Can't connect to PC Magazine web site

[Spirit]

Wonder how those sites got in your host file to begin with.

Check this site for a comprehensive HOSTS file :

http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

 

[Dave R.]

After fixing the PC Magazine web site problem, I remembered that I had
been
having trouble loading the Google Maps site also. I edited the HOSTS
file and
removed the maps.google.com reference, and solved that problem as
well.
Should I be concerned that I had to do this?

I would be. The standard HOSTS file in a standard Windows installation
looks like this:

# Copyright (c) 1993-1999 Microsoft Corp.
#
# This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
#
# This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
# entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
# be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host
name.
# The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
# space.
#
# Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
# lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol.
#
# For example:
#
# 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server
# 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # x client host

127.0.0.1 localhost

If there is anything else in there, it has been added by either you or
another user of the system (or a malicious program). If you and the
other users of the system do not know how they got there, then I'd be
very concerned that I had a malicious program on the system.

BTW, there is rarely ever any need to add entries to the hosts file if
you have a properly functioning DNS server translating URLs to IP
Addresses. I've only ever added entries to my hosts file to block ad
sites (which is what Spirit's link is all about, BTW). I have heard of
situations where a DNS server has been giving out the wrong IP Address
for a URL that required a temporary addition to a hosts file, but that
should be very rare, and of course the person responsible should
remember it and know why it was done.

Regards,

Dave

 

[Guest]

After reviewing what you provided as the standard Windows HOSTS file, I went
back to mine and noticed the following line at the top:

# <Vista Manager> has Re-Wrote this hosts file

Vista Manager was a tweaking utility that I tried and uninstalled a while
ago. After this line was a lengthy list of IP addresses and their associated
URLs. I went ahead and replaced all of it with the standard text you provided
me. I'll monitor it and see what happens. I have spyware protection on my
system, and the Vista Manager tool is made by a reputable company, so I'm not
sure what it did to my HOSTS file or why. I'll keep you posted - thanks!

Regards,

Ron