I've encountered many threads which are all about the same problem, but none contain a full explanation of the issue. Hence this (half-)sticky thread. To go directly to the solution scroll down to the bottom of this post.


The Issue

Some people report that they can't access Messenger Plus! related websites like http://www.msgplus.net/ and/or that they recieve an error like:

"The connection was refused when attempting to contact www.msgplus.net".


The Cause

This is most likely because the site(s) have been blocked by your HOSTS file. This HOSTS file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. This file is loaded into memory at Windows startup, then Windows checks the HOSTS file before it queries any DNS servers, which enables it to override addresses in the DNS. This prevents access to the listed sites by redirecting any connection attempts back to the local machine. Another feature of the HOSTS file is its ability to block other applications from connecting to the Internet, as long the the entry exists.

You can use a HOSTS file to block ads, popups, banners, cookies, web bugs, and even most hijackers. This is accomplished by blocking the server that supplies these little gems.

On a clean Windows installation the HOSTS file will contain only 1 line (besides some comments):
  127.0.0.1  localhost

But the HOSTS file is often updated by anti-spyware/adware programs or other internet security related software. Or some alternative HOSTS files can be downloaded from the net to include those bad sites with spyware, hijackers, etc. However, the info in alternative edited HOSTS files isn't always correct and sometimes extremely (and stupidly) strict.

De sites from Messenger Plus! have been listed by some very biased people as bad and full of spyware, simply because they are hosted by our sponsor, which is also known to provide advertisements. But this sponsor has nothing to do what-so-ever with the Messenger Plus! sites, other then the IP address...

Some alternative HOSTS files you'll find on the net contain the following lines:
  # [Messenger Plus!]
  127.0.0.1  download.msgplus.net
  127.0.0.1  files.msgplus.net
  127.0.0.1  plugins.msgplus.net
  127.0.0.1  www.msgplus.net
  127.0.0.1  www.msgpluszone.com
  127.0.0.1  www.patchou.com
  127.0.0.1  www.lyricsdomain.com #[affiliate]
  127.0.0.1  www.negativebeats.com #[Downloader.Small][affiliate]

As said above, the related websites of Messenger Plus! contain nothing what-so-ever which will harm your PC and including those lines in the HOSTS file is wrong and only shows how much the creater knows about Messenger Plus! (aka nothing) and are only there to boycot Messenger Plus!.

Let's break it down:
  127.0.0.1  download.msgplus.net
  127.0.0.1  files.msgplus.net
  127.0.0.1  plugins.msgplus.net
  127.0.0.1  www.msgplus.net
^^ Official Messenger Plus! related sites. They contain no hijackers, spyware or anothing harmfull.

  127.0.0.1  www.msgpluszone.com
^^ Not an official Messenger Plus! site. This is just an alternative community site about Messenger Plus!. Again contains no hijackers, spyware or anothing harmfull.

  127.0.0.1  www.patchou.com
^^ Has nothing to do with official Messenger Plus! sites, other than it is Patchou's homepage. Again contains no hijackers, spyware or anothing harmfull.

  127.0.0.1  www.lyricsdomain.com #[affiliate]
  127.0.0.1  www.negativebeats.com #[Downloader.Small][affiliate]
^^ Those have really nothing to do with Messenger Plus!, nor Patchou what-so-ever. It is a big mistery on what the creator was thinking when he added those to the list of Messenger Plus! related sites. They are no affiliates in any way! You can leave those sites listed in your HOSTS files.


The solution

So, to make this short:

Your local HOSTS file, named "HOSTS.", is found here:
  for Windows XP: C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC\HOSTS.
  for Windows 2K: C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC\HOSTS.
  for Win 98/ME: C:\WINDOWS\HOSTS.

As the HOSTS file can be marked as hidden, make sure you've enabled "Show hidden files and folders" and disabled "Hide protected system files". To do so, go to "My Computer" > "Tools" > "Folder Options" > "View" tab.

To change the HOSTS file, simply open it up in Notepad.

Remove the following lines from your HOSTS file and save it again:
  # [Messenger Plus!]
  127.0.0.1  download.msgplus.net
  127.0.0.1  files.msgplus.net
  127.0.0.1  plugins.msgplus.net
  127.0.0.1  www.msgplus.net
  127.0.0.1  www.msgpluszone.com
  127.0.0.1  www.patchou.com
  and of course any other Messenger Plus! related site you may find in your HOSTS file.


More information

The following site contains the best information you can find regarding the HOSTS file. You can also download an alternative HOSTS file from the site which will contain a vast list of dodgy sites which should be blocked. The HOSTS file is very regulary updated and the best of his kind and the most accurate you can find on the net.

http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm