Identify programs/applications dialing the internet

[stopem1]

I am running XP pro at home. I am still on dial up. My system seems to dial the internet on its own. I have Norton 2005, Spybot, Adaware, and the new microsoft spyware software. None are finding anything. I have disabled any automatic updates I can find as well as several services in Windows that I don't use. The only way to keep the machine from connecting is to pull the phone line out of the wall or turn the computer off. How do I identify what application is attempting to connect to the internet? It may be some application searching for updates that I want or it may be something I don't want. Any help will be appreciated.

 

[diogenes10]

Run hijackthis and look in the O4 and O16 lines for bad programs and dialer related entries

Tutorial here:

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/index.php?showtutorial=42

-------------------------------------
It's 10 O'Clock ( somewhere! ).
Are your registry and data backed up?

 

[stopem1]

Diogenes10,
Thanks for the info. I've not used this tool before but I will give it a try.

 

[nipester]

I think you might be looking for a utility that can link each open port on your computer to a process thats using it. A utility such as the IP-tools connection monitor can be used to hunt out spyware and trojans etc by a process of elimination:

http://www.ks-soft.net/ip-tools.eng/info.htm

 

[stopem1]

nipester,
Thanks for the advice. I will dig into it and see what happens.

 

[dglienna]

Norton will acces the internet on its own for updates. Other programs probably are doing the same, which is why you aren't getting any hits with the av software.

David

 

[tomed]

Norton should only look for updates when you connect via dial-up.

I'd say you could have some nasty spyware on there. Hijackthis is definitely a good place to start. You might consider running Spysweeper also.

I worked on a machine that was still on dial up and had some very nasty spyware on it. They got their phone bill the next month and the computer (on it's own phone line) had somehow dialed a couple different long distance numbers for 30 minutes at a time and ran up a $90 phone bill. About 3 hours worth of work finally got the machine cleaned up.

 

[stopem1]

Thanks for all the help everybody. I have been out of town and only get to work on the machine sporadically. I will let you know if I find something.