If the site is using name-based virtual hosting, then you'll have to add a new entry to your hosts file. Otherwise you likely will get an error.

ok, thanks for the clarification. what confused me was "thus, disabling the HTTP Internet"

i'm kinda glad they're attempting this, IMO. i'm tired of ignorant people not understanding what the "web" really is, and how important it is to keep it free and open. sure, this might make "hackers" look bad, but honestly, if we sit back and do nothing, then we cannot complain when laws are passed, etc..

if they pull this off, it will be a historic day, no?

Did you seriously just ask how the web works, then complain about ignorant people who don't know how the web works...?

What does hackers using DDoS to knock a service offline have to do with it being free/open? Everything isn't about SOPA/ACTA/et al...

no. are you really trying to start an argument? clearly, you knew what i meant.

there is a difference between a web developer who did not understand some specifics regarding a protocol and a "average joe" user who does not even know what a protocol is.

Try not to take this personally, but in this context there's apparently not as much difference as you seem to think. Neither of you (as evidenced by your question) knew enough about DNS to fully understand the implications of what the article was saying. At best you knew enough to know what question to ask.

My point is actually that there's no reason average users need to know this stuff. Any more than there's a need for them to know what a CV boot is on their car. They know if the car makes a weird noise going around corners, call a mechanic. They know if they get errors on "teh Googlez", to call their ISP.