Can I Find Out What's Using My Wireless Connection?

[Mark M Morse]

Hi:

After booting my laptop (Windows XP Home SP2 ACU) and before
launching any applications, I notice that the wireless connection
system tray icon is active sometimes for quite a while. I'm not
using the laptop; I just happen to glance at the system tray from
time to time while working at my desk.

I understand that processes "check in" using the Internet, but I'm
talking about 400 to 900 packets sent at once. These episodes can
last several minutes. Sometimes, I open the Wireless Network
Connection Status dialog box and leave it displayed while I do other
stuff away from the computer. Some days, the packet totals exceed
16000 before I do anything else with the system.

I'm more curious than concerned at this point. Is there a way
(without installing more software) to find out what is accessing the
Internet so much? Perhaps there is a log somewhere that I can
activate and/or examine.

Cheers,

~ Mark

 

[RobertVA]

Hi:

After booting my laptop (Windows XP Home SP2 ACU) and before launching
any applications, I notice that the wireless connection system tray icon
is active sometimes for quite a while. I'm not using the laptop; I just
happen to glance at the system tray from time to time while working at
my desk.

I understand that processes "check in" using the Internet, but I'm
talking about 400 to 900 packets sent at once. These episodes can last
several minutes. Sometimes, I open the Wireless Network Connection
Status dialog box and leave it displayed while I do other stuff away
from the computer. Some days, the packet totals exceed 16000 before I
do anything else with the system.

I'm more curious than concerned at this point. Is there a way (without
installing more software) to find out what is accessing the Internet so
much? Perhaps there is a log somewhere that I can activate and/or examine.

Cheers,

~ Mark

Is it possible your antivirus is checking for new definitions?

 

[Brian A.]

Hi:

After booting my laptop (Windows XP Home SP2 ACU) and before launching any
applications, I notice that the wireless connection system tray icon is active
sometimes for quite a while. I'm not using the laptop; I just happen to glance at
the system tray from time to time while working at my desk.

I understand that processes "check in" using the Internet, but I'm talking about
400 to 900 packets sent at once. These episodes can last several minutes.
Sometimes, I open the Wireless Network Connection Status dialog box and leave it
displayed while I do other stuff away from the computer. Some days, the packet
totals exceed 16000 before I do anything else with the system.

I'm more curious than concerned at this point. Is there a way (without installing
more software) to find out what is accessing the Internet so much? Perhaps there
is a log somewhere that I can activate and/or examine.

Cheers,

~ Mark

Look in the Event Viewer.
Start > Run, type: eventvwr.msc and press Enter.
Look in either Application or System.
Double click an entry on the right pane to see the events details.

--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

 

[Lem]

Hi:

After booting my laptop (Windows XP Home SP2 ACU) and before launching
any applications, I notice that the wireless connection system tray icon
is active sometimes for quite a while. I'm not using the laptop; I just
happen to glance at the system tray from time to time while working at
my desk.

I understand that processes "check in" using the Internet, but I'm
talking about 400 to 900 packets sent at once. These episodes can last
several minutes. Sometimes, I open the Wireless Network Connection
Status dialog box and leave it displayed while I do other stuff away
from the computer. Some days, the packet totals exceed 16000 before I
do anything else with the system.

I'm more curious than concerned at this point. Is there a way (without
installing more software) to find out what is accessing the Internet so
much? Perhaps there is a log somewhere that I can activate and/or examine.

Cheers,

~ Mark

1. Most routers have the capability to log incoming and outgoing
connections. Activate the logs and take a look at what websites are
being accessed.

2. Do some clean-boot troubleshooting, and identify the processes that
are accessing your wifi network:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316434
You can also just take a look in Task Manager and identify which
processes are active at and just after boot. There are various places
that list common tasks, such as
http://www.answersthatwork.com/
http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_index.htm

If the culprit is a service running under svchost.exe, you'll have to
dig a bit deeper:
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/?p=689
http://www.theeldergeek.com/services_guide.htm
http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm

3. And although it's "installing more software," if you install a
decent firewall, applications that need/want to access the Internet have
to ask for permission first.

 

[frodo]

Automatic Updates can do this; do you have that enabled?