# Is my computer under attack?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-computer-under-attack/436991>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 10, 2008, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-computer-under-attack/436991 "2008-02-10T02:41:11Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2008, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-computer-under-attack/436991/1 "2008-02-10T02:41:11Z")

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Cable modem and router, one computer connected wirelessly, one wired. Zone Alarm on the wired one occasionally indicates that the wireless one is attempting access.

Check file sharing settings maybe? I don’t think they would have changed lately.

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**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\
**Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-computer-under-attack/436991/2 "2008-02-12T04:49:11Z")

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[/crickets]

Anyone?

[crickets]

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**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\
**Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-computer-under-attack/436991/3 "2008-02-12T05:39:22Z")

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Not a network expert by any means, but I think I see the same thing on my network (Norton, not Zone Alarm), and I’ve always assumed the notebook was just sort of checking in with the network. If it’s a possible attack, I’d like to know about it, too.

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**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\
**Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-computer-under-attack/436991/4 "2008-02-12T06:30:42Z")

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Leave everything turned on, but disconnect he cable modem.

Is the wireless still attempting to call home?

BTW, did you harden your wireless connection so that only your wireless can connect to your other computer?

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**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-computer-under-attack/436991/5 "2008-02-13T00:23:03Z")

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[QUOTE=Duckster]  
Leave everything turned on, but disconnect he cable modem.

Is the wireless still attempting to call home?  
[/quote]  
Huh? 😕

> [@](#):
>
> BTW, did you harden your wireless connection so that only your wireless can connect to your other computer?

Again, huh? 😕 I guess I know even less about this than I thought. Where’s the dunce cap smilie?