Trojan

Remove SettingsModifier:Win32/HostsFileHijack

SettingsModifier:Win32/HostsFileHijack is a serious threat to Windows computers as it tries to modify the host files. It prevents connection to secure sites and redirects traffic to malicious destinations. It can be used to transfer users’ details to a remote server or download harmful threats to the PC. Read this guide to know how to delete SettingsModifier:Win32/HostsFileHijack virus completely.

Some threats keep getting back on the PC if all associated files are not removed. So you are advised to use a powerful Malware Removal Tool to run a thorough scan of your PC and delete all threats at once.

Compatible with: Windows XP/Vista/7/8/10/11

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What is SettingsModifier:Win32/HostsFileHijack?

SettingsModifier:Win32/HostsFileHijack is a dangerous Trojan virus that can infect any Windows PC. It is a dubious malware created by hackers for intruding on computers and making harmful modifications to system files and host files. This notorious threat hijacks your entire system by adding malicious IP addresses to your Windows host files.

Those IPs can help this threat connect to a remote server for downloading new threats and sharing your personal details with hackers. SettingsModifier:Win32/HostsFileHijack can hand over your system’s access to cyber criminals without you even knowing about it.

This dubious Trojan virus can easily sneak into your system and hide deep into your machine using rootkit technology. It can create numerous copies of itself and spread at various locations. What’s more devastating, it can disable your anti-virus and firewall security to make your PC completely vulnerable.

Once established on your machine, SettingsModifier:Win32/HostsFileHijack can modify several Windows settings to launch a super attack. It will change the DNS settings to take full control of your Internet connection. It can block access to legitimate websites and redirect your browser to suspicious and potentially harmful sites. Several unwanted and bogus alerts, pop-ups, messages, and warnings will start showing on every website your visit.

How does it infect your computer?

SettingsModifier:Win32/HostsFileHijack mostly intrudes on your computer via bundled freeware programs and spam emails. It can also get dropped on your system when you browse malicious or porn websites, download torrent files, cracked software, or fake updates. This notorious threat can also get transferred through the shared network and contaminated USB drives.

SettingsModifier:Win32/HostsFileHijack is a very nasty and cunning malware. This perilous threat will make your system completely miserable. It will slow down your machine by starting a series of malevolent activities in your system background. It can corrupt your important files and software. Apart from this, it can collect your personal and financial information by using a keylogger.

It will steal your social media account details, login ID, passwords, credit card numbers, IP addresses, etc., and send them to hackers. It can also open a backdoor on your system through which other threats can easily enter your machine in the future.

Threat Analysis

Name SettingsModifier:Win32/HostsFileHijack
Type Trojan
Threat Level High (source to distribute other harmful threats).
Symptoms Slow PC, unresponsive programs, unexpected errors, fake pop-ups, browser redirection.
Distribution It could be distributed through spam emails, bundled freeware, porn, or torrent sites.
Damage Steal personal data, corrupt files, bring other threats, and give remote access to hackers.
Removal Download SpyHunter 5 Anti-Malware

Harmful Effects of SettingsModifier:Win32/HostsFileHijack

  • Silently infect any Windows-based computer without users’ permission.
  • Modify system settings, host files, DNS settings, and Registry files.
  • Disable Anti-virus and firewall programs to weaken the computer security.
  • Show fake pop-ups, warnings, and messages on the infected PC.
  • Forcibly redirect browsers to suspicious and malicious sites.
  • Deploy adware, browser hijacker, and spyware on your PC.
  • Steal users’ personal and financial details secretly by using keyloggers.
  • Transfer stolen data to hackers for use in illegal online activities.
  • Provide remote access to the computer to cyber criminals.
  • It can open backdoors on the computer to other threats and malware.

This threat can do unimaginable damage to your system. You need to get rid of this threat from your PC as early as possible. Follow the below guide for step-by-step instructions to safely remove this deceptive Trojan malware from your computer.

How to Remove SettingsModifier:Win32/HostsFileHijack Virus

Manual Removal Guide

Please Bookmark This Page by pressing the {ctrl+D} button or print it out on paper before you start the Manual Removal because you may need to restart your PC or browser.) Attention! For the safety of your system, please confirm a few things before you begin Manual Removal:

  1. You have done this before, which means you have experience in removing the virus manually;
  2. That you know your way around PC and  all necessary processes and applications;
  3. You know about Registry entry and the Serious repercussions of any mistake;
  4. Make sure you can reverse any mistake made during manual removal.

