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Step 1.) Access your system's "hosts" file
a.If you run Windows XP:
Click Start then Run then enter the command:
b. or if you're still on '2000 or 'NT:
Click Start then Run then enter the command:
c. Mac OS X
-go to Applications:Utilities:Terminal then in the terminal enter the command:
d. Windows 95/98/ME
Click Start then Run then enter the command:
e. most unix:
you already know what to do.
Step 2.) add the following entries
Save the file. do not use "save as" and save the file as hosts.txt but simply close and save when prompted. It's important that the filename must remain "hosts" without an extension or this hack will not work.
a.If you run Windows XP:
Click Start then Run then enter the command:
notepad c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts
b. or if you're still on '2000 or 'NT:
Click Start then Run then enter the command:
notepad c:\winnt\system32\drivers\etc\hosts
c. Mac OS X
-go to Applications:Utilities:Terminal then in the terminal enter the command:
pico /etc/hosts
d. Windows 95/98/ME
Click Start then Run then enter the command:
notepad c:\windows\hosts
e. most unix:
you already know what to do.
Step 2.) add the following entries
127.0.0.1 hello.parachat.com 127.0.0.1 welcome.parachat.com
Save the file. do not use "save as" and save the file as hosts.txt but simply close and save when prompted. It's important that the filename must remain "hosts" without an extension or this hack will not work.
"'Hack?' you say" not really. you're just accessing a host list in your PC and making a couple entries that circumvent the worst.
Here's what happens.
Almost all systems that use DNS have an order of resources for accessing systems by name. When an application gets an internet request for "name.domain.com" it first checks the local "hosts" file before checking the DNS system.
Normally, when we run the parachat applet, it reaches out to the parachat ad servers periodically and on certain events to retrieve ads and as a result, pops up that annoying window..
With the entries we've added, the parachat applet is tricked into using a virtual black hole of IP space for the names "hello.parachat.com" and "welcome.parachat.com" - in short we've prevented it from using the real IP address and ultimately, access the real site. Now I did say it won't completely eliminate the problem. Part of the process of parachat generating popups involves creating the window first. With this fix you'll only get a blank page and a harmless error, Both of which can be closed and you can move on with your business. Because the site was blocked from being accessed, no content is retrieved, also meaning no cookies, which in turn means no means to download additional content driven by the existing cookies.
Enjoy!
NB. i've been doing this for quite a while on numerous systems and on average, receive only the initial attempt of a popup upon login and maybe one more if i happen to click in "the wrong area"
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