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What or who is phoning home?
Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2002 12:09 am
by flyerI
I have recently installed WinXP Pro on the three computers in the house. When I look at the internet connection it is sending and receiving constantly. I have run Norton and Adaware and don't see any spyware. Also I downloaded a program not too long ago that monitors net traffic. I had it installed and saw no traffic with everything idle. That was on Win98. The same aplications have been reloaded now since I loaded XP. So what or who is causing all the traffic? Any help would be appreciated.
edit: I am behind a Linksys router and running Black Ice 3.5.
Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2002 12:32 am
by Norm
XP has a few features that "call home"
One is 'automatic update' another is a feature (not sure of the name) that sends info regarding any bugs to MS so they can fix them, and send the fix back. There are other features as well.
You could go through the help files and MS support pages to find out more. (ouch that hurts)
You could also use a software firewall that can block outbound requests to see what apps are sending.
There is also a program called XP Anti Spy you could use to disable all the features that "call home"
Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2002 2:25 am
by SkiLLtoN
yea ne1 dat installs win xp should run xp-antispy... u can get it from
http://www.xp-antispy.de
Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2002 5:22 am
by Mohan-san
Who or what is phoning home?
E.T!
Re: What or who is phoning home?
Posted: Sat Aug 31, 2002 12:08 pm
by polishmafia4u
Originally posted by flyerI
I have recently installed WinXP Pro on the three computers in the house. When I look at the internet connection it is sending and receiving constantly. I have run Norton and Adaware and don't see any spyware. Also I downloaded a program not too long ago that monitors net traffic. I had it installed and saw no traffic with everything idle. That was on Win98. The same aplications have been reloaded now since I loaded XP. So what or who is causing all the traffic? Any help would be appreciated.
edit: I am behind a Linksys router and running Black Ice 3.5.
I recomend the xp anti spy also. heres a big thing though(not about xp anti-apy) black ice defender sucks. im serious go to grc.com for the firewall tests. black ice defender lets some applications through try out zonealarm at zonelabs.com or outpost firewall at tauscan.com both are free and both when tested on grc.com tell the hacker or who ever is tryin to use ur connection, that ur computer port doesnt exist!!!
i use outpost no complaints but really switch from black ice check it out at grc.com
-George