Difference between "localhost" and "mycomputernameIP"

[Guest]

I am new to this and would appreciate an explanation here. Under the column
"local IP address" in my Firewall log, sometimes it shows"localhost" and
other times "mycomputername(xxx.xxx.x.xxx). This computer name is also my
SSID( without the IP address of course)
I realize it means the activity is coming in or out from my PC at home, but
why the different names for local IP address?

Thanks for your help!!

 

[Jim]

I am new to this and would appreciate an explanation here. Under the
column
"local IP address" in my Firewall log, sometimes it shows"localhost" and
other times "mycomputername(xxx.xxx.x.xxx). This computer name is also my
SSID( without the IP address of course)
I realize it means the activity is coming in or out from my PC at home,
but
why the different names for local IP address?

Thanks for your help!!

"localhost" is the address 127.0.1.1. Every computer on the internet has
this address.
"mycomputername (xxx.xxx.x.xxx)" is the name of your computer. Only your
computer has this address.

The only real purpose of 127.0.1.1 is to enable testing of the networking
software without actually being connected to the internet. Hence, one
should never see messages to/from 127.0.1.1,

I would suspect malware of some kind.
Jim

 

[Guest]

Many Windows services send requests to localhost. This is quite normal.

The localhost address is there to allow programs running on the machine to
communicate with each other. If the outside IP were used, then communication
would be lost if that were changed.

If you set your firewall to stop outbound connections to localhost, then
various things may stop working.

 

[Guest]

Thank you for the reply. I assume by malware you mean spyware? I run both MS
antispyware beta version and Lavasoft Adaware. It seems that the Lavasoft app
always finds more than the MS app. The one spyware that keeps coming back is
Huntbar or Hotbot, something like that.
Anyway, so any communication in the firewall log that shows "localhost" may
be due to spyware? I will run my antispyware, then check my log. I was just
curious why it sometimes showed "localhost" and other times my actual PC
name. I am using Norton's 2004 Internet Security and may upgrade to the 2006
version. Again, thanks for your help!

sincerely,
Lexie

 

[Chuck]

Thank you for the reply. I assume by malware you mean spyware? I run both MS
antispyware beta version and Lavasoft Adaware. It seems that the Lavasoft app
always finds more than the MS app. The one spyware that keeps coming back is
Huntbar or Hotbot, something like that.
Anyway, so any communication in the firewall log that shows "localhost" may
be due to spyware? I will run my antispyware, then check my log. I was just
curious why it sometimes showed "localhost" and other times my actual PC
name. I am using Norton's 2004 Internet Security and may upgrade to the 2006
version. Again, thanks for your help!

Lexie,

Adware and spyware is the generic description of the type of malware that you're
describing.

Hotbar is Adware - crap that puts ads on your computer, or changes the ads that
are legitimately displayed.
<http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/pest/pest.aspx?id=453075474>
http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/pest/pest.aspx?id=453075474
Huntbar is a Hijacker - crap that screws with your browser settings, and
controls your browsing by directing you to unwanted web servers.
<http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/pest/pest.aspx?id=453072528>
http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/pest/pest.aspx?id=453072528

You seriously don't want either.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/dealing-with-malware-adware-spyware.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/dealing-with-malware-adware-spyware.html

If that crap keeps coming back (whichever you're seeing), you should improve
your security strategy.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/please-protect-yourself-layer-your.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/please-protect-yourself-layer-your.html

Maybe even go to one of the security expert forums, like DSLR Security, for
help. Just don't keep taking it without doing something.
<http://www.dslreports.com/forum/cleanup>
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/cleanup