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Yeah, I used Spybot to create the hosts file.
I also have its immunisation and SpywareBlaster installed.
I'm sure it's not to do with the file itself, and my system comes up free of spyware.
I would have thought it would be because I have to use a web cache, but I set IE to ignore proxy settings for local addresses.
Well i've given up and downloaded Firefox. I reckon that with Adaware, Spybot, SpywareBlaster, a popup blocker, nasties in the Restricted sites...etc etc, there's not much else i can do!
hosts.bho may have been added by your anti-spyware program. if it is a back-up of the original one that comes with windows it would look like this:
# Copyright (c) 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
but if you keep finding yourself at the "coolwebsearch" site then you've been hi-jacked. some of the pages that foward you to a cws link do so with an ip address so you can't use the hosts file to block it. much like AO doeas with its ad server. you have to block the ip using your firewall.
cwshreader is spacifically made to clean coolwebsearch crap (CoolWebSearchShreader). you might also download hijackthis and post the log if you still need help.
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/
http://209.133.47.200/~merijn/ (in case cws blocks the url)
just saw you quit...nevermind
It was definately a backup, and I also checked with CWShredder.
Thanks for all your help guys....damn computers eh
I am on Fox .8, and it is most definately ignoring the host file, unless something else is a factor here. No proxy is in the way, the cache is cleared too. Hmmm