Connection icon?

[Kenny]

Since re-install of XP/SP3 my connection icon didn't show in my System Tray.
Was able to bring it back easily enough by putting the tick in "show
icon...." in the connection properties of:
"WAN-1 on 3Com ADSL 11g".
I have 2 other PC's wirelessly connected but both were powered off.
Noticing there appeared to be traffic although IE, Firefox, OE etc. were
closed I tried disconnecting using the tray icon.
It disconnected but immediately reconnected itself!
Only way to disconnect was to pull the ethernet plug or switch the
modem/router off.
Is this a normal feature of "always on" broadband?
I keeep my system as clean as possible regularly using up to date AV and
more than one anti spyware, also both hardware and software firewalls.
I use a static IP from my ISP, Madasafish, and it seems more risky if my
internet connection is always open even when I'm not using it.
Am I being too worried over nothing?
Replies appreciated.

 

[Smirnoff]

Since re-install of XP/SP3 my connection icon didn't show in my System
Tray.
Was able to bring it back easily enough by putting the tick in "show
icon...." in the connection properties of:
"WAN-1 on 3Com ADSL 11g".
I have 2 other PC's wirelessly connected but both were powered off.
Noticing there appeared to be traffic although IE, Firefox, OE etc.
were closed I tried disconnecting using the tray icon.
It disconnected but immediately reconnected itself!
Only way to disconnect was to pull the ethernet plug or switch the
modem/router off.
Is this a normal feature of "always on" broadband?
I keeep my system as clean as possible regularly using up to date AV
and more than one anti spyware, also both hardware and software
firewalls.
I use a static IP from my ISP, Madasafish, and it seems more risky if
my internet connection is always open even when I'm not using it.
Am I being too worried over nothing?
Replies appreciated.

Are you saying that your main computer is connected via ethernet cable
and you have two other PCs connecting via wireless?

If so, it would appear that a dial up connection is active.

If you are using IE, try Tools>Internet Options>Connections and select
"Never dial a connection". Apply>OK.

 

[Smirnoff]

Are you saying that your main computer is connected via ethernet cable
and you have two other PCs connecting via wireless?

If so, it would appear that a dial up connection is active.

If you are using IE, try Tools>Internet Options>Connections and select
"Never dial a connection". Apply>OK.

Meant to say initially that "Yes", this IS a feature of "always on"
broadband. That's the whole idea.

If you do not have a "rogue" dial up connection and you want to
disconnect, go to Start>settings>network connections and right-click the
relevant active connection>disable.

 

[Kenny]

Thanks for the reply.
Yes, main PC hard wired, 2 others wireless but normally powered off.
Dial up options are greyed out in IE Tools/Options/Connections.
Since XP re-install I am back on IE6 but didn't bother since I mostly use
Firefox which auto updates.
Should I keep clear of IE8 until the bugs are worked out?
It does slightly worry me that even when I thought I was disconnected from
the internet I wasn't and there was some, albeit slow, traffic.

 

[Kenny]

Could have kicked myself when I saw your second reply, it's still early and
I'm not right wakened.
Have now put a shortcut to the connection on the Desktop and can easily
disconnect from there.
Also is it likely that the traffic I see is AVG & ZoneAlarm autochecking for
updates?

 

[Smirnoff]

There is always some activity, router checking connectivity etc. Don't
worry about it if it is minimal.

Re IE8. I have it up and running with zero problems.

Make sure that all anti-malware (including anti-virus programme) and any
third-party firewall are disabled before you install it.

Reported slowness can occur if you are running Spybot S&D with
immunisation activated. After installation of IE8, "Undo" Spybot
immunisation. At the moment, with IE8 having inbuilt protection against
dodgy websites, loading Spybot's massive database is a bit too much.

Try running Spywareblaster instead.

 

[Smirnoff]

Exactly.

However. make sure that your system is fully protected and all
anti-nasty programmes are fully updated and run regularly.

 

[Kenny]

Thanks again.
Remarks noted re: Spybot & SpywareBlaster, I use both as well as
MalwareBytes Anti Malware and SuperAntiSpyware.
Reason I was using so many is that from experience one may find something
the others don't.
Maybe I'm being overly cautious if there is such a thing as regards
security.
Will give IE8 a try, if I don't like it I can stick to Firefox anyway.

 

[Kenny]

Spoke too soon, it's still reconnecting after I disconnect.
I'm back to pulling the ethernet plug or powering off the router to
disconnect.
HELP!

 

[Mike Torello]

Spoke too soon, it's still reconnecting after I disconnect.
I'm back to pulling the ethernet plug or powering off the router to
disconnect.
HELP!

Stop all the sweating and fretting fer crissakes.

"Always on" means exactly that.

Keep your firewall working, and your A/V software updated.