certain sites offline

[driver98]

After being a victim of the Sasser virus, and using
Microsoft's patches to remove it, I am unable to connect
to Symantec's website either directly or through any
other link. I am also unable to connect to Mcafee's site.
During the infection I was unable to access these sites
as well. I can get on the net, connect to places like
Yahoo or Google and other sites, but not sites that
supply antivirus software.
Is anyone else having this issue, and is there a cure - I
need to update my virus definitions through Norton's
products, but can't. Please, anyone, help.
Thank you in advance for any help.

 

[H Leboeuf]

It may be a HOSTS file problem.
Look for a file named HOSTS (no extension, could be hidden) rename it
OLDHOSTS.

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP]

After being a victim of the Sasser virus, and using
Microsoft's patches to remove it, I am unable to connect
to Symantec's website either directly or through any
other link. I am also unable to connect to Mcafee's site.
During the infection I was unable to access these sites
as well. I can get on the net, connect to places like
Yahoo or Google and other sites, but not sites that
supply antivirus software.
Is anyone else having this issue, and is there a cure - I
need to update my virus definitions through Norton's
products, but can't. Please, anyone, help.
Thank you in advance for any help.

Check for a file named HOSTS with no extension (not Hosts.sam). It may be a
hidden file. Open it with Notepad and remove any line referencing the site.
Or, rename HOSTS to OLDHOSTS

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP, IE/OE
Please respond in Newsgroup. Do not send email
http://www.fjsmjs.com
Protect your PC
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

 

[landballs]

I was having the same problem. After searching for HOSTS, I foun
several and then I renamed the most recent one OLDHOSTS. This worked
i can now access the symantec site as well as live update. Thanks fo
you recommendation


-
landball

 

[PAE]

I had the same problem as driver98.

Turns out the cause was ANOTHER virus for which sasser apparently mad
backdoor access possible. The offending virus is calle
w32.gaobot.afj. Steps for removing it are documented a
http://tinyurl.com/2fuux

FYI at that site it is suggested to edit the HOSTS file to remove
added lines, rather than to delete or rename the file.

Nevertheless, thanks to those who suggested the HOSTS renamin
solution, which helped me identify my actual problem


-
PA