Disturbing ... machine name being used ... advice, please.

[Bob]

Running Win98SE (checked for MS updates) ... with Zonealarm
(all programs set to '?' or 'X') and CA EZ-AV (real time protection
enabled). Yesterday, I changed most scripting/ActiveX controls from
'enable' to 'ask' in Internet Explorer.

This morning when I rebooted, Zonealarm blocked several
outgoing attempts to reach DNS servers ...

In the past, blocked outward bound stuff always showed a blank
or my numeric RoadRunner address as the source IP ... now suddenly
many (not all) are using my machine name (XYZA1, as an example ... the
name assigned by Dell when I bought the computer).

I also started receiving inbound traffic (all blocked by ZA)
using the XYZA1 machine name ... mostly pings.

I've since run the folowing (all freshly updated):

TheCleaner (anti-trojan)
CA EZ-AV (anti-virus)
TDS-3 (anti-trojan)
Stinger (anti-virus)
Housecall (anti-virus)
Spybot (spyware, etc)
Ad_Aware (Ad stuff, etc)
Spyware Blaster (1222 items protected).

Nothing found by any of them.

I'm getting one of these inbound probes using the machine name
every few minutes. Is this something to be concerned about?

And how did my machine name get out there?

Thanks for any advice you can give.

 

[David W. Hodgins]

Running Win98SE (checked for MS updates) ... with Zonealarm
(all programs set to '?' or 'X') and CA EZ-AV (real time protection
enabled). Yesterday, I changed most scripting/ActiveX controls from
'enable' to 'ask' in Internet Explorer.

Read up on netbios.

Unless you are intentionally sharing your hd and/or printer, or logging
into a network, where you are accessing remote drives/printers, uninstall
the M$ client for networks.

Go to control panel/network. Remove the client. When you select ok,
the applet will (incorrectly) warn you that your network settings
are incomplete. Ignore that warning, and select continue/ok. Also
gets rid of the annoying login, at boot time.

Regards, Dave Hodgins