At the QAGGNEWS site, there are instructions on how to handle the blackout.
One is instructed to download a host file that has entries for certain sites. Greatawakening.win is not in host file, but I added it myself.
There is a link to how to edit host file. I assume that is the file in system32/etc/drivers. But that link is busted. I suspect non-computer people aren't going to easily be able to following generic instructions on this especially if they run into issues saving changes that happens when they do not have admin access to file.
You should write up something, and post it to help every one know what to do if Internet goes out if the outage is because DNS poisoning.
Maybe some of us have missed it. Or, have done nothing with it. Basically, the solution to learning this is easy:
setup your own test environment:
Install linux.
install libvirt.
install anything you want after that for testing purposes
You can have linux on a usb stick with persistence: MXLinux out of the box. SO, do not be shy, grab the bull by the horns and learn to code .....;-)
Explanation:
A host-file is basically just a list of IP-adresses and domain-names.
The host-file is placed in such a directory that the Operating system can use it to direct your request via de browser.
There are several types of addresses. The IPv4 address is very familiar:
https:// greatawakening.win translates to IPv4: 104.21.4.156
However, since the number of IPv4 addresses has become to limited ... IPv6 has been designed. These IP-addresses look different.
I won´t go into the nitty gritty of it, but anyway, you (all the readers) have some idea about how it all works. If you are interested, it is easy enough to find the information.
The syntax is therefor very easy, like in your telephone book:
What happens on the daily driver box- level, your computer, laptop, phone, etc, is that the OS may be looking for a host-file, but your browser is forced to use the settings of the browser. There is a lot of discussion going on in order to find a workaround when you have a browser that does this type of shenanigans. I just need you to be aware that this happens.
For those working with Linux, I have not yet investigated it, but my question is geared towards the adding of the repo-addresses to the host-file.
It would be beneficial to have the same type of list for your tor, i2p, lokinet addresses.
WARNING:
This follows Q's remark to learn how to safe offline!
"#" = hash is used to escape the code and renders it as text. So, if you copy paste the code in linux in the terminal (CRTL + T to open) just be aware that:
to past = SHIFT+ CTRL + V;
never ever use code you do not comprehend, you are the sovereign of your daily-driver-box;
use it as a test on a live-cd or virtual environment before committing it to real life.
keyboard-buttons to hit are CAPITALIZED & BOLD.
If you want to know what is inside that file:
#cat /etc/hosts
First, we are going to back a backup copy. Should things go sour, you can always go back to square one. And no, no messing around because it is quicker. You want to work clean. Take this in, always backup! No compromises.
#cd /etc
So, what is in this directory? It is called the list-command.
#ls
That is quite a bunch. So let's cut that somewhat:
#ls host*
At this point I want to call attention to two things. WHO calls the shots and WHO has to do something.
Shouting HELP as a command is a general call for help. DONALD HELP is more specific as it addresses the WHO is called upon. And that is what Linux requires. So far, we only used the regular user rights.
sudo = super user do. This is the basic identification of WHO is calling the shots.
To copy, paste and rename the hosts file:
#mv hosts hosts.old
Yes. You probably noticed by now that your system refuses to work for you, as it responds: mv: cannot move 'hosts' to 'hosts.old': Permission denied
This is where you superuser rights come in.
#sudo mv hosts hosts.old
You are now required to provide your superuser authentication: a password. Usually that is your user-password, Unless you had someone else setup your box and this person thought it wise to cut you out of messing around outside of your documents, pictures, video and download folders.
#ls host*
Now you see a new file added to the list. hosts.old
MAKING YOUR LIFE EVEN COOLER:
To append the host-file, make sure you have vim or neovim installed. if you have not installed it, you can install it with the following command if you are using a debian style-distro. AUR and others use a different packagemanager, so the only difference is the call to that package-manager to do something.
#apt search neovim
It gives you a list of packages that answer to that name.
#sudo apt install neovim
Now this is out of the way:
#sudo nvim /etc/hosts
Invoke insert command: Either via the keyboard-button: INSERT or FN+F12:
127.0.0.1 google.com
This entry is better not copy-paste-d. Enter it by hand. Make sure to use a TAB between the IP of the local-host and the host-name.
