make a difference?)
3, Should the entries be above or below
# Host Database
# localhost is used to configure the loopback interface
# when the system is booting.  Do not change this entry.
## 127.0.0.1     localhost
255.255.255.255     broadcasthost
::1             localhost
fe80::1%lo0     localhost
or as shown in this link:    http://thecoredump.org/2011/09/editing-the-hosts-file-in-mac-os-x-lion/
4. I have tried this solution:  https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4488310?start=0&tstart=0 which didn't work for me
5. what is   fe80::1%lo0     localhost    do I need this? Should this entry be above or at the bottom of my own additions??
At the minute my browser is just ignoring the hosts file.

Answer 1

HI
I sort of got it working, but theres one anomaly:
if i type in the webbrowser
groupon.co.uk
..... then i get the "it works" localhost page, so its blocking it !!!
BUT
if i type it in with "www." preceding it
www.groupon.co.uk
the groupon page still loads
What do i need to change so it blocks it whether i type in or without "www. "
This is what i have:
# Host Database
# localhost is used to configure the loopback interface
# when the system is booting.  Do not change this entry.
127.0.0.1 localhost
255.255.255.255 broadcasthost
::1 localhost
127.0.0.1 coolwebchat.com
127.0.0.1 partypoker.com
127.0.0.1 groupon.co.uk
127.0.0.1 static.uk.groupon-content.net
127.0.0.1 groupon-content.net
127.0.0.1 partycasino.com
127.0.0.1 partygaming.com
127.0.0.1 gamblingtherapy.org
127.0.0.1 egba.eu
Thanks for the help guys!