(Comments inline.)
pqt2 wrote:
> "Daave" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>> pqt2 wrote:
>>> WinXP w/SP3 & IE8.
>>>
>>> Have not had this problem before, trying to download current Host
>>> file but getting Security Alert window saying that "Your current
>>> security settings do not allow this file to be downloaded". I
>>> turned off Windows Firewall,
I missed this bit the first time. Turn it back on!!!!!!
>>> Avast, Spy Bot, AdAware
>>> and reduced
>>> all the security setting to the minimum in "Tools/Internet
>>> Options/Security tab.
Mine are medium-high and I don't see that window. Just to make sure, use
this page to double-check three of those settings:
http://solnet.umwelt-uni-kassel.de/i...=downloaderror
>>> Same results!
>>>
>>> Any ideas as to how I can get around this problem?
>>
>> Security Alert from which program? Also keep in mind that "turning
>> off" doesn't always mean "turning off." :-) That is, there may very
>> well be a process running in the background that you can't readily
>> see.
>
> It doesn't indicate what program is issuing the alert. The
> notification box just says "Security Alert"
This could mean the problem is not coming from Avast, Spy Bot, or
AdAware and that it is coming from IE8.
>> IE8 may be flagging this file. Check with others who specifically
>> use IE8 (sorry, although I also use that hosts file, I use IE7).
Again, Hopefully someone else with IE8 will try to download the file. Is
it this .zip file?:
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.zip
>> Are you sure you are downloading from the correct location? There is
>> a troublemaker who posts in these groups who uses a sound-alike name
>> for his questionable Web site. This is what you want:
>>
>> http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
>
> That is the site I'm trying to download the file from, even tried your
> above link, same results.
>>
>> FWIW, Avira AntiVir flagged this file as potentially malicious
>> recently on my system. Sometimes false positives occur. You need to
>> add it to the exceptions if this is the case.
>
> Don't have a clue how to go about that.
For instance, if Avast is flagging this file (just like Avira did with
me), you need to go into its settings and drill down to the particular
setting where you can allow this file as an exception. But you indicated
that the Security Alert window was generic (which means it wasn't
generated by Avast), so I really think there is one of two issues here:
1. A setting in IE8 needs to be tweaked.
or
2. You have malware after all, which is responsible for generating this
rogue lookalike Windows window. Have you ever downloaded anything from
the clown PCButts (also known as The Real Truth MVP)? (He is not an MVP,
by the way.) There have been reports that people who have done so have
the inability to reach certain legit Web pages.
Finally, what is the date of your current hosts file? How large is it?
How many entries are in it? It can be found here:
C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc
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