Hit the escape keyboard-button: ESCAPE, then keyboard button: COLON followed by QW!. Note here you should enter small-caps and not capitals.
check the entry:
#cat /etc/hosts
You should now see the google.com entry with the mapping to the local-host in your file.
Open your browser.
Enter into the addressfield: google.com and watch what happens. If the setup is right, your browser will display your local-host-page with the message: Unable to connect.
If not, and you see the google.com page, it means that your browser ignores the host-file.
REMEDY:
There are a couple of ways to go about it. One is at this point more likely than the other. It may be that your linux distro has the lookup-order mixed up. That is with the current state of affairs unlikely.
The more likely issue is your browser settings. Depending on the browser, you may need to tweak a thing or two.
For Firefox users this is quite easy.
Open a tab en enter into the address field: about:config
there is a search-field. Enter into the search-field: network.dns.offline-local
Take note of the STATUS. This is either TRUE or FALSE. Most probably this is set to TRUE. On the right side of the page there is a toggle button. Hit it. You will notice the STATUS going from TRUE to FALSE. Exit the page.
Now you can try your test again with your browser. Enter into the address-field: google.com and watch what happens. You should be seeing the local-host page with the message: Unable to connect.
If you are using a Browser not based on Firefox, this search strong can help you on: {browser-name} ignores host-file.
If you are on windows ... why are you still on windows ....
SPECIAL NOTE:
For those who use as a daily driver: TAILS or have Tor-deamon installed. Take special care about this changing of the host-file. Messing up is easy.
This crash-course is brought to you by: anon-growth-path.
MORE:
If this tasted good for you, then you might want to try a few things:
#dig superuser.com A superuser.com AAAA +short
With this command you can discover the IPV4-address AND the IPv6 address.
All you have to do is change: superuser.com into any host-name. No https:// required.
THIS IS IMPORTANT:
At the QAGGNEWS site, there are instructions on how to handle the blackout.
One is instructed to download a host file that has entries for certain sites. Greatawakening.win is not in host file, but I added it myself.
There is a link to how to edit host file. I assume that is the file in system32/etc/drivers. But that link is busted. I suspect non-computer people aren't going to easily be able to following generic instructions on this especially if they run into issues saving changes that happens when they do not have admin access to file.
You should write up something, and post it to help every one know what to do if Internet goes out if the outage is because DNS poisoning.
Indeed, coming back up right now, has to be a very good reason.
This is directed at everyone reading in response to https://greatawakening.win/p/17rm5OEtE0/x/c/4Tz2ZAKfuBm reply by MuckeyDuck.
Of course, we have discussed this before .....
Maybe some of us have missed it. Or, have done nothing with it. Basically, the solution to learning this is easy:
setup your own test environment:
You can have linux on a usb stick with persistence: MXLinux out of the box. SO, do not be shy, grab the bull by the horns and learn to code .....;-)
Explanation:
A host-file is basically just a list of IP-adresses and domain-names.
The host-file is placed in such a directory that the Operating system can use it to direct your request via de browser.
There are several types of addresses. The IPv4 address is very familiar: https:// greatawakening.win translates to IPv4: 104.21.4.156
However, since the number of IPv4 addresses has become to limited ... IPv6 has been designed. These IP-addresses look different. I won´t go into the nitty gritty of it, but anyway, you (all the readers) have some idea about how it all works. If you are interested, it is easy enough to find the information.
The syntax is therefor very easy, like in your telephone book:
name + number./ number + name
169.55.146.12rumble.com
169.44.97.14rumble.com
169.44.97.2rumble.com
What happens on the daily driver box- level, your computer, laptop, phone, etc, is that the OS may be looking for a host-file, but your browser is forced to use the settings of the browser. There is a lot of discussion going on in order to find a workaround when you have a browser that does this type of shenanigans. I just need you to be aware that this happens.
For those working with Linux, I have not yet investigated it, but my question is geared towards the adding of the repo-addresses to the host-file.
It would be beneficial to have the same type of list for your tor, i2p, lokinet addresses.
WARNING:
This follows Q's remark to learn how to safe offline!
Thanks for the information. I should have know you guys were on top of this already. Great Job!!
