Windows Defender gave me a malware warning (file name = "hosts")

[synnchan]

Windows Defender gave me a malware warning (file name = "hosts")

So... my Windows Defender gave me a warning earlier ago. It said I had an infected system file named "hosts". I already removed the file from my computer, but it can still be found on my history. Look:

What is that malware about anyway? I know I already removed it, but I worry a lot about my computer so I want to make sure everything is fine.

So... can someone tell me why I got it? Is it really dangerous?

 

[richc46]

First of all the threat has been removed. You are no longer in danger from that particular threat. Malware is used to describe harmful software that has been installed on your computer. It can be very dangerous with the capability of hacking into your system, harvesting passwords, bank accounts, etc. In your case it was a medium threat. It usually means, pop ups, advertisements. Since it has been uninstalled it is no longer a threat.
For the future, download the free Malwarebytes and scan once a week.
Be sure that you have a quality Anti Virus such as Avast.
Stay away from sites that may be dangerous. Those are the ones that you really want to visit.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi and welcome to SevenForums,
Looks as though you already have Avast installed :/

Review Jacee’s instructions to run Adwcleaner here post #7,
Ignore the title of the thread,
http://www.sevenforums.com/system-security/316404-instant-savings-app.html
Screen shot of the download button to use for Adwcleaner

You can use these free tools to see if they find anything,
Manually Update them before running full scans,
Try not to use your computer while the scans are running, (one at a time of course).
See this tutorial on how to download and run Malwarebytes,
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/338716-malwarebytes-anti-malware-free.html
Also use the Custom scan option not the Threat scan,
Please Do Not clean/ Delete or Remove Any detections before posting the scan results first before review especially Malwarebytes,
http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free

SAS is safe to remove anything it finds
http://www.superantispyware.com/?tag=SUPERANTISPYWARE
This one is the longest up to 4 hours, the others are only about 45 minutes,
http://www.microsoft.com/security/scanner/en-us/default.aspx

 

[andrew129260]

Do you have any tools that modify the host file? Have you modified the host file?

Windows defender is just giving you a heads up the host file has been modified. Google it for info.

 

[bej]

I've tried twice to put a link to a website that offers a modified "Host" file
but the post will not allow the link to be viewed.

This website offers a modified "Host" file to stop most ads and redirection.
I've used it for a long time with no problems.
AFAIK, all Windows 7s use a host file located where the OP sees it.
There are specific instructions for installing the new "Host" file.
Although, the OP didn't state any intentional modification to the existing
file, I'm just assuming it may have happened.

It would be helpful if some of the gurus would check out the website
and give some opinions.