Unable to scan file?

[Zagor]

Hi all, I'm new to this forum.
Just wanna say hello :bigthumb:

I keep getting this result after "Only spyware scan" with Spybot.

--- Search result list ---
Error during check!: CoolWWWSearch.SmartSearch [16] (Cannot open file "C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc\hosts". The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process) ()

I know what it means, but never had happened before. Simple question, why now? Should I ignore it and exclude from next scanning?
Thank you, Zagor

[spybotsandra]

Hello,

Which version of Spybot do you use?
Which updates do you have installed?

Best regards
Sandra
Team Spybot

[md usa spybot fan]

Have you added any software recently such as ZoneAlarm or STOPzilla that may be blocking access to the hosts file?

[Zagor]

Hi Sandra,
I use Spybot 1.4, defs 2005-12-2.

What happens now:
I get the same error check for host file but now with Smitfraud

[Zagor]

Zone Alarm Pro!
Well, the access to hosts file is definatelly being blocked, and by ZA, but I don't see why could that be a problem??

[md usa spybot fan]

ZoneAlarm, STOPzilla and possibly other programs block access to the HOSTS file rather than just set the read-only attribute on the file. This offers better protection of the file than just setting the read-only attribute as Spybot’s IE Tweaks does. However, since the access to the file is blocked, Spybot’s scan fails attempting to analyze the HOSTS file for problems.

[Zagor]

Well, I thought of that.
So, is it smart to exclude hosts file from future checks due to is't protection?

[md usa spybot fan]

In order to eliminate the scanning of the hosts file you would have to eliminate scanning for several products. This may not be the wisest thing to do since you are diminishing the effectiveness of Spybot. I suggest that you consider unlocking the HOSTS file in ZoneAlarm, at least while scanning.

[Zagor]

I asked because it is annoying.
Is it important to do what you said (unlock the file to scan)?
Does it have any other meaning other than me to not see that annoying results?

[md usa spybot fan]

I can’t replicate your problem, but I believe that the scan may be terminating when you get the error. Is the error followed immediately by?
Congratulations!
No immediate threats were found.
During the running of a Spybot scan ("Check for problems") the status bar shows the following:
"Running bot-check(xxxxx/yyyyy:zzzzzz)" where:
xxxxx = Current check count.
yyyyy = Total check count.
zzzzz = Malware being checked for.
After the error does the xxxxx value continue to increase after the error until it equals the yyyyy value?

If the scan is terminating you can not just ignore the problem.

[Zagor]

Spybot'keep scanning after it passes the CoolWWWSearch.SmartSearch (as zzzzz = Malware being checked for) where the error is occurring.
It continues to scan 'till the end where as you said, writes:
Congratulations!
No immediate threats were found.
:confused:

[Zagor]

The scan after error does not terminates.
It continues to run untill the end, where says "No immediate threats were found".
So I'm all safe? :)

[redwolfe_98]

i am having the same problem, errors when doing a scan:

Error during check!: Windows.RedirectedHosts [27] (Cannot open file "C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc\hosts". The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process)

that is just one of the "errors", all of which are similar.. sometimes the scan will show 1 error, somtimes 3, sometimes 5..

i am not aware of anything that might be "locking" the hosts file..

incidentally, pctool's "spyware doctor" also had trouble with scanning my "hosts" file, however, with spyware doctor, there was an option to exclude scanning the hosts file which "resolved" the problem, there..

i can't imagine why there would be a problem with scanning the hosts file.. "hijackthis" seems to manage scanning the hosts file with no problem.. incidentally, hijackthis shows that the path to the hosts file is right, "c/windows/system32/drivers/etc/HOSTS"..

incidentally, i am using the hosts file from "mvpswinhelp2002"..