There is a simple test you can do on Linux.
the host file is located at: /etc/hosts
CONVENTION:
"#" = hash is used to escape the code and renders it as text. So, if you copy paste the code in linux in the terminal (CRTL + T to open) just be aware that:
If you want to know what is inside that file:
#cat /etc/hosts
First, we are going to back a backup copy. Should things go sour, you can always go back to square one. And no, no messing around because it is quicker. You want to work clean. Take this in, always backup! No compromises.
#cd /etc
So, what is in this directory? It is called the list-command.
#ls
That is quite a bunch. So let's cut that somewhat:
#ls host*
At this point I want to call attention to two things. WHO calls the shots and WHO has to do something. Shouting HELP as a command is a general call for help. DONALD HELP is more specific as it addresses the WHO is called upon. And that is what Linux requires. So far, we only used the regular user rights.
sudo = super user do. This is the basic identification of WHO is calling the shots.
To copy, paste and rename the hosts file:
#mv hosts hosts.old
Yes. You probably noticed by now that your system refuses to work for you, as it responds: mv: cannot move 'hosts' to 'hosts.old': Permission denied
This is where you superuser rights come in.
#sudo mv hosts hosts.old
You are now required to provide your superuser authentication: a password. Usually that is your user-password, Unless you had someone else setup your box and this person thought it wise to cut you out of messing around outside of your documents, pictures, video and download folders.
#ls host*
Now you see a new file added to the list. hosts.old
MAKING YOUR LIFE EVEN COOLER:
To append the host-file, make sure you have vim or neovim installed. if you have not installed it, you can install it with the following command if you are using a debian style-distro. AUR and others use a different packagemanager, so the only difference is the call to that package-manager to do something.
#apt search neovim
It gives you a list of packages that answer to that name.
#sudo apt install neovim
Now this is out of the way:
#sudo nvim /etc/hosts
Invoke insert command: Either via the keyboard-button: INSERT or FN+F12:
127.0.0.1 google.com
This entry is better not copy-paste-d. Enter it by hand. Make sure to use a TAB between the IP of the local-host and the host-name.
Hit the escape keyboard-button: ESCAPE, then keyboard button: COLON followed by QW!. Note here you should enter small-caps and not capitals.
check the entry:
#cat /etc/hosts
You should now see the google.com entry with the mapping to the local-host in your file.
Open your browser.
Enter into the addressfield: google.com and watch what happens. If the setup is right, your browser will display your local-host-page with the message: Unable to connect.
If not, and you see the google.com page, it means that your browser ignores the host-file.
REMEDY:
There are a couple of ways to go about it. One is at this point more likely than the other. It may be that your linux distro has the lookup-order mixed up. That is with the current state of affairs unlikely.
The more likely issue is your browser settings. Depending on the browser, you may need to tweak a thing or two.
For Firefox users this is quite easy.
Open a tab en enter into the address field: about:config
there is a search-field. Enter into the search-field: network.dns.offline-local
Take note of the STATUS. This is either TRUE or FALSE. Most probably this is set to TRUE. On the right side of the page there is a toggle button. Hit it. You will notice the STATUS going from TRUE to FALSE. Exit the page.
Now you can try your test again with your browser. Enter into the address-field: google.com and watch what happens. You should be seeing the local-host page with the message: Unable to connect.
If you are using a Browser not based on Firefox, this search strong can help you on: {browser-name} ignores host-file.
If you are on windows ... why are you still on windows ....
SPECIAL NOTE:
For those who use as a daily driver: TAILS or have Tor-deamon installed. Take special care about this changing of the host-file. Messing up is easy.
This crash-course is brought to you by: anon-growth-path.
MORE:
If this tasted good for you, then you might want to try a few things:
#dig superuser.com A superuser.com AAAA +short
With this command you can discover the IPV4-address AND the IPv6 address. All you have to do is change: superuser.com into any host-name. No https:// required.
Test:
#dig openstreetmap.org A openstreetmap.org AAAA +short
184.104.179.139
184.104.179.140
184.104.179.141
2001:470:1:fa1::d
2001:470:1:fa1::c
2001:470:1:fa1::b
The edit host file link is no longer a valid link - 404 error.
Yup, I sent the site owner a note to that effect.