BT Modem protection Software

  • Thread starter Thread starter species8350
  • Start date Start date
S

species8350

I have recently installed the BT Modem Software.

After a little while, I got a message relating to an unathorised
connection, so I disconnected.

I was very suprised to get this message. I have a timer on my machine
which tells me how long I have been connected to my ISP. This timer was
active all the time. I don't see how my machine could have been calling
another number, becuase I was connected to my ISP number. Surely for my
machine to connect to another number it must first disconnect my
existing number.

Can anyone explain this?

Thanks
 
Forgot to mention.

After the incident, I ran anti-virus software, ad-aware, and spybot. No
problems were found.

I later left the machine running while disconnected from the phone line
(couple of hours). No BTModem messages were seen.

It doesn't look like my machine has an unathorised dialed installed..

If I am wrong, where could the dialer be hiding.

If a message about unathorised dialing is seen, can it be checked, and
if necessary stopped (the connection that is)
 
|I have recently installed the BT Modem Software.
|
| After a little while, I got a message relating to an unathorised
| connection, so I disconnected.
|
| I was very suprised to get this message. I have a timer on my machine
| which tells me how long I have been connected to my ISP. This timer was
| active all the time. I don't see how my machine could have been calling
| another number, becuase I was connected to my ISP number. Surely for my
| machine to connect to another number it must first disconnect my
| existing number.
|
| Can anyone explain this?
|
| Thanks
|
Hello,

I think it might be a false trigger then. Have BT ever stated that people
will not be responsible for premium rates if they can prove the software was
running ?
I would image they stick a disclaimer on stating that they are not
responsible!
The only people I know that have ever been infected with diallers are those
that have actually installed them! Most from going to porno or
music/film/software sites and then following instructions to "click here" to
allow full access. A lot think that in exchange for a click and
installation of software they will have access to everything - which they
will at a price!
Not many diallers go via email as nearly everyone runs a virus killer and
why would they be saving or running attachments from people they don't know
?
Most people that use the Internet as it should be used have nothing to fear.
It's people clicking on naughty sites and acting on SPAM that will find they
are infected.

By the sound of it, you are fairly sensible so have nothing to be worried
about. I would ditch BT's software and install a firewall and virus killer,
then set your mail program not to open attachments. Then learn how all the
scams work. The thing to remember is - if it looks too good to be true then
it probably is.
 
Thanks for the advice.

I got so many odd numbers arriving that i decided to delete the
software.

I decided to install a monitor just to be on the safe side.

I have now installed antidialler and am testing it.

There were no installation instructions with the zip file (antidialer),
so I just dropped them into the windows system directory. I presume the
way to uninstall such files is simply to delete them. Windows
add/remove programmes knows nothing about the programme.

I have a good free firewall, and ad-aware and spybot.

Ps. I think it is a good idea for modem users to monitor their
connections, any premium rate dialers can break the bank.

Was I right in assuming that the original ISP connection must be broken
before a rogue dialer can connect (must be so)

Best wishes

A
 
Thanks for the advice.

I got so many odd numbers arriving that i decided to delete the
software.

I decided to install a monitor just to be on the safe side.

I have now installed antidialler and am testing it.

There were no installation instructions with the zip file (antidialer),
so I just dropped them into the windows system directory. I presume the
way to uninstall such files is simply to delete them. Windows
add/remove programmes knows nothing about the programme.

I have a good free firewall, and ad-aware and spybot.

Ps. I think it is a good idea for modem users to monitor their
connections, any premium rate dialers can break the bank.

Was I right in assuming that the original ISP connection must be broken
before a rogue dialer can connect (must be so)
Click to expand...
Yes. That would be correct. You may not hear the modem dial out though
as the rogue software would, most likely, silence the modem.
 
Am I correct in assuming that rogue dialers work by installing a
connection in the Dial-up Networking folder (obvious and visible to
those who check).. This appears to be the folder monitored by Dialer
Watcher.

As a matter of interest could a connection be installed in another
folder?

Thanks

A
 
species8350 said:
Am I correct in assuming that rogue dialers work by installing a
connection in the Dial-up Networking folder (obvious and visible to
those who check).. This appears to be the folder monitored by Dialer
Watcher.

As a matter of interest could a connection be installed in another
folder?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Some of them will just change your normal dial-up number,
others will take direct control of your modem.

There's an article about diallers here:-

http://www.av-test.org/down/papers/2002-12_vb_dialer.pdf

"The next reaction of the dialer developers was to avoid
using the controlled Windows built-in dial-up networking
and communicate directly with the modem instead, using
Hayes-compatible 'AT' commands or ISDN using CAPI
(Common ISDN Application Programming Interface) or
TAPI (Telephony Application Programming Interface).
In addition, some dialers try to access the serial interface
(e.g. COM3) directly, in order to bypass any dialer protection
programs. The warner applications were updated
accordingly.
A lot of dialers try to kill warner applications in memory
automatically, without further notice. Some also delete
installation files, or their activation 'Run' key in Registry,
so the warner program is unable to start. Another method
we've seen is to add the dialer application or telephone
number to the white-list simply by changing the warner's
configuration file. (Should we call them 'retro dialers', just
like 'retro viruses'?)"
 
Back
Top