Thanks for looking.
For some reason, my computer is sending/receiving information, via my dial-up connection, for no apparent reason. It’s never done this before.
For example, I was reading an article on CNN, and bytes were being both sent and received, even though the page had completely finished loading, and no other windows were open.
Any idea what could be happening?
Thanks.
TGD
There are lots of reasons this may be happening, but usually it’s some piece of software connecting to the 'net for its own reasons. I’ve seen many different types of software do this for legitimate reasons (eg checking for application updates) or not-so-legitimate reasons - such as spyware.
Two suggestions - get a hold of Ad-Aware which is good at detecting and trashing spyware… also get a hold of a firewall product such as ZoneAlarm which actually tells you which application is attempting to connect to the 'net and gives you the opportunity to allow or prevent it from doing so.
Hope this helps,
Max.
I have AdAware and ZoneAlarm. I run AdAware daily and have yet to see it identify any Spyware, so I assume my machine is clean. ZoneAlarm often asks about certain programs wanting to connect to the internet, but I usually cannot determine from those programs names what they are and why they need to connect. Is there a source on the net that would identify those programs?
I’d be amazed if your machine was clean. I run AdAware, clean the spyware off my PC, surf for five minutes and run AdAware again and stuff has already returned (Doubleclick seems to be the most pervavsive at getting back on).
Have you updated your definition file for AdAware? If not go to Lavasoft for the latest one. Once running the program be certain that the check boxes to scan yoru hard drive and memory are selected.
If after all that you still don’t get any hits from AdAware then I’d like to know how you avoid all that crap! (Do you have Cookies completely blocked or something?)
Oh yeah…you need to copy the definition file (unzip it first if it has been zipped) for AdAware to the AdAware program directory (probably C:\PROGRAM FILES\LAVASOFT AD-AWARE if you used the default install directory).
Once again I have engaged my mouth, or at least my fingers, without engaging my brain. For some reason, I confused AdAware with SwatIt, both of which I run daily. SwatIt has yet to indicate any Trojan Horses on my system. AdAware, on the other hand, probably does but since I have the “Automatically Clean” option selected, I don’t see the results. I regret having mis-spoken.
Still, when ZoneAlarm notifies me that certain programs are trying to access the net, I usually haven’t a clue as to what those programs are—so I deny permission, which I probably shouldn’t do unilaterally. If there is a source that would identy such programs, I would appreciate being made aware of it.
If you have an external modem & you see that happening, turn it off & then a message should appear on the screen from the program that’s using that connection, asking where is the connection? & then you know …
I don’t know what you have been doing, but my machine is squeakly clean without ever using AdAware.
Block Doubleclick cookies (Privacy tab in Internet options) and they won’t come back. I also have my machine set to reject third party cookies (In Internet options, under the privacy tab again, advanced - override automatic cookie handling - accept first party, block third party). This takes care of most of those annoying things - like Doubleclick cookies.
I run Ad-Aware about once a week (more if I’m downloading more) and it almost always comes up clean. The Windows XP SP1 added Alexa (ID’d as spyware) but that’s been about it, for a long time.
As to the OP, sometimes ads will cause the behavior you are talking about, once you have ruled out some program or spyware phoning home, take a look at the ads that have loaded along with the page. I don’t know what they’re called - maybe dynamic ads?_ but if the contents are changing/moving, that could be additional info coming and going from your computer.
Just out of curiosity, if you’ve never run AdAware, then how do you know that your machine is squeaky clean?
I could have been more clear about software trying to access the internet, I suppose. ZoneAlarm informs me that a program wants to access the internet and the program’s name is given. My point is that, in most cases, I haven’t a clue as to what the program is, what it does, where it came from or why it needs to access the internet. Therefore, I refuse permission, the program presumably doesn’t connect, and nothing bad ever seems to happen. I just want to know more about what the hell is going on inside my computer------I hate that it just does its own thing and ignores me. I own the damn thing, after all.
What’s the name of the program? When I get something that I don’t know what it is, I Google it. I refuse a lot of things too, most programs don’t NEED to access the internet.
A couple of ways.
You can always check what’s running in your system, and I have a firewall. 
Pony up the cash for Zone Alarm Pro and all will be revealed to you.