mshta.exe trying to get out to 127.0.0.1, virus or spyware or OK?

[J Antero]

Hi all,
Every few days my firewall flags "mshta.exe" trying to get out to address
"127.0.0.1".
Apparently "mshta.exe" is a valid file but that doesn't mean it couldn't
have been corrupted.
Does anybody know what's going on? A lot of other people have apparently
been experiencing this too.

Ciao, J

 

[Yves Leclerc]

MSHAT read HTML (web) files. So if you access local files, it may use
127.0.0.1 as the Internet address. 127.0.0.1 is reserved for special local
Internet/IP access to the current system (your PC). It will/should not be
sending out info to the Internet.

 

[N. Miller]

Hi all,
Every few days my firewall flags "mshta.exe" trying to get out to address
"127.0.0.1".

Apparently "mshta.exe" is a valid file but that doesn't mean it couldn't
have been corrupted.
Does anybody know what's going on? A lot of other people have apparently
been experiencing this too.

Ah, I see your computer likes to talk to itself. So does mine.

 

[Malke]

Ah, I see your computer likes to talk to itself. So does mine.

There have been a few posts similar to this over the last week or so.
Whenever that happens, there's usually some malware behind it. What
does a scan with a current version (not earlier than 2003) antivirus
show? Make sure the definitions are updated and do the scan in Safe
Mode.

Malke

 

[Munpe Q]

LMAO.

 

[mhicaoidh]

Taking a moment's reflection, J Antero mused:
|
| Does anybody know what's going on? A lot of other people have
| apparently been experiencing this too.

127.0.0.1 is a local "loopback" address. So, it is not connecting out
.... If it is a valid program, don't worry about it.

 

[Admiral Q]

Lots of programs, legit programs access 127.0.0.1 or another name
"localhost". Open a command prompt and "ping localhost" - the reply should
come from 127.0.0.1

 

[Plato]

Every few days my firewall flags "mshta.exe" trying to get out to address
"127.0.0.1".
Apparently "mshta.exe" is a valid file but that doesn't mean it couldn't
have been corrupted.
Does anybody know what's going on? A lot of other people have apparently
been experiencing this too.

Put a leash on it and dont worry anymore.