If you don’t attain any of the above standards, then manual removal could be a very risky idea. We recommend you download the Automatic Malware Removal Tool to find and delete threats from your PC.

Compatible with: Windows 11/10/8/7 (32 Bit and 64 Bit)

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Start PC in safe mode with networking

  • Press Windows Key + R buttons together on the keyboard.
  • Type msconfig in the Run Box then click the OK button.
  • Click on the Boot tab to open the System configuration window.
  • Choose Safe Boot, check the network box, Click Apply, and press the OK button.

Safe boot

Kill Malicious Process From Task Manager

  • Press Windows Key + R buttons together on the keyboard.
  • Type taskmgr in Run Box and then click the OK button.
  • Find SettingsModifier:Win32/HostsFileHijack related or any malicious process.
  • Now right-click on it then click End process.

Stop SettingsModifier:Win32/HostsFileHijack related task

Uninstall SettingsModifier:Win32/HostsFileHijack from Windows PC

  • First of all Press Windows Key + R buttons together.
  • Type appwiz.cpl in the Run box and then click the OK button.
  • Now Programs and Features windows will appear on the screen.
  • Find and remove all SettingsModifier:Win32/HostsFileHijack related or malicious programs.

Remove SettingsModifier:Win32/HostsFileHijack

Remove Virus related Windows Registry entries

  • Press Windows Key + R buttons together on the keyboard.
  • Type regedit in Run Box and then click the OK button.
  • Registry Editor will open, then press CTRL +F buttons together.
  • Now type SettingsModifier:Win32/HostsFileHijack and then click on Find Next button.
  • Find all the related entries and delete them one by one

Remove SettingsModifier:Win32/HostsFileHijack related registry

Warning: Meddling with Windows Registry files might not be a good idea if you don’t have advanced knowledge about registry files. Deleting the wrong file can break down your entire system. Proceed at your own risk, or just skip this step. You can choose the Automatic Removal method and avoid all the problems.

Compatible with: Windows 11/10/8/7 (32 Bit and 64 Bit)

Special Offer SpyHunter 5 Anti-Malware offers a 7-day fully-functional Free Trial. Credit card required, NO charge upfront. No charge if you cancel up to two business days before the trial period ends. Read SpyHunter 5 Review, and Free SpyHunter Remover details.

Remove SettingsModifier:Win32/HostsFileHijack From Browser

Most of the time, threats like this make several changes to the browser which helps it to track victims’ online activities. It is important to completely remove the virus from the browser or it may come back. Follow the below steps to remove this infection from your browser.

Delete Malicious Extensions From Browser

Many spyware now has browser hijacking capabilities to show ads, offers, alerts, notifications, or steal the personal information of the victim. Follow the below steps to remove malicious extensions from your browser.

Remove SettingsModifier:Win32/HostsFileHijack From Google Chrome

Note: Type or copy-paste – chrome://extensions in the URL bar of Google Chrome then press ENTER button to open the extensions page directly or follow the below steps.

  • Open your Google Chrome browser, and click the Menu (⋮) option from the upper right corner.
  • Select More tools then click on the Extensions option to find all installed Extensions on chrome.
  • Choose virus related extensions then click the trash can icon to remove them completely.

Remove SettingsModifier:Win32/HostsFileHijack From Google Chrome

Eliminate SettingsModifier:Win32/HostsFileHijack From Mozilla Firefox

Note: Type or copy-paste – about:addons in URL bar Firefox then hit ENTER button to open the extensions page directly or follow the below steps.

  • Open your Mozilla Firefox browser, and click on Menu (☰) option from the upper right corner.
  • Select Add-ons option from the drop-down menu of the list.
  • Choose the Extensions option to see all installed extensions on your browser.
  • Choose virus related extensions then click on the Remove button.

