Website redirecting to 127.0.0.1 but there is no entry in the hosts file

[jnelsoninjax 14,686]

I am trying to go to softpedia.com and I am greeted with the message unable to connect. When I ping it it goes to 127.0.0.1 and tracert shows the same thing.

My hosts file:

# Copyright (c) 1993-2009 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

# localhost name resolution is handled within DNS itself.
#	127.0.0.1       localhost
#	::1             localhost
38.132.120.66 us-east-014.staticnetcontent.com   #added by Windscribe, do not modify.
173.44.36.130 us-east-001.staticnetcontent.com   #added by Windscribe, do not modify.

# unchecky_begin
# These rules were added by the Unchecky program in order to block advertising software modules
0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 # fix for traceroute and netstat display anomaly
0.0.0.0 tracking.opencandy.com.s3.amazonaws.com
0.0.0.0 media.opencandy.com
0.0.0.0 cdn.opencandy.com
0.0.0.0 tracking.opencandy.com
0.0.0.0 api.opencandy.com
0.0.0.0 api.recommendedsw.com
0.0.0.0 rp.yefeneri2.com
0.0.0.0 os.yefeneri2.com
0.0.0.0 os2.yefeneri2.com
0.0.0.0 installer.betterinstaller.com
0.0.0.0 installer.filebulldog.com
0.0.0.0 d3oxtn1x3b8d7i.cloudfront.net
0.0.0.0 inno.bisrv.com
0.0.0.0 nsis.bisrv.com
0.0.0.0 cdn.file2desktop.com
0.0.0.0 cdn.goateastcach.us
0.0.0.0 cdn.guttastatdk.us
0.0.0.0 cdn.inskinmedia.com
0.0.0.0 cdn.insta.oibundles2.com
0.0.0.0 cdn.insta.playbryte.com
0.0.0.0 cdn.llogetfastcach.us
0.0.0.0 cdn.montiera.com
0.0.0.0 cdn.msdwnld.com
0.0.0.0 cdn.mypcbackup.com
0.0.0.0 cdn.ppdownload.com
0.0.0.0 cdn.riceateastcach.us
0.0.0.0 cdn.shyapotato.us
0.0.0.0 cdn.solimba.com
0.0.0.0 cdn.tuto4pc.com
0.0.0.0 cdn.appround.biz
0.0.0.0 cdn.bigspeedpro.com
0.0.0.0 cdn.bispd.com
0.0.0.0 cdn.bisrv.com
0.0.0.0 cdn.cdndp.com
0.0.0.0 cdn.download.sweetpacks.com
0.0.0.0 cdn.dpdownload.com
0.0.0.0 cdn.visualbee.net
# unchecky_end

As can clearly be seen, the website is not located in the hosts file, so where else could it be being blocked from? I have paused my A/V and it still does the same thing. This happens in both Firefox and Edge.

 

Edit: It turns out that the VPN turned itself on and that was why I was getting the error, once I turned it off, suddenly everything works!

[+BudMan 3,737]

All of those sites are filled with crap.. Why would you ever want to download anything from there?  Just get what your looking for from the actual site that produces the file..

 

few years old

https://www.howtogeek.com/207692/yes-every-freeware-download-site-is-serving-crapware-heres-the-proof/

[+BudMan 3,737]

22 minutes ago, jnelsoninjax said:

I am trying to go to softpedia.com

Why?   I would suggest you turn your vpn back on if blocks you from that site hehehehehe

[jnelsoninjax 14,686]

7 minutes ago, BudMan said:

Why?   I would suggest you turn your vpn back on if blocks you from that site hehehehehe

What's wrong with the site? Honestly I don't know anything bad about it.

[jnelsoninjax 14,686]

2 minutes ago, BudMan said:

All of those sites are filled with crap.. Why would you ever want to download anything from there?  Just get what your looking for from the actual site that produces the file..

 

few years old

https://www.howtogeek.com/207692/yes-every-freeware-download-site-is-serving-crapware-heres-the-proof/

OK, I see now, I was not looking to download anything from the site, I just saw an article from Lifehacker that showed a program from Softpedia, so I was just curious about it.

[+BudMan 3,737]

You sure it wasn't an ad... I would think any software linked would be to the original website and not there.. You have link to this article?  Now you have me curious

[jnelsoninjax 14,686]

5 hours ago, BudMan said:

You sure it wasn't an ad... I would think any software linked would be to the original website and not there.. You have link to this article?  Now you have me curious

Here you go, I just noticed that it was written in 2016! So I was not really paying that close attention to it! Regardless, I did not download anything from softpedia, and per the article you linked I can understand what you are saying about it, so I will steer clear of it!

https://lifehacker.com/how-to-take-your-timeline-back-from-all-of-twitter-s-we-1758279646

[+BudMan 3,737]

Yeah that site is just horrible   That they linked there is bad... You can not even download it anymore - they lead you to tweetduck