Hosts File Query

I have just installed AVG Anti-Spyware programme and in order for it to
access the server to update the definitions, my Spysweeper programme pops up
saying AVG is trying to change my Hosts File. I have no idea what this means,
why would it try and change the Hosts File, why does nothing else need to in
order to update itself and what are the consequences if I allow it?
My Spysweeper subscription is about to run out and I just thought I'd try
something new beforehand to compare.
Thanking you all in advance.
Skye

"Skye" <Skye@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:4A59547B-3248-4D70-8252-7FBCAE36CF7F@microsoft.com...
>I have just installed AVG Anti-Spyware programme and in order for it to
> access the server to update the definitions, my Spysweeper programme pops
> up
> saying AVG is trying to change my Hosts File. I have no idea what this
> means,
> why would it try and change the Hosts File, why does nothing else need to
> in
> order to update itself and what are the consequences if I allow it?
> My Spysweeper subscription is about to run out and I just thought I'd try
> something new beforehand to compare.
> Thanking you all in advance.
> Skye
>
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

Contact AVG Support and/or Spysweeper Support (or disable all Spysweeper
Shields while installing AVG AS).

PS: AVG AS is nowhere near as effective an anti-spyware app as Spysweeper.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.org/


Skye wrote:
> I have just installed AVG Anti-Spyware programme and in order for it to
> access the server to update the definitions, my Spysweeper programme pops
> up
> saying AVG is trying to change my Hosts File. I have no idea what this
> means, why would it try and change the Hosts File, why does nothing else
> need to in order to update itself and what are the consequences if I allow
> it?
> My Spysweeper subscription is about to run out and I just thought I'd try
> something new beforehand to compare.
> Thanking you all in advance.
> Skye

Thanks for the info page re Hosts File and for the recommendation of
Spysweeper over AVG. I have been pleased with Spysweeper over the past couple
of years but it's always worth looking at alternatives. At least I understand
what to do now, a great help, thanks again.
Skye

"PA Bear" wrote:

> Contact AVG Support and/or Spysweeper Support (or disable all Spysweeper
> Shields while installing AVG AS).
>
> PS: AVG AS is nowhere near as effective an anti-spyware app as Spysweeper.
> --
> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
> AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
> DTS-L http://dts-l.org/
>
>
> Skye wrote:
> > I have just installed AVG Anti-Spyware programme and in order for it to
> > access the server to update the definitions, my Spysweeper programme pops
> > up
> > saying AVG is trying to change my Hosts File. I have no idea what this
> > means, why would it try and change the Hosts File, why does nothing else
> > need to in order to update itself and what are the consequences if I allow
> > it?
> > My Spysweeper subscription is about to run out and I just thought I'd try
> > something new beforehand to compare.
> > Thanking you all in advance.
> > Skye
>
>

YW & thanks for posting back.

Skye wrote:
> Thanks for the info page re Hosts File and for the recommendation of
> Spysweeper over AVG. I have been pleased with Spysweeper over the past
> couple of years but it's always worth looking at alternatives. At least I
> understand what to do now, a great help, thanks again.
> Skye
>
> "PA Bear" wrote:
>
>> Contact AVG Support and/or Spysweeper Support (or disable all Spysweeper
>> Shields while installing AVG AS).
>>
>> PS: AVG AS is nowhere near as effective an anti-spyware app as
>> Spysweeper.
>> --
>> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
>> MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
>> AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
>> DTS-L http://dts-l.org/
>>
>>
>> Skye wrote:
>>> I have just installed AVG Anti-Spyware programme and in order for it to
>>> access the server to update the definitions, my Spysweeper programme
>>> pops
>>> up
>>> saying AVG is trying to change my Hosts File. I have no idea what this
>>> means, why would it try and change the Hosts File, why does nothing else
>>> need to in order to update itself and what are the consequences if I
>>> allow
>>> it?
>>> My Spysweeper subscription is about to run out and I just thought I'd
>>> try
>>> something new beforehand to compare.
>>> Thanking you all in advance.
>>> Skye