The Ad-Police for Windows

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Editors’ Review

Download.com staffNovember 7, 2008

This small utility adds to the Hosts file to block most known advertisement servers but lacks configuration options. AD-Police's sparse interface and missing help file gives novices little program information. The Windows Hosts file maps URL addresses and effectively blocks select URLs from loading in your browser. AD-Police simply loads the names of known browser-banner advertiser servers into the Hosts file. Because browser advertisements slow the loading of some Web pages, this application effectively reduces loading time for those sites. The utility opens the Hosts file to manually add or delete blocked servers. Updating the list requires regular visits to the site, but an auto refresh feature is available upon purchase. During our tests Ad-Police sometimes failed to find the Hosts file, and in those cases the program was useless since the file location could not be manually configured. All in all, any user will find downloading AD-Police worthwhile.

The Ad-Police for Windows

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Full Specifications

GENERAL

Release: June 29, 2005

Latest update: November 7, 2008

Version: 1.0.25

OPERATING SYSTEMS

Platform: Windows

Operating System

Windows NT
Windows 98
Windows 2000
Windows XP
Windows 10
Windows ME

Additional Requirements: Windows 98/Me/NT/2000/XP/2003 Server, Visual Basic Runtime Module 6.0

POPULARITY

Total Downloads: 27,441

Downloads Last Week: 2

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Last Updated

User Reviews

3.6/5

5 User Votes

This program is not worth free
vernonguilloryJanuary 3, 2009
Pros
It looks nice
Cons
I don't see any benefits it has other than looks nice
Summary
No Good<br /><br /><span class='notifyMsg'> Updated </span>on Jan 3, 2009<p/>If I wanted to block bad files, I didn't see this happening, but I have programs which are supposed to do so, and you can't update the bad sites so not worth my time until I can update the bad sites since I believe I saw that if you paid for updates I can't afford this.
Does What It Says...
BigThunder1January 3, 2008
Pros
...on the box! It's not the perfect answer to blocking ALL web-page advertising, but then what is? This will block the majority of Ad's served up along with most banners etc.. Site XYZ[dot]com had so many flipping ad's it took over 45 seconds to load the page! After running "The AD-Police", clearing ALL my cookies, and restarting my browser, XYZ[dot]com loaded the same page in about 10 seconds! Similar results on other sites as well. A very worthy addition to dwnld and install. Like it says, "run it once and forget it". It saves a backup of your original hosts file and allows you to remove URL's within the installed hosts list if you desire (although it is a manual hunt and peck process). It will speed up a lot of sites you go to simply because the ad-servers are being blocked. Worth the time and trouble for me. Very pleased with the results!
Cons
No search feature for URLS on list for editing and no way to ad to the list. No update file seems to be available that I could find on the site. That said, it still does a fine job of blocking the vast majority of ad servers (not all) and is a very worthy download.
Summary
Simply beautiful
blabluppDecember 24, 2006
Pros
It works
Cons
None
Summary
Doesn't Work
ExtremeDownloaderFebruary 16, 2006
Pros
None
Cons
This program doesn't work! There is an icon on the Desktop which is perfectly fine. When the program is launched, a splash screen shows up. After that, it asks if you want to modify the HOSTS file. Click Yes and you get a debug error. At first I thought it was my anti-spyware. After disabling all anti-spyware programs and unloading Shaw Secure, I got the same error. The Uninstall feature is hard to find, in the Program Files directory. You have to manually delete the program's folder in the Program Files directory (this may or may not occur).
Summary
Cooooooool!!
AbukingJuly 3, 2005
Pros
The best thing about this app. is that ITS A SINGLE USE app., No need to always runing as some by all other Adware/Spyware blocking apps.
Cons
Summary

Developer’s Description

By [Da]-Software's

Block more than 14,000 known advertisement servers.

The Ad-Police a Small, One time use utility to block 14000+ known (no duplicates) Advertisement servers, Uses windows HOSTS file method. Use to give boost to your internet speed, will effect every windows application that uses HOSTS file which means that Adware and Spyware modules will also get blocked resulting in enhanced security and privacy. No need to always be running - one time use ONLY.