Whenever I open the task manager, the Zone Alarm firewall detects taskmgr.exe
trying to access the internet. I did a reverse DNS lookup to determine the
requested destination. It has been everything from Microsoft, to Esset - the
makers of my NOD32 antivirus, and google. Sometimes the IP address is
unresolved.
Does taskmanager have any reason to access the internet? Some have told me
no, and I cannot get an definite answer by searching the internet.

"Stewart" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:F27D7C26-49F2-4A21-B0E3-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Whenever I open the task manager, the Zone Alarm firewall detects
> taskmgr.exe
> trying to access the internet. I did a reverse DNS lookup to determine
> the
> requested destination. It has been everything from Microsoft, to Esset -
> the
> makers of my NOD32 antivirus, and google. Sometimes the IP address is
> unresolved.
> Does taskmanager have any reason to access the internet? Some have told
> me
> no, and I cannot get an definite answer by searching the internet.

Simplest way is next time it requests access, deny it and make the denial
permanent. If nothing stops working, then there is no problem. If
something appears broken, you may have to consider cancelling the denial.

IMHO most programs will attempt to open a port, some under the guise of
"Updating," like WMP v.11, which is majestic at hiding its update file. The
less we permit these automatic updates, and spend some time checking our
programs for updates ourselves, the more secure our systems will be. I'm
tired of MS updates, myself. Only about 40% apply to my system, and the
others are a constant nuisance...they come back like a bad cold...even when
the box is checked to not notify of that update AGAIN. That's just my humble
opinion.
"M.I.5¾" <(E-Mail Removed)_SPAM.co.uk> wrote in message
news:46ca888c$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "Stewart" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:F27D7C26-49F2-4A21-B0E3-(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Whenever I open the task manager, the Zone Alarm firewall detects
>> taskmgr.exe
>> trying to access the internet. I did a reverse DNS lookup to determine
>> the
>> requested destination. It has been everything from Microsoft, to Esset -
>> the
>> makers of my NOD32 antivirus, and google. Sometimes the IP address is
>> unresolved.
>> Does taskmanager have any reason to access the internet? Some have told
>> me
>> no, and I cannot get an definite answer by searching the internet.
>
> Simplest way is next time it requests access, deny it and make the denial
> permanent. If nothing stops working, then there is no problem. If
> something appears broken, you may have to consider cancelling the denial.
>

I'm curious... What MS updates don't apply to your system?

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
www.grystmill.com

"Laughingstar~*" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:esfO$(E-Mail Removed)...
> IMHO most programs will attempt to open a port, some under the guise of
> "Updating," like WMP v.11, which is majestic at hiding its update file.
> The less we permit these automatic updates, and spend some time checking
> our programs for updates ourselves, the more secure our systems will be.
> I'm tired of MS updates, myself. Only about 40% apply to my system, and
> the others are a constant nuisance...they come back like a bad cold...even
> when the box is checked to not notify of that update AGAIN. That's just my
> humble opinion.
> "M.I.5¾" <(E-Mail Removed)_SPAM.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:46ca888c$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>
>> "Stewart" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:F27D7C26-49F2-4A21-B0E3-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> Whenever I open the task manager, the Zone Alarm firewall detects
>>> taskmgr.exe
>>> trying to access the internet. I did a reverse DNS lookup to determine
>>> the
>>> requested destination. It has been everything from Microsoft, to
>>> Esset - the
>>> makers of my NOD32 antivirus, and google. Sometimes the IP address is
>>> unresolved.
>>> Does taskmanager have any reason to access the internet? Some have told
>>> me
>>> no, and I cannot get an definite answer by searching the internet.
>>
>> Simplest way is next time it requests access, deny it and make the denial
>> permanent. If nothing stops working, then there is no problem. If
>> something appears broken, you may have to consider cancelling the denial.
>>
>
>

