Windows Vista Web Sites Blocked

I am using vista.
I have CA Internet Security Suite.
My Parental Control is turned off.
For some reason two Web Sites that I visit all the time have been blocked.
I use IE and Firefox. The Web Sites are blocked in both.
I have turned off my Firewall and that didn't help. Still blocked.
I have tried a Web Site called HideMyAss.com just to see if that would get me in and it did. I was able to enter both sites.
The sites are Torrent sites but not sure if that would matter.
This problem just started two days ago. Up till then I had no problems entering the two sites.
Something has changed but have no idea what to check for.
What could my computer be doing to block the two sites.

 

I would run "Malware" & "Spybot search & destroy" to see what's gotcha,

 

I have tried:
Spybot
Spyhunter
Malware
Regcure.
All came back with nothing found.
That why I have run out of ideas to try.
I contacted my DSL provider to see if they are blocking anything and they said no.

 

Hi,
It may sound silly, but there can be several reasons as to why it's happening.
1.The IE settings might have been changed ,The sites could have been put in the 'restrict sites' categories.
2.Your cookie control settings could be preventing this.
3.The sites might have registered your IP adress and could have inserted some spybots in there which is why it's happening

Please reply if you find that useful!!!!!

 

The sites are thepiratebay.org & mininova.org
I have tried the same sites with my laptop and all is fine. I can get in.
It has to be something blocking it from my desktop. This is something new as I have used my desktop for months without a problem. This just started about a week ago.
I hate to have to do a complete recovery of my desktop but that might be the only answer.

 

Both come back with:
1 <1 ms <1 ms FRED-PC [127.0.0.1]

 

The sites are likely being blocked in your hosts file. Did you install a custom hosts file lately?

 

I'm guessing that you are running a hosts file based protection and that has decided both those sites are unacceptable.

For your information 127.0.0.1 is your computer therefor unless you're running a webserver you will get 404 errors.

Do you use any Host file based protection utilities?

 

Not sure what a host file base protection is? Can you give me an idea on what I am looking for.

 

OK,

Simple (and technically incorrect) answer is when you access a website Windows looks in your hosts file first for the IP address, this save a DNS lookup and in theory internet access is quicker. Some anti-malware systems use this to block known rogue sites by using this host file to redirect bad sites to your own system.

Any way,

Try to rename your hosts file

Start->Run, type cmd then press enter
now type

Code:

move %SystemRoot%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts %SystemRoot%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts.bak

Try those websites now, if they work restore your hosts file with

Start->Run type Cmd and then

Code:

move %SystemRoot%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts.bak %SystemRoot%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts

Let us know and we'll look at editing your Hosts file if required.

BTW The above instructions are for XP but should work with Vista, if they don't I'll step back and let vista users assist.

 

Your first step did not work. Said 0 files moved.

 

Try this. Click Start>Run and type cmd then hit enter to open a command window. Type or copy then right click and paste the following command in the command window.

ren %SystemRoot%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts hosts.bak

 

Access denied is what I get.

 

Try this one from Run.

notepad %SystemRoot%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts

See what's listed below the main body of text starting with 127.0.0.1

 

A standard Vista hosts file will appears as follows.

 

I was under the impression that starting a command window from run would execute with elevated permissions, as I recall that happening for me on occasion. I knew it wasn't always true when he reported 'Access denied' upon renaming, so opted to view the hosts file instead.

 

Ctrl+Shift+Enter does nothing. Nothing changes on the screen