SettingsModifier: Win32 / HostsFileHijack threats detected in Windows 10 – why and what to do
Hosts file tampering is a popular malware or attacker method used to block or redirect network connections. An attacker might change the file to block certain legitimate connections or to redirect network traffic to a destination controlled by the attacker, resulting in the download of extra malware or other malicious activity.
Remove SettingsModifier:Win32/HostsFileHijack
This SettingsModifier:Win32/HostsFileHijack (Windows Defender Antivirus) detection flags suspicious modifications to the Windows hosts file, specifical records for certain domains used by the operating system, and critical windows services. Windows uses the hosts files to resolve domains to IP addresses during network connection, so malicious adjustments can prevent legitimate network connections, such as updates and certificate checks, or result in unsafe and potentially dangerous network connections.
Hosts file tampering is a popular malware or attacker method used to block or redirect network connections. An attacker might change the file to block certain legitimate connections or to redirect network traffic to a destination controlled by the attacker, resulting in the download of extra malware or other malicious activity.
As a result of the SettingsModifier Win32 HostsFileHijack detection you might notice some applications or even Windows activation scripts stop working. Windows Defender will remove the entries in the HOSTS file if you allow it to. You can also deny the detection by clicking the Allow on the device button and exclude the detection in Windows Defender Antivirus.
Remove SettingsModifier:Win32/HostsFileHijack
Remove SettingsModifier:Win32/HostsFileHijack with Malwarebytes
I do advise you to scan your computer with Malwarebytes for malicious malware entries to maybe without your consent have edited the Windows HOSTS file on your computer. If you do know you edited the HOSTS entries yourself you should also scan your computer for malware. Don’t worry, Malwarebytes is free to use for 14 days to detect and remove malware.
- Install Malwarebytes, follow on-screen instructions.
- Click Scan to start a malware-scan.
- Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to finish.
- Once completed, review the SettingsModifier:Win32/HostsFileHijack detection(s).
- Click Quarantine to continue.
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- Reboot Windows after all the detections are moved to quarantine.
You have now successfully removed SettingsModifier:Win32/HostsFileHijack from your device.
SettingsModifier: Win32 / HostsFileHijack threats detected in Windows 10 – why and what to do
Windows 10 users with the latest updates may find a Virus and Threat Protection notification stating that threats have been detected. Details under “Current Threats” will indicate a critical threat exists SettingsModifier: Win32 / HostsFileHijack with the suggestion to delete it.
This short article explains why this happens, how critical such a threat is, and what can be done in such a situation.
What does SettingsModifier: Win32 / HostsFileHijack mean
The SettingsModifier:Win32/HostsFileHijack threat message itself in the Windows 10 security center says that some changes have been detected in the hosts file (C:WindowsSystem32driversetchosts) that may pose a threat to the system. If you don’t know what this file is, you can read about it in the article Windows 10 hosts file.
The reason a lot of people have been getting this threat notification recently is because as of the latest Windows 10 has started to consider Microsoft’s blocked servers in the hosts file as a threat, and they get blocked on so many users what:
These programs use various blocking mechanisms and one of them is to redirect calls from Windows 10 to Microsoft’s servers. This is now considered a threat. In addition, it should be noted that the installation of some unlicensed programs also leads to entries in the hosts file.
In reality, the host changes described do not usually pose a real threat, but it must be taken into account that in reality there may be malicious changes in the same file, one of the common variants today is that after installing the malware on the computer, antivirus sites stop opening.
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What to do when this threat message appears
In case you are sure that changes to hosts are not malicious and not a threat, you can go to SettingsModifier: Win32 / HostsFileHijack threat information from Windows 10 defender and select “Allow on device” to that the system does not try to fix it later.
It is advisable to do this immediately after the message appears, as the hosts file reverts to its original state after a short time without user intervention.
In case you are not sure, you can open the hosts file with any text editor and check its content: what and where it redirects, draw conclusions, and if necessary change the hosts file manually. Note that the file may be locked from opening when a threat is detected until you click “Allow on device” in the Security Center.
It is also possible to disable Windows 10 Defender completely, but it is not an action that I would recommend to most users.
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