Web locations no longer available.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
G

Guest

I have recently found one or two "Favorite" sites no longer work and just
give me a "Cannot find Server or DNS Error". On digging around I beleive this
is connected to the HOSTS file located in
c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts directory. I downloaded and ran
HiJackThis and it reported that there were a great number of errors and that
perhaps I should consider deleting the entire file. Only thing is it doesn't
say which file! I deleted the entire Hosts file and my problem went away BUT
I've since restored it and just checked the troublesome reference to the
site(s) that wouldn't work. Now they do work. I note that the references in
question (in HiJackThis) are all coded 01. Does this mean that it would be
advisable to delete or at least check mark and thus Fix all the 01
references? There does not seem to be any CLEAR help about this utility, at
least not that I can find. Any suggestions ?
 
Hi,
First... please be careful with HijackThis. But it sounds like you know
about it's backup feature. <G>

If you have not deliberately downloaded a HOSTS file or placed entries in
your HOSTS file, another program is doing this. Legitimate programs, such as
adware/malware blockers or browsing accelerators can populate a HOSTS file.
Malware programs sometimes write to the HOSTS file.

HOSTS file info: http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

What programs are running that might be using your HOSTS file? If no
legitimate programs are using it, you should conduct a thorough search for
malware, including the posting of a HijackThis log to one of the forums
where HT logs are analyzed.

See these sites for help:
Dealing with Unwanted Spyware and Parasites:
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
The Parasite Fight http://www.aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
Bugs, Glitches & Stuffups: http://www.mvps.org/inetexplorer/Darnit.html
What you can do about spyware and other unwanted software:
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/spywarewhat.mspx

* HijackThis Tutorial and Download
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/index.php?showtutorial=42
also
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/htlogtutorial.html

Forums:
http://forum.aumha.org/viewforum.php?f=30
http://castlecops.com/forums.html
http://tomcoyote.com/forums/
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/
http://forums.spywareinfo.com/
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/index.php
http://forums.net-integration.net/

Hope this helps,
Don
[MS MVP- IE]
 
Fantastic...A tremendous amount of information that I will work through over
the next period of time. In the meantime my "lost" sites are back with me, so
I can take a bit of time to do further research. Thanks again for a most
comprehensive and prompt reply.
--
Regards


Don Varnau said:
Hi,
First... please be careful with HijackThis. But it sounds like you know
about it's backup feature. <G>

If you have not deliberately downloaded a HOSTS file or placed entries in
your HOSTS file, another program is doing this. Legitimate programs, such as
adware/malware blockers or browsing accelerators can populate a HOSTS file.
Malware programs sometimes write to the HOSTS file.

HOSTS file info: http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

What programs are running that might be using your HOSTS file? If no
legitimate programs are using it, you should conduct a thorough search for
malware, including the posting of a HijackThis log to one of the forums
where HT logs are analyzed.

See these sites for help:
Dealing with Unwanted Spyware and Parasites:
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
The Parasite Fight http://www.aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
Bugs, Glitches & Stuffups: http://www.mvps.org/inetexplorer/Darnit.html
What you can do about spyware and other unwanted software:
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/spywarewhat.mspx

* HijackThis Tutorial and Download
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/index.php?showtutorial=42
also
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/htlogtutorial.html

Forums:
http://forum.aumha.org/viewforum.php?f=30
http://castlecops.com/forums.html
http://tomcoyote.com/forums/
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/
http://forums.spywareinfo.com/
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/index.php
http://forums.net-integration.net/

Hope this helps,
Don
[MS MVP- IE]


Richard Myers said:
I have recently found one or two "Favorite" sites no longer work and just
give me a "Cannot find Server or DNS Error". On digging around I beleive this
is connected to the HOSTS file located in
c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts directory. I downloaded and ran
HiJackThis and it reported that there were a great number of errors and that
perhaps I should consider deleting the entire file. Only thing is it doesn't
say which file! I deleted the entire Hosts file and my problem went away BUT
I've since restored it and just checked the troublesome reference to the
site(s) that wouldn't work. Now they do work. I note that the references in
question (in HiJackThis) are all coded 01. Does this mean that it would be
advisable to delete or at least check mark and thus Fix all the 01
references? There does not seem to be any CLEAR help about this utility, at
least not that I can find. Any suggestions ?

Regards
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Back
Top