Remove SettingsModifier:Win32/HostsFileHijack From Mozilla Firefox

Remove SettingsModifier:Win32/HostsFileHijack From Microsoft Edge

  • Open your MS Edge browser, and click on More Tools (⋮) option from the upper right corner.
  • Select the Extensions option from the drop-down menu to see extensions on your browser.
  • Choose virus related extension then click on Uninstall button to remove it.

Remove SettingsModifier:Win32/HostsFileHijack From Microsoft Edge

Remove SettingsModifier:Win32/HostsFileHijack From Apple Safari

  • Open your Safari browser then tap on the Preferences option from the Safari menu.
  • Open the Extensions tab, find virus related extensions then click Uninstall button.
  • Finally, again click the Uninstall button to remove the extension completely.

Remove SettingsModifier:Win32/HostsFileHijack From Apple Safari

Delete SettingsModifier:Win32/HostsFileHijack From Internet Explorer

  • Open your Internet Explorer then click on Menu option from the upper right corner.
  • Select the manage Add-ons option from the drop-down list to see the installed extension.
  • Find all virus related or malicious extensions and click on Disable button to remove them.

Remove SettingsModifier:Win32/HostsFileHijack From Internet Explorer

Reset Browser Setting to Default

Once you remove SettingsModifier:Win32/HostsFileHijack from your browser, you might want to reset the browser to default settings to reset any changes made by the virus. Follow the below steps for that :

Google Chrome Web Browser Reset

  • Open Google Chrome, click on Menu (⋮) then select the Settings option.
  • Scroll down to the bottom, and hit the Show Advanced settings option.
  • From Reset and clean up click on Restore settings to their original defaults.
  • Finally, click on the Reset Settings button to reset your chrome browser.

Reset Google Chrome Web Browser

Mozilla Firefox Browser Reset

  • Open your Mozilla Firefox browser, click on Menu (☰) option and select the (?) icon.
  • Click on the Troubleshooting Information option from the drop-down menu.
  • Then press the Refresh Firefox button and give confirmation.

Reset Mozilla Firefox Browser

MS Edge Browser Reset

  • Open the MS Edge browser, click on More Tools (⋮) option, and select settings.
  • Click on Choose what to clear Option, choose the first three options then click on the Clear button.

Reset MS Edge Browser

Reset Safari To Default

  • Open your Safari browser, tap on the Safari menu, and select the Reset Safari option.
  • Now check all the boxes and then finally click on the Reset button.

Reset Safari To Default

Reset Internet Explorer Browser

  • Open your Internet Explorer then click on Menu icon and hit Internet options.
  • Visit the Advanced tab then click the Reset button.
  • Check the Delete personal settings option, and hit the Reset button.

Reset Internet Explorer Browser

How to Enable Browser Protection

Follow the below steps to enable built-in dangerous site protection in your web browsers to block threats like SettingsModifier:Win32/HostsFileHijack. You can follow the same steps if you want to stop the malware protection on your browser.

Google Chrome – Dangerous Sites Protection

  • Open your Chrome web browser, type chrome://settings in the URL bar, and press Enter.
  • Got to bottom of the page and select the “Show advanced settings” option.
  • Look for the Privacy and security section then click on Sync and Google services.
  • Now turn on the Safe Browsing (Protect you and your device from dangerous sites) option.

Chrome dangerous site (phishing) protection

Safari Browser – Change Security preferences in Safari

  • Open your Safari web browser, then tap on the Safari menu and select Preferences.
  • Now you have to open the Security options on your Safari browser.
  • Check Warn When Visiting a Fraudulent website box from the Fraudulent Sites section.

Safari Phishing protection

Mozilla Firefox – Block Attack Sites and Web Forgeries

  • Open your Firefox web browser, click on Menu (☰) and select Options from the list.
  • Now click on the Security option and then select the following items:

block suspicious sites of firefox

  1. Warn me when sites try to install add-ons
  2. Block reported attack sites
  3. Block reported web forgeries

Edge Browser – Activate SmartScreen Filter

  • Open your MS Edge web browser, and click on More (⋮) icon from the upper right corner.
  • Click on the Settings option from the Edge menu drop-down list.
  • Scroll down and find the View Advanced Settings option then open it.
  • Turn ON the “help protect my PC from malicious sites and downloads with SmartScreen Filter” option.

