windows 10 hosts file entries been commented out

Question

Windows 10 is commenting out my hosts file entries. This happens periodically so every 1 hour.

Although I manage to save the changes but they will be commented out after around 1 hour.

I never experienced such thing on any Windows version before so maybe there is something I need to do in Windows 10 to prevent this from happening.

I have Bitdefender Total Security 2016 installed.

Solution 1

Sul,

Cause: Bitdefender Total Security 2016 is causing this problem

Fix: Right click on hosts file, properties, security, give only read access to "ALL APPLICATION PACKAGES" user/group.

Reference: http://www.bitdefender.com/security/hosts-file-hijacking-becomes-impossible-in-windows-8.html

Solution 2

To prevent the hosts entries from being commented out by Bitdefender 2016 do the following:

In the main Bitdefender interface click on the human icon (from the upper right corner) and choose General Settings > Advanced tab > "Scan hosts file" button.

Comments

[Sul Aga]

"ALL APPLICATION PACKAGES" has read and read & execute permission. I am unable to change them as they are grayed out. I can deny read & execute but this in turn will deny ready

[Ravi Kumar Lachubukta]

Sul, On the top right, hit Human icon, hit "General Settings", then "Advanced", takeoff selected flag on "Scan host files"

[Burgi]

Could you possibly include a screenshot of this option?

[Harlin]

This one is no longer effective.

[Vbakke]

True, but it leaves your hosts file vulnerable. So be cautions about this workaround. (Webroot solves this by locking the hosts file. You have to unlock it before every change you need to make. Cumbersome, but more secure.)

[Vbakke]

This will block Bitdefender from commenting out intentional entries. But will this block unintentional entries? Is this a bit like solving a jammed door, by not closing it?