Hosts File Missing!

[jonathanbean]

The long lists of hosts files is missing. I tried to remove and then add and it says "system path can't be found...." (rough paraphrase). I uninstalled Spybot and reinstalled the 1.4 version. Still no luck. I upgraded to 1.5 beta. Nade.

Why would it suddenly disappear, never to return?

[md usa spybot fan]

The location of the HOSTS file is OS dependent as follows:
Windows 95, 98 and ME
C:\WINDOWS
Windows 2000
C:\WINNT\system32\drivers\etc
Windows XP and Vista
C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc
The backup HOSTS files created by Spybot are also stored in the same directories.

It sound like you may be missing your C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc folder. If so:
Create a C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc folder.
To restore your HOSTS file with Microsoft's sample HOSTS file:
Download HostsXpert (http://www.funkytoad.com/download/HostsXpert.zip) from funkytoad.com (http://www.funkytoad.com/) and unzip (extract) it to your desktop.
Open HostsXpert from your desktop.
When you receive the following message, click the "OK" button.
Confirm

HOSTS file does not exist, press OK to create HOSTS file, Cancel to Quit.

[OK] [Cancel]
Close HostsXpert.

[PepiMK]

The path to the hosts file might also be stored in the registry:
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\DataBasePath=...

[jonathanbean]

THanks a million. I suspect that one or two trojans might have got by because my hosts were gone. Could that be?

[jonathanbean]

Is this a false positive?

Windows.RedirectedHosts
Threat: Hijack

Description
Hijackers often use the hosts file to redirect websites to other ipadresses, commonly antivirus vendors get blocked by hijackers

It reads:

Redirected host
www.net-integration.net=127.0.0.1

I used Spybot to "Fix the Selected Problem"

Then I removed the Spybot hosts list and added it again -- it is there.

[jonathanbean]

I ran Spybot again and the same Microsoft.Windows.Redirected Hosts warning comes up. I suspect this is a false warning but . . . ?

[md usa spybot fan]

jonathanbean:

Please read the following thread in the False Positives (http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=16) forum:
?Possible False Positive? - Redirected Host File
http://forums.spybot.info/showthread.php?t=13916

[jonathanbean]

:bigthumb:

[Argus]

I also found that my HOSTS file was gone, when I tried to use the spybit hosts file, I go the message described in the first post.
I haven't had the FP mentioned, but then I can't get spybot to complete a scan without crashing atm.
However, when I went to
%systemroot%\system32\drivers\etc there was no HOSTS file present. (I'm on xp)
I ended up restoring a hosts backup I'd made in spyware blaster :bigthumb:

I can't say that spybot was responsible for this, coz I really don't know.