Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2021 July 18

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July 18

Immunization (not for Covid)

I use Spybot Search and Destroy for antivirus. The application has a step when they offer you to immunize. Immunize what? I presume it is something in the registry, but this Wikipedia article says otherwise[1]. How does it work? AboutFace 22 (talk) 21:36, 18 July 2021 (UTC)

The article you linked to states "Spybot-S&D has an Immunize function to block the installation of spyware before it occurs e.g. by modifying the hosts file". Does that not answer your question?--Shantavira|^{feed me} 07:41, 19 July 2021 (UTC)

See also the FAQ page What is Immunization? on the website of Spybot's developer.  --Lambiam 07:47, 19 July 2021 (UTC)

Of course, that sentence about the host file did not answer my question. What is the host file? Where is it located? The Spybot website page is more informative, but still I would prefer mode details, although it clarifies many things. Thanks AboutFace 22 (talk) 13:47, 19 July 2021 (UTC)

In the article you linked, hosts file is in blue, which means that it is a link to information about the hosts file.--Shantavira|^{feed me} 15:38, 19 July 2021 (UTC)

And that article has a section titled "Internet resource blocking" which describes this use of the hosts file. Essentially, the entries in the hosts file serve as a blacklist, which override the name-to-IP-address mapping provided by your DNS service. If you attempt to access one of the domains listed in the hosts file, you will be directed to a harmless alternate IP address rather than the real address of the presumably malicious site. CodeTalker (talk) 00:58, 20 July 2021 (UTC)

Thank you all, AboutFace 22 (talk) 00:22, 21 July 2021 (UTC)