Hopefully I've framed the question & the thread such that it will benefit others who have similar questions as myself -- I'm a newcomer to AdGuard, but I've been using Steven Black's Hosts file happily/successfully on IE.11 for several weeks now (in tandem w/ ABP for IE) -- would appreciate suggestions/recommendations from experienced users -- * my 1st & Main objective is to get as proficient w/ AdGuard itself as quickly as possible - I'm willing to tolerate various ads/tracking/popups/etc again for awhile (if I have to) in order to really learn & understand the ins/outs of a kernel-level-driver-based app such as AdGuard. So would I be best served to re-install the default vanilla hosts file, such that I'm required (forced ) to learn how to configure AdGuard to handle the things I encounter? - - many of which are [apparently] being handled by the custom hosts file? (because I haven't yet deployed Fiddler [IE.11] to actually prove to myself what's going on with http/s requests, etc.) - then later, employ whatever sorts of lists would best suit my own needs? (Of course I'll be disabling/uninstalling ABP). * Or, let the custom hosts file stay? I do understand how AdGuard does allow importing some of the same lists - and is, in fact, based on such lists [or, on their coding logic, if you will] - but in a way that allows granular tweaking of domains & subdomains - vs. the all-or-nothing url rerouting/disallowing of a hosts file. - Plus the ability of the AdGuard browser plugin to further refine the experience - I've pondered whether to go down the path of things like Privoxy/Proximitron/Proximodo (even though I understand their lack of current development status), or apps such as HostsServer by abelhadigital, as I do intend to learn how to deploy those sorts of local proxy servers - [all of this is a self-created I.T. career path] But studying through the 70+ p. main AdGuard thread here, I also saw how I can gain that same essence (local proxy server) w/ AdGuard - by toggling several configuration choices. I plan to deploy & learn uBlock-O also, as I have a desire & need to learn/understand the major players in each genre - machine-based as well as plugin-based. But for now, since I support some Windows users who won't switch from IE, together with some Macs also = why I'm going with AdGuard initially -- with its multi-browser / multi-platform capability. Thanks very much for your time - experience - assistance.
I don't think you need the host file with adguard, in fact you can add that host list as a custom list in adguard or ublock origin https://raw.githubusercontent.com/StevenBlack/hosts/master/hosts