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opera:crossnetworkwarning

The Windows HOSTS file contains a list of computer IP addresses which is accessed whenever a user types in a web address to their browser. The browser will check the HOSTS file to see if the typed address exists in the HOSTS file and if so, direct the user to the relevant site. If the address doesn’t exist in the HOSTS file, the browser will ask the user’s ISP DNS server for the web address and once obtained will direct the user to the site.


The Windows HOSTS file is a standard .TXT file and can be found in C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc under the name ‘hosts’. There is also a file called ‘lmhosts’ – make sure you select the HOSTS file! There is usually no file association with the HOSTS file, so open it by right-clicking (or double-clicking) the file and selecting ‘Open With’ followed by Notepad.


An unmodified HOSTS file should only contain the IP address 127.0.0.1 localhost. If there are other entries in the HOSTS file, remove them and then resave the file.