A infection in WINDOWS folder

[ras90]

Hi, i have an infection located at C:\WINDOWS\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
is it safe to look in the folder and simply delete it as its in a sensitive area or will this brake my PC even more? thnx

[Soviet_Genius]

Why can't you use antivirus software to remove the virus? If you don't have any get AVG free here:
http://www.download.com/3000-2239_4-10703202.html
Scan for viruses in safe mode (keep pressing F8 while your computer is booting up, a menu will come up, choose "Safe Mode")
Could a mod please move this topic to the computer viruses and spyware board?

[ras90]

i have AVG but it only finds it and never deletes it, so everytime i re-scan it finds the same problem

[Deerpark]

the hosts file is an essential windows file.
The good news is that it is probably not infected since it's just a text file. Virus or spyware might have modified the file though.
Could you please open the hosts file in notepad and post the content of it here.

[CBMatt]

i have AVG but it only finds it and never deletes it, so everytime i re-scan it finds the same problem

This is normal.  AVG logs changes made it certain files.  There's about a 95% chance that you have nothing to worry about, but to be on the safe side, go ahead and post the contents like Deerpark requested.

[Amrykid]

i have good news and bad news.
Good news:do what deerpark said.
Bad news:your computer might lost os and boot with nothing.
My friends laptop does that now and he blames IE7, what a noob.

[patio]

i have good news and bad news.
Good news:do what deerpark said.
Bad news:your computer might lost os and boot with nothing.
My friends laptop does that now and he blames IE7, what a noob.

What's this supposed to mean ? ?

[Deerpark]

I'd like to know that too because it makes no sense.

[CBMatt]

Apparently a changed hosts file means you don't have an OS anymore.  It's a miracle my computer's been running this whole time!

[Amrykid]

Not exactly guys, glow2:selling 500 bow strings 50k
any file in windows\* and windows its self are critical to the os so it maybe a error

[CBMatt]

Not exactly guys, glow2:selling 500 bow strings 50k
any file in windows\* and windows its self are critical to the os so it maybe a error

I'm not even going to try to understand what you just said.  Let's just wait around for the OP to give us an update.

[Soviet_Genius]

glow2:selling 500 bow strings 50k

Stop playing runescape! It's like the most retarded game ever  EW

[Deerpark]

Amrykid you obviously have no clue about what the hosts file do. So how about you stop scaring the OP

Bad news:your computer might lost os and boot with nothing.

and sit back... you might learn something.