Help is needed really confused

[Guest_imported]

About 2 days ago my internet connection started dialing and connecting itself.I fear its a virus but nortons , f-prot did not detect a virus.The internet connection just coonects but doesnt seem to go anywhere.what coukld this be? thanks
zen

 

[2ffat]

It could be a virus, or it could be "spyware", or software looking for updates. There are several possiblities.

Spyware is any software that tracks your comings and goings on the internet. The are sometimes connected to "freeware" software like Go!Zilla. Occasionally they will need to report back to their sites and if you are not connected some of them will try to make the connection. See

http://www.lavasoftusa.com

for removal software and more info.

Other programs will sometimes try to get to their sites to check for updates. You may have to track back which program is doing this and reconfigure it. It may be possible that the software is thinking you have a permanent connections like DSL instead of a dial-up connection. James P. Cottingham

I am the Unknown lead by the Unknowing.
I have done so much with so little
for so long that I am now qualified
to do anything with nothing.

 

[paulwood]

Whilst the problem may well be spyware or malware, it may also be a problem with the DNS settings in that the computer is trying to find a DNS server, can't find one internally, so goes out onto the Internet to find it.

Just to be safe however, I suggest you go to

http://www.moosoft.com/index.php

and download their trojan cleaner demo to make sure you don't have a trojan before you try anything else.

 

[DaveStL]

in2zen, you need to go to

http://www.zonelabs.com/

and download their free firewall "ZoneAlarm." This can be configured to allow only certain applications to send data via the Internet. If an "unapproved" application tries to send data, you will receive a pop-up dialog box where you can either approve or disapprove such a transmission.

If you are already connected to the Internet (your dial-up connection is already established, or you have DSL, where you are always connected), it will still ask for confirmation. It's surprising how many times I receive this pop-up dialog box when I'm surfing. Without ZoneAlarm (or one of the many other similar apps), I probably would not even be aware that data was being transmitted.

 

[ChrisHirst]

'Spyware' is the most likely culprit. I like the way 2ffat said somtimes connected with freeware, I think most freeware 'toys' have something attached. The main ones I can think of now are: Gator, Bonzi buddy, Any of these 'We pay you for surfing sites'(yeah right), And all of the Peer to Peer file stealing sharing programs. Any of these sound like something you may have used or downloaded a couple of days ago. Depends on your OS how you go about getting shut of this problem.

Chris.