My HOSTS file keeps resetting itself (OS X, 10.6.8)

TetraNitroCubane

Recently I've come across a very peculiar quirk with my laptop (As noted in the thread title, I'm running OS X 10.6.8). I use the hosts file to block a variety of websites by redirecting the traffic to 127.0.0.1, and for the most part this has been successful. However, recently, any additions I make to my hosts file are reverted upon the next boot of the machine. It's not a permissions issue, as I'm altering the hosts file using the command "sudo nano /private/etc/hosts" and authenticating before modifying and saving the file. Afterward, the changes will be in effect for the uptime of the machine. Looking at the hosts file afterward shows the changes are intact. However, on the next bootup, the hosts file will have reverted back to the state it was in before the previous session's alterations occurred.

Even more perplexing is the fact that a few custom entries that I made in my hosts file months ago are preserved through all this. It's only been recently that the changes have started to get rejected on reboot.

Does anyone have any experience with this, or know how to make the changes stick? Any help would be most appreciated.

Aioua

I'm not sure what a Directory Service database is, but this thread on the apple site suggests you make your changes there.

TetraNitroCubane

Thanks, Aioua! I'll take a look at that method and see if it garners any more success.