Changes to the host file. How serious is it?

Some users periodically encounter the fact that malicious software causes not only harm to various files and computer operation, but also blocks access to sites where necessary antiviruses are located and not only. This is done by making changes to the host file of Windows 7 or another system of the same company.

It is located in the system directory, which contains the files of operating systems from Microsoft. Basically this directory is located on the C drive. The host file is designed to convert the server's or site's symbolic addresses to IP addresses that will be more easily understood by the machines in TCP / IP networks.

Its function is similar to that of the DNS service. The user enters the address of the site into his browser, consisting of letters, and then sends a request to the DNS server, which, in turn, provides it with a digital IP address and sends the request already in this form to the site or server. The difference is that DNS works in the global web, and not in the local.

The system places the host file in the same place. And each system is different. For example, in old Windows (this is 95, 98, and also Millennium), it was immediately in the root directory. In newer versions it was already located elsewhere. To get to it, you need to open the WINNT system directory, then there to find and open the System32 folder, enter it into the Drivers directory, from it to ETC. This is where the host file will be located.

As for the more modern ("Piggy", 2003, Vista and "Seven"), everything is the same as the previous location, only the system folder will already be called Windows. So, the host file is empty (when the user did not add any data to it) has a so-called reference type. It, however, can differ on computers where local servers are installed.

When this file contains incomprehensible changes, it's the tricks of the enemy software. If this happens, the user, typing one address, gets completely to another site or can not go anywhere at all. If you open your host file, you will see the address 127.0.0.1 localhost. This is your computer. Adding to the specified IP address of a site, access to the latter will be impossible with the help of a symbolic value.

Very often there is a blocking of resources, which update the antivirus software. As a result, the installed security is obsolete. Also you can be redirected to phishing sites, from which the theft of your personal information, including financial ones, takes place. These addresses will be blocked, and the computer will try to open them locally.

To avoid this, try to update your anti-virus software constantly, prohibit making any changes to this file and periodically review it. You can save somewhere in his textual initial view, and in case of any problems, enter these saved data. Such actions will allow you to constantly have access to all the necessary sites, and your antivirus - to continuously update their virus databases. On this I have everything, I hope the information provided above is understandable to you.