Change in Internet Hosts File? per WinPatrol?

Looking for backgorund and guidance on the following.

I have WinPatrol installed on my Windows XP MCE operating system. My ISP is Verizon on a DSL line.

When I booted my PC after two days without operating same directly [but being logged on to my DSL account from another PC (if this matters)], I received a warning notice from WinPatrol informing me that my Internet Hosts file had been changed. It asked me if I wanted to examine my hosts file. I replied Yes and received the following:


# 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

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I don't understand this message. Can anyone help? Thanks.

 

Not sure what that message is telling you. That is a normal default HOSTS file. Did you have a different HOSTS file in place, downloaded for protection?

 

Elaborating on what noahdfear has said, the Host file you have posted is the hosts.sam file. Or at least is just a copy of it and will not perform any function.
A real HOSTS file is named just that, HOSTS--no file extension. If you have WinXP Home, it usually resides in c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\ . Its function (nowadays anyway) is usually to block access to websites and has entries such as 127.0.0.1 www.xyz.com. With that entry in your HOSTS file you will not be able to access www.xyz.com.
Some spyware will change your HOSTS file, usually with the intent of blocking you from sites that fight spyware. Can't understand why WinPatrol would alert you to the file you have posted. There is no change, as noahdfear has said, between it and a standard Hosts.sam file.
Lots of info on HOSTS in
http://accs-net.com/hosts/what_is_hosts.html

 

The address 127.0.0.1 is the so-called Loopback address for my PC. This seems to be normal based on your replies and the following that comes from the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority website.

"Loopback" IP addresses:

127.0.0.0 - 127.255.255.255

Each computer on the Internet uses 127.0.0.0/8 to identify itself, to itself. 127.0.0.0 to 127.255.255.255 is earmarked for what is called "loopback ". This construct allows a computer to establish/validate its IP stack. Most software only uses 127.0.0.1 for loopback purposes (the other addresses in this range are seldom used). All of the addresses within the loopback address are treated with the same levels of restriction in Internet routing, so it is difficult to use any other addresses within this block for anything other than node specific applications, generally bootstraping.

At the Microsoft website they report on a problem some programs have running with this loopback address after Windows SP2 is installed. The patch is at KB884020. I am not havng any applications that are failing to operate. So, I remain confused by the WinPatrol notification.

 

chetonbbs --Just thought of something. Did you ever have a real HOSTS file, blocking sites you wanted to be protected from visiting? (You would know if you had set it up.) If yes, and now all it contains is what you have a posted, then that would be a change and would explain WinPatrol's report. Also it means your HOSTS file is no longer useful and would need to be repopulated.