Outlook 2003, and some others from MS Office I did not download. I asked MS
about this, and was told by the support techs, and those in CA, it was safe
to not download any update for a program not on your system.
"Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> I'm curious... What MS updates don't apply to your system?
>
> --
> Gary S. Terhune
> MS-MVP Shell/User
> www.grystmill.com
>
> "Laughingstar~*" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:esfO$(E-Mail Removed)...
>> IMHO most programs will attempt to open a port, some under the guise of
>> "Updating," like WMP v.11, which is majestic at hiding its update file.
>> The less we permit these automatic updates, and spend some time checking
>> our programs for updates ourselves, the more secure our systems will be.
>> I'm tired of MS updates, myself. Only about 40% apply to my system, and
>> the others are a constant nuisance...they come back like a bad
>> cold...even when the box is checked to not notify of that update AGAIN.
>> That's just my humble opinion.
>> "M.I.5¾" <(E-Mail Removed)_SPAM.co.uk> wrote in message
>> news:46ca888c$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>
>>> "Stewart" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>> news:F27D7C26-49F2-4A21-B0E3-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>> Whenever I open the task manager, the Zone Alarm firewall detects
>>>> taskmgr.exe
>>>> trying to access the internet. I did a reverse DNS lookup to determine
>>>> the
>>>> requested destination. It has been everything from Microsoft, to
>>>> Esset - the
>>>> makers of my NOD32 antivirus, and google. Sometimes the IP address is
>>>> unresolved.
>>>> Does taskmanager have any reason to access the internet? Some have
>>>> told me
>>>> no, and I cannot get an definite answer by searching the internet.
>>>
>>> Simplest way is next time it requests access, deny it and make the
>>> denial permanent. If nothing stops working, then there is no problem.
>>> If something appears broken, you may have to consider cancelling the
>>> denial.
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

In my humble opinion updates to operating system files and components
are done by the Windows Update services. Individual files or components
don't usually "go out" on their own to be updated. If the Task Manager
needs to be updated for some reason or other, it would be pushed in a
Windows Update, Task Manager should not be going out on its own will or
pleasure looking for updates for itself. While there are certain
programs (like WMP or IE) that can and do go out on their own looking
for updates, you are heading down a slippery slope if you blindly allow
everything and anything to start going out for updates on their own,
this can only lead to complete confusion and a total security nightmare.

John

Laughingstar~* wrote:

> IMHO most programs will attempt to open a port, some under the guise of
> "Updating," like WMP v.11, which is majestic at hiding its update file. The
> less we permit these automatic updates, and spend some time checking our
> programs for updates ourselves, the more secure our systems will be. I'm
> tired of MS updates, myself. Only about 40% apply to my system, and the
> others are a constant nuisance...they come back like a bad cold...even when
> the box is checked to not notify of that update AGAIN. That's just my humble
> opinion.
> "M.I.5¾" <(E-Mail Removed)_SPAM.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:46ca888c$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
>>"Stewart" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>news:F27D7C26-49F2-4A21-B0E3-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>
>>>Whenever I open the task manager, the Zone Alarm firewall detects
>>>taskmgr.exe
>>>trying to access the internet. I did a reverse DNS lookup to determine
>>>the
>>>requested destination. It has been everything from Microsoft, to Esset -
>>>the
>>>makers of my NOD32 antivirus, and google. Sometimes the IP address is
>>>unresolved.
>>>Does taskmanager have any reason to access the internet? Some have told
>>>me
>>>no, and I cannot get an definite answer by searching the internet.
>>
>>Simplest way is next time it requests access, deny it and make the denial
>>permanent. If nothing stops working, then there is no problem. If
>>something appears broken, you may have to consider cancelling the denial.
>>
>
>
>

Laughingstar~* wrote:
> IMHO most programs will attempt to open a port, some under the guise
> of "Updating," like WMP v.11, which is majestic at hiding its update
> file. The less we permit these automatic updates, and spend some time
> checking our programs for updates ourselves, the more secure our
> systems will be. I'm tired of MS updates, myself. Only about 40%
> apply to my system, and the others are a constant nuisance...they
> come back like a bad cold...even when the box is checked to not
> notify of that update AGAIN. That's just my humble opinion.

"More secure our systems will be"? For you, maybe.

For millions and millions, no.

Further, the more secure the great unwashed are, the safer you and I will
be.

I said, "LABEL surface". Not well worded, as I meant the label *side*
surface of the disk itself, as opposed to the surface opposite the label
side, which is where most people think the data is written.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
www.grystmill.com

"Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> I'm curious... What MS updates don't apply to your system?
>
> --
> Gary S. Terhune
> MS-MVP Shell/User
> www.grystmill.com
>
> "Laughingstar~*" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:esfO$(E-Mail Removed)...
>> IMHO most programs will attempt to open a port, some under the guise of
>> "Updating," like WMP v.11, which is majestic at hiding its update file.
>> The less we permit these automatic updates, and spend some time checking
>> our programs for updates ourselves, the more secure our systems will be.
>> I'm tired of MS updates, myself. Only about 40% apply to my system, and
>> the others are a constant nuisance...they come back like a bad
>> cold...even when the box is checked to not notify of that update AGAIN.
>> That's just my humble opinion.
>> "M.I.5¾" <(E-Mail Removed)_SPAM.co.uk> wrote in message
>> news:46ca888c$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>
>>> "Stewart" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>> news:F27D7C26-49F2-4A21-B0E3-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>> Whenever I open the task manager, the Zone Alarm firewall detects
>>>> taskmgr.exe
>>>> trying to access the internet. I did a reverse DNS lookup to determine
>>>> the
>>>> requested destination. It has been everything from Microsoft, to
>>>> Esset - the
>>>> makers of my NOD32 antivirus, and google. Sometimes the IP address is
>>>> unresolved.
>>>> Does taskmanager have any reason to access the internet? Some have
>>>> told me
>>>> no, and I cannot get an definite answer by searching the internet.
>>>
>>> Simplest way is next time it requests access, deny it and make the
>>> denial permanent. If nothing stops working, then there is no problem.
>>> If something appears broken, you may have to consider cancelling the
>>> denial.
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

LOL! Of course you don't need updates for applications that you don't have
installed, and, AFAIK, Windows Updates, automatic or manual, will not be
offered for apps you don't have installed.

Though I'm not sure that's the case for Outlook, but maybe. God I hate that
app. As for the rest of the apps... You are using Microsoft Updates to get
your Updates, or are you going to the Office site and downloading them
manually?

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
www.grystmill.com

"Laughingstar~*" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:e4lsK7%(E-Mail Removed)...
> Outlook 2003, and some others from MS Office I did not download. I asked
> MS about this, and was told by the support techs, and those in CA, it was
> safe to not download any update for a program not on your system.
> "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> I'm curious... What MS updates don't apply to your system?
>>
>> --
>> Gary S. Terhune
>> MS-MVP Shell/User
>> www.grystmill.com
>>
>> "Laughingstar~*" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:esfO$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> IMHO most programs will attempt to open a port, some under the guise of
>>> "Updating," like WMP v.11, which is majestic at hiding its update file.
>>> The less we permit these automatic updates, and spend some time checking
>>> our programs for updates ourselves, the more secure our systems will be.
>>> I'm tired of MS updates, myself. Only about 40% apply to my system, and
>>> the others are a constant nuisance...they come back like a bad
>>> cold...even when the box is checked to not notify of that update AGAIN.
>>> That's just my humble opinion.
>>> "M.I.5¾" <(E-Mail Removed)_SPAM.co.uk> wrote in message
>>> news:46ca888c$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>>
>>>> "Stewart" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>>> news:F27D7C26-49F2-4A21-B0E3-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>>> Whenever I open the task manager, the Zone Alarm firewall detects
>>>>> taskmgr.exe
>>>>> trying to access the internet. I did a reverse DNS lookup to
>>>>> determine the
>>>>> requested destination. It has been everything from Microsoft, to
>>>>> Esset - the
>>>>> makers of my NOD32 antivirus, and google. Sometimes the IP address is
>>>>> unresolved.
>>>>> Does taskmanager have any reason to access the internet? Some have
>>>>> told me
>>>>> no, and I cannot get an definite answer by searching the internet.
>>>>
>>>> Simplest way is next time it requests access, deny it and make the
>>>> denial permanent. If nothing stops working, then there is no problem.
>>>> If something appears broken, you may have to consider cancelling the
>>>> denial.
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

From my own experiments, using ZA to monitor, Task Manager does not access
the internet. I first used MSCONFIG to disable all non-Microsoft services
and all items in the Startup tab except ZA and rebooted. I opened the ZA log
viewer, cleared it, then pressed Ctrl-Alt-Del. I saw no attempt by
taskmgr.exe, and only traffic that could be attributed to ZA itself, or
normal network traffic between my machine and the router. Can't say what's
causing your results, but my machine is WinXP Pro, fully updated, with
Automatic Updates enabled.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
www.grystmill.com

"Stewart" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:F27D7C26-49F2-4A21-B0E3-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Whenever I open the task manager, the Zone Alarm firewall detects
> taskmgr.exe
> trying to access the internet. I did a reverse DNS lookup to determine
> the
> requested destination. It has been everything from Microsoft, to Esset -
> the
> makers of my NOD32 antivirus, and google. Sometimes the IP address is
> unresolved.
> Does taskmanager have any reason to access the internet? Some have told
> me
> no, and I cannot get an definite answer by searching the internet.
>