Re: To clarify the link for CWShredder Update

Tech-Archive recommends: Repair Windows Errors & Optimize Windows Performance

From: Gary S. Terhune (grystnews_at_mvps.org)
Date: 02/28/04 

Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2004 16:59:50 -0800

Filedate is 2/25. HFM's "HOSTS File Details" lists "Last Updated 4 days
ago", i.e., the 24th, which matches filedate at MVPS.

However, I note that with the /U switch, it's not backing it up--last backup
was 16 days ago, when I started this experiment. Your Update doesn't
automatically back up previous? It's an optional step? Thinking about it,
this would make sense, sort of...

Have to think about whether backup would make sense as part of /U function.
Wouldn't want automatic backup of infested HOSTS file, would we, now? Not
one that overwrote a good backup. Then again, what does it matter if
retrieving another from MVPS is rather simple? 

-- 
Gary S. Terhune
MS MVP for Windows 9x
George (Bindar Dundat) wrote:
> Are you looking at the file date itself or using the info pane?
>
>
> "Gary S. Terhune" <grystnews@mvps.org> wrote in message
> news:%23UGJwBZ$DHA.2636@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
>> I have it scheduled for 6 am daily. Last HOSTS update was 2/24, mine
>> has 2/25 date, but the time on it is 10:49 PM--which is when I
>> manually updated to make sure I had a fresh one before passing it on
>> to my daughter. Because I add back in Custom URLs, that would make
>> my timestamp sync to whenever I run update.
>>
>> I don't know if your app checks timestamp and only updates if newer
>> is available (which might get strange if newer comes out but I then
>> add custom URL before update kicks in--timestamp would be later on
>> my file than that of MVPS...), or if it just replaces file
>> regardless. If the former, then it would appear to be working
>> properly--if the latter, then something's wrong. Best I can do is
>> make sure I check every morning until a new one appears, and keepa
>> my hands off until then.
>>
>> --
>> Gary S. Terhune
>> MS MVP for Windows 9x
>>
>> George (Bindar Dundat) wrote:
>>> Well, I do have a VPC that I could try it on.  I haven't even tried
>>> connecting that to the net.  I do know that if the entire file gets
>>> hijacked that HFM will catch it. but in those cases the whole file
>>> is being over-written and the check number that is in there goes
>>> missing so it's easy to detect.  Then you get a warning that the
>>> file has been tampered with and a message box to start a restore
>>> from backup or a fresh download.  Which reminds me I have to ask
>>> GST how that command line is working out since I haven't been using
>>> it.  I think what I might do is add a line count function to the
>>> app somehow so if anything gets added or deleted (it shouldn't,
>>> but.....) it would get picked up by HFM.  Right now the
>>> System/Hidden/Read Only attributes are set so the file is locked
>>> but if Spybot can get around that then something else could too.
>>>
>>>
>>> "PA Bear" <PABear@mvps.org> wrote in message
>>> news:OItiHMY$DHA.2800@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
>>>> TonyKlein, our Spyware God, just wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> There are a couple of CWS variants that hack the Hosts file
>>>>
>>>> e.g., I suspect, CWS.SmartKiller.
>>>>
>>>> Suggestion: Intionally infect your
>>>> machine-running-HOSTS-File-Manager with CWS.SmartKiller 'n see what
>>>> pans out. --
>>>> ~PA Bear
>>>>
>>>> George (Bindar Dundat) wrote:
>>>>> Spybot got them.  I just had the same report from Mike Burgess.
>>>>> See if you were using my HOSTS file manager there would be a
>>>>> backup there and you could just restore.  That'll teach ya.
>>>>>
>>>>> "PA Bear" <PABear@mvps.org> wrote in message
>>>>> news:OcbIH5Q$DHA.2432@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
>>>>>> Not only are those two HOSTS file entries not working now but
>>>>>> something (Spybot? CWS.SmartKiller?) had removed them from my
>>>>>> list!

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