Host Protection

Hi All,

Does AVG A/S offer direct protection of HOST file?

Thanks
rico

 

The AVG AntiSpyware software does not protect the whole Host file, it checks the Host file for suspicious entries that would deny the update process of the AVG software.

 

Hi Karl,

Thank you for responding. Can it still check the file if its set to "Read Only?"

Take Care
rico

 

It should be able to, all it does is read the Host file to check that it contains no adverse entries. It would only need to 'write' if it found an entry directing it away from the correct adress. But try it and see!

I'm not sure what 'locking' the Hosts file actually means, because it seems to me that malware could still overwrite a locked, 'read-only' file and replace it with an ammended 'bad' version. In any case applications can still edit and delete within a 'read-only' Hosts file, so it is only offering partial protection. That is why apps like WinPatrol, CounterSpy etc monitor the file for changes. Though I believe the protection from ZA's 'locking' is stronger than mere read-only protection (but I don't know what it entails!). Similarly, SpywareBlaster offers you the chance to store a copy of your Hosts file and use it as a replacement if your original should become corrupted by malware.

However, the above notwithstanding, AVG-AS should still be able to correct its own entries.