this script is a simple and effective way to block ads on a Linux system

README.md

Script to auto-update and block ads on a Linux system

HOW TO AUTORUN THIS SCRIPT ON SYSTEM LOGIN.

• Create a script file nano autoUpdateHostsOnSystemRestart.sh and save it in your desired directory. (Here, I've saved it in my /home/user directory)

• Paste the below script content in the file.

• Remember to make your script executable using the command chmod +x autoUpdateHostsOnSystemRestart.sh. Then you can run your script with ./autoUpdateHostsOnSystemRestart.sh.

• Create a new service file in /etc/systemd/system/ with a .service extension, for example myscript.service. You can use sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/updateHosts.service to open a new file in the nano text editor.

• Add the following content:

  [Unit]
  Description=Update /etc/hosts on unlock
  
  [Service]
  Type=oneshot
  ExecStart=sudo /home/user/autoUpdateHostsOnSystemRestart.sh
  
  [Install]
  WantedBy=multi-user.target

• Save and close the file (in nano, you can do this by pressing Ctrl+X, then Y to confirm saving).

• Now you need to reload the systemd manager configuration with: sudo systemctl daemon-reload.

• Enable your service to be run at startup: sudo systemctl enable updateHosts.service

• You can start your service immediately with: sudo systemctl start updateHosts.service

• You can check the status of your service anytime with: sudo systemctl status updateHosts.service

autoUpdateHostsOnSystemRestart.sh

#!/bin/bash

{

    # wait until network-manager back in online status
    while ! ping -q -c 1 -W 1 google.com >/dev/null; do
        echo "The network is down"
        sleep 30
    done
    echo "The network is UP"
    if ping -q -c 1 -W 1 google.com >/dev/null; then
        echo "The network is up"

        # Path to the hosts file
        HOSTS_FILE="/etc/hosts"

        # URL of the GitHub ad block list
        AD_BLOCK_LIST_URL="http://sbc.io/hosts/alternates/fakenews-gambling-porn/hosts"

        # Backup the existing hosts file
        sudo cp "$HOSTS_FILE" "$HOSTS_FILE.bak"

        # Download the latest ad block list and store it in a temporary file
        TEMP_FILE=$(mktemp)
        curl -s "$AD_BLOCK_LIST_URL" >"$TEMP_FILE"

        # Combine the current hosts file and the new ad block list, remove duplicates, and sort
        cat "$HOSTS_FILE" "$TEMP_FILE" | sudo sort -u >"$HOSTS_FILE"

        # Clean up the temporary file and echo it
        rm -f "$TEMP_FILE" && echo "Updated $HOSTS_FILE"

        # Restart networking to apply the changes (may require root/sudo access)
        sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager.service

        # wait until network-manager back in online status
        while ! ping -q -c 1 -W 1 google.com >/dev/null; do
            echo "The network is down"
            sleep 5
        done
        echo "The network is UP"
    else
        echo "The network is down"
        exit 1
    fi
} >/home/user/updateAdHosts.log 2>&1