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ConFetch PRO, LSE and Ultra

ConFetch PRO, LSE and Ultra are intended for use with TreeWalk DNS! "LSE" is the LAN Server Editon of "PRO" that runs unattended, without any user interaction required or recommended. "Ultra" is the newest version of ConFetch designed for 32-bit and 64-bit editions of Windows, including Vista, and is similar to LSE in concept with some exceptions. Go further down the page to download or read more about these versions, or check out the Change Log and Notifications page.

Get update notifications: You can safely and easily receive private emails when your favorite HOSTS files or other lists are updated by following these instructions below.

 Minimum Requirements:  Pentium III 500 MHz processor with 128 MB RAM (or equivalent - 256 MB preferred). If you run one of these with XP, you probably already realize it can be a slower machine so it's strongly suggested to start with the Basic version of ConFetch. Read the rest of this site and especially the FAQ page and the additional prerequisite info before you use ConFetch on an older, slower machine to decide if it's useful for you!

 Other CF Versions:  If you don't want to use "ConFetch PRO, LSE or Ultra", you can find the other versions on the ConFetch Downloads page of this site.

 The ConFetch PRO, LSE and Ultra Plug-ins: 

  1. Require TreeWalk DNS "Hawk" version 8.21 (or newer)
  2. Provide a built-in Updater to keep your installation current
  3. Include Report statistics available from the Start Menu's Program Folder
  4. Implement the same series of local filters for trimming sub-domains to their SLDs
  5. Allow you to customize your filter with selectable downloads (see Installing PRO, LSE and Ultra below)
  6. Use a custom, built-in list to blacklist Peer-to-Peer networks and related sites that are known to distribute malware
  7. Back up your TreeWalk configuration folder separately from TreeWalk's own backup functions. Your saved TreeWalk configuration will be restored upon uninstalling ConFetch.
  8. Include the Blacklist [DENY] tool for adding sites that you want ConFetch to block the next time you run ConFetch. If you absolutely need to quickly unblock a site you visit often, try the CF UNBLOCK Tool for that. The Whitelist [ALLOW] tool is meant for removing sites that might be blocked by ConFetch's imported source lists, the next time you run ConFetch. These tools are all available from the program's icon group: select Start, select (All) Programs, select ConFetch, select ConFetch Tools to find those (and other) tools. All versions of ConFetch include these tools.
  9. Only ConFetch PRO provides an option to quit the program within minutes, after the new filter file is compiled. ConFetch LSE and Ultra will both bypass all interaction by design, to complete the program entirely.

Windows 2000, XP, 2003, .NET *

ConFetch PRO, LSE and Ultra can be some of the most demanding and system-intense blocking plug-ins you've ever seen if you opt for all selections to be downloaded and installed. You should only use a "Full" installation of these versions with a fast computer that provides ample memory. You will need to use your own judgment to decide if the possibility of additional demand and increased boot or shutdown times outweigh their value to you. ConFetch PRO, LSE and Ultra are primarily targeted for installation on a TreeWalk LAN server where all networked machines get their DNS from, but either can be suitable for faster, modern computers as well. Review Download Selection Options below for more info.

Download PRO, LSE or Ultra

 ConFetch Ultra

ConFetch Ultra
ConFetch Ultra .exe
or
ConFetch Ultra .zip
v. 13.7.4.25
April 25, 2007
cf_ultra.exe
Looking for LSE?
(PRO is below...)
The ConFetch Ultra Plug-in:
  • Additional information about ConFetch Ultra and how it works with Vista can be found on the Change Log and Notifications page under "Things you need to know about Vista, User Account Control, TreeWalk and ConFetch".
  • Version numbers will always start with the number of files that this version attempts to fetch from the Internet, followed by year, month and day of release. (Example: 13.7.4.25)
  • Includes a built-in Updater in the program's icon group: select Start, select (All) programs, select ConFetch Ultra, select ConFetch Tools, select ConFetch Ultra Updater (as do all versions of ConFetch). "Updater" runs automatically after the first time you start ConFetch Ultra but you will need to run it periodically to see if any new updates are available. Critical changes will always be announced with a dated notification near the top of this page and on the Change Log and Notifications page, but simple file maintenance, beautifications, etc. will not be mentioned and will be installed to the appropriate ConFetch Ultra folders.
The Ultra version includes all lists used with the ConFetch (Basic) through "eXtreme" versions:
ConFetch Ultra also utilizes these exclusive lists (the Google Blacklist is included in the "Ultra" version, which has replaced the Bluemicro file formerly used by PRO and LSE):
  • Bluemicro's HOSTS File is no longer supported (January 16, 2008). If you have this file in your version of ConFetch, the ConFetch Updater script will remove it from your system. A replacement will be included in future versions.
  • Bluetack's maintained "Bluetack's HOSTS File" (HOSTS format) - bt.cmd (Donations requested to keep the site alive. Please consider donating to support their cause.)
ConFetch Ultra
Statistics
(ConFetch Information Report)
Statistics sample:
  • 203937 total lines of data available.
  • 62020 lines of data to prepare for conversion.
  • 61966 unique hostnames we want to blacklist.
  • 52951 entries to block 61966 unique names.

    ((Statistics for the ConFetch Ultra version mentioned above may vary across different environments.))

