My avg antivirus software is giving me that message about virus results C:/WINDOWS/system32?drivers?et...

Result is Change , Status : Changed.


Is this a virus ? How shall I delete it?


Thanks a lot

My avg antivirus software is giving me that message about virus results C:/WINDOWS/system32?drivers?et...
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC is where your Windows Hosts file exists. AVG is alerting you that there has been a change made to your Hosts.





Malware has been known to modify your Windows HOSTS file to redirect you to a different website or block access to a web-site totally.





But a Hosts file can also be used by legitimate anti-malware programs to block content from malicious sites. Spybot Search and Destroy (immunise), Webroot SpySweeper and IE-SPYAD are some legit programs that use the Hosts file to block access to malware infected sites. Have you recently installed or updated any of these lately?





If you want, you can check your Hosts. Navigate to your HOSTS file located at:


C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC


Be sure and check-mark "Show Hidden Files and Folders" and uncheck-mark "Hide Protected Operating System Files" in your Folder Options first.





Open HOSTS with notepad. A 'standard" MS HOSTS file will look like this:





# Copyright © 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





And there would be no further entries below the line with


127.0.0.1 localhost.





Anything below that with 0.0.0.0 or 127.0.0.1 as an IP address are websites that are being blocked.





Anything with a different IP address is a website being redirected.





You certainly would never want to delete your entire Hosts file. Edit perhaps but not delete.





Good luck.
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http://antispyware.com/index.php?hop=nit...
Reply:Uninstall avg and use AVAST!!
Reply:No it is just telling you that some system files have changed since your last scan. Quite normal. Do not try to delete - leave alone. Only delete or quarantine any viruses found.





wdw