Edge smart screen filter

Internet Explorer – Activate Microsoft SmartScreen Filter

  • Open your IE web browser, then click on Menu icon and hit Safety options.
  • Now click on the SmartScreen Filter option from the drop-down list.
  • Turn on SmartScreen Filter and restart your browser.

IE phishing protection

If you made these settings on your browser then phishing and malware protection on your browser is now active. But it does not mean that your computer cannot get infected by threats. These settings may block some dangerous and suspicious sites but there are other ways through which hackers can target your PC. So you must download a powerful Anti-Malware application on your computer that provides real-time protection to ensure your system security.

Automatic SettingsModifier:Win32/HostsFileHijack Removal Guide

As you already know, SettingsModifier:Win32/HostsFileHijack is a notorious and cunning malware that is not hard to remove easily by any user through manual means. This virus can keep coming back on the infected computer through files and shortcuts or settings that it has already created on your machine. Removing all those at once is the only way to get rid of this infection and stop it from getting into your system ever again.

So the best way to remove SettingsModifier:Win32/HostsFileHijack effectively is to use a powerful Automatic Removal Tool and save your time and efforts. This software is a well-trusted and very powerful anti-malware program that can detect all hidden threats like Trojan, Ransomware, Worms, Spyware, Rootkits, and many others. It also provides 24X7 customer support and one-on-one Spyware HelpDesk support for Custom Malware removal. Advanced System Guard feature detects and removes threats in real time. It has a very User-Friendly Interface and regular Malware updates make it most effective against the latest malware attacks.

How SpyHunter 5 Anti-Malware Works

  • First, you need to click on the below download button to get the software.

Geek’s Recommendation

Sometimes threats keep getting back on the machine if all associated files are not removed. So you are advised to use a powerful Malware Removal Tool to run a thorough scan of your PC and delete all threats at once.

Compatible with: Windows 11/10/8/7 (32 Bit and 64 Bit)

Special Offer SpyHunter 5 Anti-Malware offers a 7-day fully-functional Free Trial. Credit card required, NO charge upfront. No charge if you cancel up to two business days before the trial period ends. Read SpyHunter 5 Review, and Free SpyHunter Remover details.
  • Then double-click on the installer you downloaded to install the program.

SpyHunter Installeruser access control

  • Launch the Anti-Malware application and click on the Start Scan Now button.

Scan for SettingsModifier:Win32/HostsFileHijack

  • The software will scan your PC for all hidden threats and viruses on your system.

Scan for SettingsModifier:Win32/HostsFileHijack

  • Click on the Next button to see results and delete SettingsModifier:Win32/HostsFileHijack and other threats.

Remove SettingsModifier:Win32/HostsFileHijack

Tips To Prevent Similar Threats in Future

  • Use a good anti-virus, be it a free version but don’t use cracked security programs.
  • Make sure that your Windows firewall is active, so it can block upcoming threats.
  • Keep your Windows OS and other programs updated to avoid vulnerabilities.
  • Download updates only from official websites, don’t use suspicious sites.
  • Never download and install pirated software, games, or illegal patches on your PC.
  • Do not open spam emails from an unknown sender and scan all attachments before opening.
  • Never download freeware third-party programs from unreliable sources or websites.
  • Avoid connecting your PC to unsafe public Wi-Fi to protect your privacy.
  • You can also use a VPN to spoof your connection and avoid malicious sites.
  • Create a system restore point on your system for security purposes.
  • Keep a backup of all your important files to avoid data loss.

Some threats keep getting back on the PC if all associated files are not removed. So you are advised to use a powerful Malware Removal Tool to run a thorough scan of your PC and delete all threats at once.

Compatible with: Windows XP/Vista/7/8/10/11

Special Offer SpyHunter 5 Anti-Malware offers a 7-day fully-functional Free Trial. Credit card required, NO charge upfront. No charge if you cancel up to two business days before the trial period ends. Read SpyHunter 5 Review, and Free SpyHunter Remover details.

About the author

Robert Calvert

Robert is the Chief Security Expert and Founder of PCSafetyGeek.com website. He is a cybersecurity enthusiast who loves to research about Malware outbreaks and write about their remedies. He also like to spend time trying new software, reviewing them and sharing IT news. However he is a real coffee lover and likes to play chess in spare time (which is quite rare 😜).

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