Hosts File access

Hello,

The button has been moved under Protection -> Vulnerabilty:

Make sure you have the latest update installed, as it was not displayed here on the previous version.

By default, Bitdefender performs automatic updates when you turn on your computer and every hour after that.

To manually update the Bitdefender security solution installed on your Windows computer, follow the steps below:

1. Right-click the Bitdefender icon in the System Tray, and then select the Update Now option from the menu. You can refer to the image below for help if you have difficulties finding the Bitdefender icon in the Windows notification area.
2. Bitdefender will start checking for product and signature updates.
3. If new threat definitions or a newer build version are available, they are automatically downloaded and installed on your computer.

Let us know if the information was helpful.

Best regards.

Hi,

I would recommend contacting the Technical Support Teams, as more information might be required to troubleshoot this. You can get in touch with our engineers by choosing one of the contact methods available here:

https://www.bitdefender.com/consumer/support/

Stay safe.

I had the exact same problems as the people on this thread. Here are some notes:

1. Custom lines in the hosts file were getting commented out. Changing Bitdefender's "Scan hosts file" to off fixed it. I wish Bitdefender had an option to store a new "signature" of the valid host file so I can turn the option back on, but it is what it is.
2. Cannot edit the hosts file directly. And yes...I do have admin access. Instead of busting my brain trying to figure it, I just copy the file out of the etc\directory to a dummy location, edit it, and then copy it back. I of course back it up just in case. On a side note, it's probably better for me to leave the security this way as the file cannot be edited directly. I only modify the file once in a blue-moon anyway.

Hey, Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way for me. My host file was already edited. I have only changed the virus software and now I can no longer access my NAS via the names. The IPs work but the names in the host file it does not like. So did you do anything else?

Thanks a lot.

EDIT

Now i got it. As soon as you activate the option "Scan hosts file", your own entries in the host file are commented out. So deactivated! So you have to disable the option and then change the file. The option must then also remain off because as soon as one activates this once again, he comments out the own entries again with a # before the entries.  

Thanks a lot

Was banging my head against the wall and finally figured out Bitdefender was commenting out host file entries I manually made. Agree with NobodyIsHere - Bitdefender needs to

a) provide a mechanism to allow host file updates and

b) PUT IN A COMMENT THAT IT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR COMMENTING OUT ITEMS IN THE HOSTS FILE. Seriously - they've decided to write to the hosts file to make comments, so how hard would it have been to add a comment line saying that BITDEFENDER chose to comment out some entries?

Hello,

I came across this post while helping a friend who is having problems with editing hosts files due to Bitdefender protection.

I just want to provide my testimony about the behavior of a competing antimalware that protect against hosts modifications AND persists user changes (yes it exists): Avira.

To be able to modify the file manually or by a program (which is the case for me with Docker), you just have to temporarily deactivate the protection, modify the file (or run the program which modifies it) then reactivate it. The changes made are persistent and the file is protected against modifications again (you can open it but can't save it, even as admin).

As to whether this approach is the same or less effective as protection against malware, I have no idea.

But if the Bitdefender team finds that it would provide an equivalent level of protection, then I think it could be an interesting improvement. (And if it provides less effective protection, then perhaps offer this option to advanced users as an alternative to how the protection currently works)

I would like to echo the frustration others have expressed on this thread.

I have to have an entry in my hosts file to print to my Xerox printer. However Bitdefender modifies the hosts file by inserting a '#' on the last line and then appends the lines discussed at https://www.reddit.com/r/antivirus/comments/1c6ywz8/found_domains_in_my_etchosts_that_i_didnt_add/. This has the bonus effect of breaking my printer, in addition to the unexpected network configuration changes for a VPN I don't use.

Please honor existing entries in etc/hosts files!