Question about modified HOSTS files

I downloaded the modified HOSTS file according to this site ( http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm) but I'm not sure if it's working properly. When I hit the Back button sometimes nothing happens because I run into an ad server (the drop-down box shows 3 or so ad server links). However, according to the site, "Vista/IE7 users should not see any ad servers listed in the drop-down list of the Back Button if your HOSTS file is working properly."

I also did the following Test #2: paste ad.doubleclick.net into your browser, you should see the following: "The page cannot be displayed" (IE only) but instead, nothing happens. Is there any way to check that the HOSTS file is working properly or, more importantly, get rid of those annoying ad servers that I run into when I hit Back?

On a related note, the site mentioned that spywareblaster is not recommended for Vista because of the way it now handles ActiveX, is there any truth to that?

 

Any particular reason why you don't just install an ad blocker?

And yeah, if you ping or tracert ad.doubleclick.net, it should resolve the ip address to 127.0.0.1 if the host file works. (which it should, it's fairly standard)

 

Thanks, installing IE7Pro seems to have gotten rid of the ad servers, and the program has a bunch of other neat features too. I know most people recommend firefox but I couldn't get used to the change when I previously tried it.