windows defender false positive?

pmv

Lifer
May 30, 2008
14,945
9,837
136
Hi

Windows defender reported an alleged malware problem with SettingsModifier.Win32

Category:
Settings Modifier

Description:
This program has potentially unwanted behavior.

Advice:
Review the alert details to see why the software was detected. If you do not like how the software operates or if you do not recognize and trust the publisher, consider blocking or removing the software.

Resources:
file:
C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc\hosts

Looking for more info leads to


http://www.microsoft.com/secur...ossibleHostsFileHijack

Which states

On March 9, 2009 a signature for SettingsModifier:Win32/PossibleHostsFileHijack started detecting certain modified HOSTS files in some environments. On March 9, 2009 Microsoft released a new signature that addresses the issue. Signature versions 1.53.283.0 and higher include this fix.


This seems to imply, in a rather oblique way while not explicitly admitting it, that WD is finding false positives.

What's baffling is it says the above sig file includes the fix, but the very same page says the latest sig file is only 1.53.271.0 - so the 'fixed' version isn't in fact available, despite the reference to MS having 'released' it yesterday. If they 'released' it, why isn't it there?
 

MrChad

Lifer
Aug 22, 2001
13,507
3
81
The link on the right says that the latest signature file is 1.53.310.0.
 

pmv

Lifer
May 30, 2008
14,945
9,837
136
OK true, actually its updated itself since I first got referred to the page last night. In fact it seems to have updated itself in the few minutes since I posted this message, unless I was previously looking at a cached version.

Right, now to update WD.