These entries are for the system HOSTS file. They have nothing to do, per se, with ads. They are primarily used to prevent Bitcoin miners from using your machine by blocking them at the front door. By virtue of the loopback IP of 0.0.0.0, they are rerouted to NULL, the bit bucket, and go nowhere.
example from the file: 0.0.0.0 api.aalbbh84.info
Not really sure about this list, the latest one is 14 entries fewer than the last one I looked at, why the difference? Without going through the list one by one (there are 3303 entries compared to 3317 in the last one I looked at) how can you be certain the list is valid. I should imagine anyone looking at this thread and wanting to use the list will probably just copy paste without checking the entries from each "version".
How do you know if you're victim to this?
I think if you run a netstat command (netstat -f -a -o, it will show you all open connections along with the PID, which you can check in Task manager) while having an open browser and checking any suspicious connections with this list you might have a clue. Do you regularly go to any really dodgy internet sites? If you do you probably have more serious issues than just coin miners.
No, dodgy internet sites are usually off my list as my Windows 10 computer is used for business only.
It's a scary world on that there interwebs….but like most things, look before you click, enter web addresses manually instead of clicking links if possible, don't enter personal details if the site doesn't display the HTTPS descriptor, and even then be extra careful. Modifying the way you browse is the best protection you can use, most software defence can be circumvented if the user is doing things to compromise it.
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