Dial-Up: Programs accessing internet?

Question

I am a dial-up internet user. I have found that even when I am not using the net, there is still data transferring back and forth through the connection. I would like to determine what programs are accessing it. Is there software for this?

Also, I have found that the internet will connect in the middle of the night for no known reason. I would also like to determine what program is causing this as well.

Thank you for any information you have to offer.

I am currently using XP with Windows Media Center and only using Windows Firewall currently. I have bought Norton's firewall and McAfee in the past and, to be honest, can't stand them. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

If your computer is connecting by itself to the internet in the middle of night, it is pretty safe to say you have trouble on your hands.

Uninstall whatever other crap you have on your computer in terms of antivirus/firewalls. Especially turn off Windows firewall. And you are very smart to stay away from Norton and McAfee.

For the antivirus get AVG. It is one of the best free antivirus programs out there. Get their spyware too.
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1

For the firewall, get ZoneAlarm. It also has a spyware thing built in.
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/freeDownload.jsp

Both of these are completely free and even better than anything Windows/Norton/McAfee have to offer. These programs are relatively small. They are much faster and won't slow down your comptuer.

Download and install them. Update the programs thoroughly. Save anything that you want to for back up like your pictures/music/documents just in case. Disconnect your computer physically from the internet (pull the phone cable out from the back). And scan everything completely.

You should be fine after that. Keep the programs regularly updated and scan once every week manually.

Answer 2

To be honest Windows firewall is just the bare minimum. I suggest you look into getting Zone-Alarm, it's free and nothing connects to the Internet without your expressed consent. You can allow/deny once or allow/deny permantly.
There are a lot of programs that have automatic updates Including Windows Update (I would look there first)which may be the cause of programs dialing in without your knowledge. I will be hard to find these programs,without knowing which ones update on their own or not. But one thing you can do is only plug in your modem when you are actually going to be online

Answer 3

YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE A PROBLEM.

Go to Tools (up top), Internet Options, then click on Connections (up top). Dot in "never dial a connection." Then click on Apply and OK. It is a little misleading because you can still get online the same way. But, that should stop the computer from dialing up on its own/automatic dialing.

You are probably just getting automatic updates from Microsoft at night. It is probably nothing bad. You can do this manually if you shut off automatic dialing.

Make sure you click on "Start, Shut Down, then select Restart from the dropdown when you are finished.

If you are able to use your telephone, there is no data being transferred.

Answer 4

Get ZoneAlarm firewall from Zonelabs. This nice and very functional software package reliably closes all unused ports and logs and documents every application in your computer that is attempting to comminicate with the internet. And YOU have all the control to ALLOW or DENY access. Works for me I have used it for year and half.

Answer 5

Install another firewall such as Zone alarm its better than Xp build in one use it to block every thing except you Internet browser and you email program it'll then tell you if something is trying to access the net you can then see what's asked to use the net in zone alarms program control you can get it here and it's free http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/freeDownload.jsp
before you install it don't forget to disable Xp's firewall or you'll have problems they'll argue

Answer 6

I use ZoneAlarm Anti-virus/Firewall http://www.zonelabs.com (Free) With this program, you can see which programs are actually trying to access the internet. Then allow or them or not or to what degree.

Answer 7

trash norton and mcAfee, load FREE virus protection

AVAST or AVG(grisoft) both free and well known in the community
also spywareguard for spyware protection...

scan your system, seems like you may have a virus
contact your provider, they may have some auto-task that needs to call into there system periodically (why i dunno, cause they shouldnt, but never know these days)

last resort; unplug your phone cable when not connected

Answer 8

you either have spyware or a virus
go to majorgeeks.com
for some free antivirus, spyware, and firewall programs
if you email me
I will tell you what I use

Answer 9

Well one night just watch it for yourself