THE PAGE CANNOT BE DISPLAYED?

Question

Hi, I am using IE 6 and Windows SP2.  Have all the latest windows updates, latest BIOS version and drivers update.   Internet surfing and music, photos ect... are working great.   The problem is I couldn't open the three popular websites: paypal.com, amazon.com and ebay.com.  This only happened since some months ago.   I had tried to uninstall and reinsall winsock, deleted cookies, catch files, internet histories, security setting SSL 2, SSL 3, STL 1.   Please help if you know something else.  Many thanks,   Tiger-Sea.

volcano11 · Answer

See if the following helps: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=813444 Steve

volcano11 · Answer

Find the file on your computer named hosts (note that it has no extension and is not the hosts.sam file). Normally the hosts file is located in the C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\etc folder. Once you find the file, open it with notepad. Are any of the sites that you cannot get to listed in that file? If so, rename the file and try to get to those sites through Internet Explorer. Let me know what you find.

Steve

Tiger-sea · Answer

Thanks Steve, I tried all the solutions on the microsoft page and still not able to open: paypal, ebay, amazon.  Thanks.   Tiger-Sea

Tiger-sea · Answer

Cheers Steve,

This is a copy of what I found in HOST and opened with notepad:

# 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

127.0.0.1 www.sophos.com

127.0.0.1 www.mcafee.com
127.0.0.1 mcafee.com
127.0.0.1 www.viruslist.com
127.0.0.1 viruslist.com
127.0.0.1 viruslist.com
127.0.0.1 f-secure.com
127.0.0.1 www.f-secure.com
127.0.0.1 kaspersky.com
127.0.0.1 kaspersky-labs.com
127.0.0.1 www.avp.com
127.0.0.1 www.kaspersky.com
127.0.0.1 avp.com
127.0.0.1 www.networkassociates.com
127.0.0.1 networkassociates.com
127.0.0.1 www.ca.com
127.0.0.1 ca.com
127.0.0.1 mast.mcafee.com
127.0.0.1 my-etrust.com
127.0.0.1 www.my-etrust.com
127.0.0.1 download.mcafee.com
127.0.0.1 dispatch.mcafee.com
127.0.0.1 secure.nai.com
127.0.0.1 nai.com
127.0.0.1 www.nai.com
127.0.0.1 us.mcafee.com
127.0.0.1 rads.mcafee.com
127.0.0.1 trendmicro.com
127.0.0.1 pandasoftware.com
127.0.0.1 www.pandasoftware.com
127.0.0.1 www.trendmicro.com
127.0.0.1 www.grisoft.com
127.0.0.1 www.microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 microsoft.com
127.0.0.1 www.virustotal.com
127.0.0.1 virustotal.com
127.0.0.1 www.amazon.com
127.0.0.1 www.amazon.co.uk
127.0.0.1 www.amazon.ca
127.0.0.1 www.amazon.fr
127.0.0.1 www.paypal.com
127.0.0.1 paypal.com
127.0.0.1 moneybookers.com
127.0.0.1 www.moneybookers.com
127.0.0.1 www.ebay.com
127.0.0.1 ebay.com

Steve, what should I do next.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

P.S. I just uninstalled and reinstalled winsock and still see 'the page cannot be displayed' when going into sites like: paypal.com, ebay.com, amazon.com. Only these 3, everything else is working fine. My cepher strengh is 128 bit.

I am wondering if this caused either by windows SP2, or the lastest Flashing the BIOS, or the removal of some spywares.

volcano11 · Answer

Immediately rename the hosts file or delete it completely. Some malicious software/parasite/malware/virus has altered your hosts file preventing you from getting to the sites you mention as well as most antivirus and antispyware sites. You are probably infected with some malicious software that altered your hosts file.

The hosts file has a useful purpose. That is it can be used to speed up internet connections by allowing Windows to look in the hosts file to translate a URL into an IP address. When it is used this way, it can speed up the internet connection because Windows will not have to go the DNS server at your ISP to make the translation. Something has altered your system so that URLs you might want to get to are directed to 127.0.0.1 which is your computer. Since none of those sites exist on your computer, you cannot get to the web sites.

Steve

volcano11 · Answer

Either rename it to hosts.old or simply delete the file. Note that if the malicious software that made these modifications to the host file is still on your computer, it could create a new hosts file even after you delete or rename the current one. It would be worth your while to make sure you are running antivirus software with up to date virus definitions and to find a good spyware removal program to get rid of any other garbage that may still be there.

Note to delete the file, just highlight the file in Windows Explorer or My Computer and hit the delete key. To rename the file, find it in Windows Explorer or My Computer, right-click on the file and choose Rename from the drop down menu. Then just add the .old extension to the filename.

Steve

Tiger-sea · Answer

Steve,   You are the best. It works   I renamed it to HOST.old and now I can open paypal, ebay abd amazon sites.   Thanks so much Steve. I had spent  months to sort this problem out with microsoft, ebay,amazon, paypal and none could solved the problem, but you did.   Is there any other advice or suggestion would you like to tell me.   Many thanks Steve.   Dean.

Tiger-sea · Answer

Steve, what did you mean by rename the HOST file? Should I delete all the information in there, and keep the Host folder as is? Or should I delete the whole folder? Thanks again Steve.

Tiger-sea · Answer

Steve, My credit card was cloned by criminal recently.  Could it be this is how they had obtained my ID through ebay or paypal account?  Thanks. Dean.

volcano11 · Answer

The most likely way that could have happened is if you have a trojan or if you responded to one of those phishing emails that say something like your account will be suspended unless go to some website and enter your personal information. Changing the Hosts file would not cause this, but I would be concerned about whatever it was the changed your hosts file. It means that your security has been compromised.

Steve

volcano11 · Answer

Yes, you can delete that file without any problems.   Steve

Tiger-sea · Answer

Hi Steve,   I recently scanned for virus and  the system found a spyware but posted unable to delete it.   It's in ETC folder and looks like this:  1.hosts   I couldn't open it.  Is it a spyware that had created a different hosts file.  will it be safe if I drag the 1.hosts to trash.   I looked In my backup hard drive, the ETC folder doesn't have 1.hosts.   many thanks,   Dean.

Tiger-sea · Answer

Cheers Steve ! Dean.

Tiger-sea · Answer

I tried to deleted it but it wouldn't move.   It poped up a screen;   cannot delete 1: It is being used by another person or program. Close any programs that might be using the file and try again.   Well, I don't know what is using it because I closed all the things on the main screen.   Dean.

volcano11 · Answer

Go Here and follow the directions to download and run the analysis tool called HijackThis. Generate a log file, then open it and copy and paste the text of the log file in a message in the HijackThis forum where a HijackThis expert can offer advice on how to fix the problem.   Steve

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

THE PAGE CANNOT BE DISPLAYED?

Was this post helpful?