Hosts file scanned

[PrivacyZealot]

Hello!
I've been told by reliable folk that MSAS scans the Hosts file
and removes any spyware-related hosts who are pointing to
their actual IP address. Of course HOSTS is full of undesirable
sites directed to 127.0.0.1. What are y'all seeing in regards to
MSAS and the Hosts file? TIA
PZ
-

 

[Randy Knobloch]

Hello!
I've been told by reliable folk that MSAS scans the Hosts file
and removes any spyware-related hosts who are pointing to
their actual IP address. Of course HOSTS is full of undesirable
sites directed to 127.0.0.1. What are y'all seeing in regards to
MSAS and the Hosts file? TIA
PZ

Hi, PZ
If you're referring to the HOSTS that we both know and use, it's
unaffected by MSAS - "out of the box".
I have MSAS and the same HOSTS running on two machines without
issues. Just to be sure HOSTS functioning, ping a site that's listed.
It should return a localhost [127.0.0.1] from a command prompt.

Let me know otherwise.


HTH
Silj

--
siljaline

MS - MVP Windows (IE/OE) 2003/04 AH-VSOP
________________________________________
Security Tools Updates
http://forum.aumha.org/viewforum.php?f=31

(Reply to group, as return address
is invalid - that we may all benefit)

 

[PrivacyZealot]

Randy Knobloch wrote,
in post

Hello!I
I've been told by reliable folk that MSAS scans the Hosts file
and removes any spyware-related hosts who are pointing to
their actual IP address. Of course HOSTS is full of undesirable
sites directed to 127.0.0.1. What are y'all seeing in regards to
MSAS and the Hosts file? TIA
PZ

Hi, PZ
If you're referring to the HOSTS that we both know and use, it's
unaffected by MSAS - "out of the box".
I have MSAS and the same HOSTS running on two machines without
issues. Just to be sure HOSTS functioning, ping a site that's listed.
It should return a localhost [127.0.0.1] from a command prompt.

Let me know otherwise.


HTH
Silj

Hi Silj!
Yes, my HOSTS fiIe is doing its job just fine (for now (]|;0) ).
I check it by clicking a bookmark (http://doubleclick.net)
that I set up for that purpose. I should get a blank page.
I haven't DL'd MSAS as of yet 'cause I'm just gathering
info about it right now. But I heard that MSAS scans the
HOSTS file and apparently removes exactly what it should
i.e.- undesirable hosts- when those hosts are pointing to
their real, working, current IP address- and the scanner
not touching any hosts that are preceeded by 127.0.0.1.
This would be a big plus for the new spyware scanner.
PZ
-

 

[The Unknown P]

SpywareBlaster handles this job much more efficiently and
is unaffected by MSAS. It's also free and is constantly
updated.
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html
Have fun. TTFN.

 

[Randy Knobloch]

:

Hi Silj!

Yes, my HOSTS fiIe is doing its job just fine (for now (]|;0) ).
I check it by clicking a bookmark (http://doubleclick.net)
that I set up for that purpose. I should get a blank page.
I haven't DL'd MSAS as of yet 'cause I'm just gathering
info about it right now. But I heard that MSAS scans the
HOSTS file and apparently removes exactly what it should
i.e.- undesirable hosts- when those hosts are pointing to
their real, working, current IP address- and the scanner
not touching any hosts that are preceeded by 127.0.0.1.
This would be a big plus for the new spyware scanner.
PZ
-

Hi, PZ! <g>

You can toggle HOSTS real-time protection on/off

Tools > 'real-time protection' > System Agent > View System Agent
Checkpoints > Checkpoint Details > Windows Hosts File >
Checkpoint Details "panel" > Activate/Deactivate Checkpoint.

I **highly** recommend leaving MSAS do its job and monitor HOSTS.

Regards,
Silj

--
siljaline

MS - MVP Windows (IE/OE) 2003/04 AH-VSOP
________________________________________
Security Tools Updates
http://forum.aumha.org/viewforum.php?f=31

(Reply to group, as return address
is invalid - that we may all benefit)

 

[Kent W. England]

Randy Knobloch wrote on 13-Jan-2005 10:05 AM:

Hello!
I've been told by reliable folk that MSAS scans the Hosts file
and removes any spyware-related hosts who are pointing to
their actual IP address. Of course HOSTS is full of undesirable
sites directed to 127.0.0.1. What are y'all seeing in regards to
MSAS and the Hosts file? TIA
PZ

Hi, PZ
If you're referring to the HOSTS that we both know and use, it's
unaffected by MSAS - "out of the box".
I have MSAS and the same HOSTS running on two machines without
issues. Just to be sure HOSTS functioning, ping a site that's listed.
It should return a localhost [127.0.0.1] from a command prompt.

Let me know otherwise.


HTH
Silj

MSAS noticed my personal edits of the hosts file and offered to restore
it to the default, which doesn't suit my uses, but would work for anyone
who hasn't edited hosts and doesn't use any of the hosts-hacking
utilities that ban web sites by redirection via hosts.