 ConFetch PRO

ConFetch PRO
ConFetch PRO .exe
or
ConFetch PRO .zip
v. 13.6.9.6
September 6, 2006
060906cfpro.exe
Looking for LSE?
The ConFetch PRO Plug-in:
  • Version numbers will always start with the number of files that this version attempts to fetch from the Internet, followed by year, month and day of release. (Example: 13.6.9.6)
  • Includes a built-in Updater in the program's icon group: select Start, select (All) Programs, select ConFetch PRO, select ConFetch Tools, select ConFetch Ultra Updater (as do all versions of ConFetch). "Updater" runs automatically after the first time you start ConFetch Ultra but you will need to run it periodically to see if any new updates are available. Critical changes will always be announced with a dated notification near the top of this page and on the Change Log and Notifications page, but simple file maintenance, beautifications, etc. will not be mentioned and will be installed to the appropriate ConFetch PRO folders.
The PRO and LSE versions include all lists used with the ConFetch (Basic) through "eXtreme" versions in addition to these two (both exclude the Google Blacklist in the "Ultra" version, which is replacing the Bluemicro file):
  • Bluemicro's large HOSTS File (HOSTS format) - bm.cmd - Note that this file is no longer available so ConFetch uses a backup file supplied for this component. It will be removed from older ConFetch installers and has been replaced in ConFetch Ultra by Google's blacklist, as described above. (Edit: Sept. 04, 2007)
  • Bluetack's maintained "Bluetack's HOSTS File" (HOSTS format) - bt.cmd (Donations requested but not mandatory.)
ConFetch PRO
Statistics
(ConFetch Information Report)
Statistics sample:
  • 135252 lines of data to prepare for conversion.
  • 84647 unique hostnames we want to blacklist.
  • 49583 entries to block 84647 unique names.

    ((Statistics for the ConFetch PRO version mentioned above may vary across different environments.))

 ConFetch LSE

ConFetch LSE
ConFetch LSE .exe
or
ConFetch LSE .zip
v. 13.6.9.6
September 6, 2006
060906cflse.exe
The ConFetch LSE Plug-in:
  • LSE is the version of PRO that can be scheduled, as it does not involve any user interaction and runs straight through after it is started.
The LSE version includes all of the installation options that the PRO version does.

Installing PRO, LSE and Ultra

ConFetch PRO, LSE and Ultra Download Selection Options. When you reach the "Select Components" page of the "Setup - ConFetch PRO" (or LSE or Ultra) installer and you don't want to install the entire package you can select from the options on the drop-down menu to customize your filter.

The "Compact" install will only install the core ConFetch files that are necessary for every version. Because all versions of ConFetch contain a small database to blacklist some of the worst offenders on the Internet, you can run these versions of ConFetch without making any selections and still be unable to visit thousands of malicious (or otherwise nasty) sites. You will still be able to UNBLOCK, Whitelist or Blacklist any sites you specify.

If you use the "Custom" install menu, you can deselect any of the selections there to install only those that remain check marked. Experiment with it a bit before you proceed to the next step in the install to see what works best for you. After you've made your choices and proceed through the next steps, your firewall may ask for permission to allow the download selections to be delivered to your computer. Allow this rule. Once the .zip files containing the components are downloaded to a temporary location on your computer, they are unpacked and installed by ConFetch's built-in "ConFetch PRO Component Installation and Verification Tool", which is a "ConFetch Batch Command Language Component". Afterwards, another ConFetch Component assures that all temporary files have been removed from the system and the installation is finished.

Select the components you want to install

ConFetch PRO Download Selection Options

[Click on the image for a full-sized graphic]

Running PRO, LSE and Ultra

ConFetch PRO, LSE and Ultra should be started from icons provided in the Start menu, or a desktop shortcut you've made from that menu. As with many scripting-based applications, you should never stop ConFetch. Let it finish completely. Stopping any version of ConFetch while it's running should only be done by advanced users. It is recommended to perform any investigatory diagnoses at points in the program where user intervention is requested. ConFetch LSE and Ultra should be allowed to run without any interaction as this is how they are designed to run.

 ChangeDetection Notification:  Get notified by email when a ConFetch source file is updated, or when a new ConFetch program file or component becomes available! You can be safely and privately notified by ChangeDetection.com when your favorite HOSTS files or other lists are updated. You can also use the service to receive emails for changes to the ConFetch "Change Log" page, where updates and upgrades will always be listed. All versions of ConFetch list their sources and the authors' sites. You should only need to right-click and copy any link to obtain the URL you'll need to enter into the ChangeDetection form(s). Make sure to do this for every file you want to be notified about and to use the link for the actual files, not the authors' sites! ((You only need to subscribe for changes to the "Change Log" page for any new CF announcements.))

 Would you like to help out? 

Well, you could run the "ConFetch Information Tool" you'll find in the ConFetch Tools folder in the Programs menu and attach your results to an email! Your email info will never be used for anything other than for ConFetch development: support@confetch.com. Do not adjust the subject line or delivery may fail! ((If you don't want your email info stored on the server, just mention in the message body that you'd like it deleted after the attachment has been saved.))

Many thanks go out to the dedicated and numerous people who endure the tireless work of providing the lists and files that ConFetch uses. We try to acknowledge them further on our "Credits page" page. Take a well-deserved bow, Folks, and keep up the good work!

* Trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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