LAN attempts to connect on startup

[Guest]

My computer recently started attempting to connect to the LAN on startup. I
dont have any network set up. I get an icon in tray that gives me a warning
after the connection fails. This started happening about the same time the
settings in Outlook Express changed so that it disconnected after retrieving
messages. I knew how to fix the latter, but not the former. How do I stop
the computer from attempting to connect to the LAN on startup?

 

[Malke]

My computer recently started attempting to connect to the LAN on
startup. I
dont have any network set up. I get an icon in tray that gives me a
warning
after the connection fails. This started happening about the same
time the settings in Outlook Express changed so that it disconnected
after retrieving
messages. I knew how to fix the latter, but not the former. How do I
stop the computer from attempting to connect to the LAN on startup?

Does the computer have Internet access? Dialup? Something starting with
Windows is trying to access the Internet. It could be a legitimate
program or it could be malware. See what is starting by going to
Start>Run and typing (without quotes) "msconfig" [enter]. Look on the
Startup tab. Here are links to help you identify what you see:

http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_index.htm
http://www.blackviper.com/
http://www.liutilities.com/products/wintaskspro/processlibrary/

Here are normal malware removal steps:

1) Scan in Safe Mode with current version (not earlier than 2003)
antivirus using updated definitions.

2) Remove spyware with Spybot Search & Destroy and Ad-aware. These
programs are free, so use them both since they complement each other.
There is a new version of CWShredder from Intermute. I would not
install the other Intermute programs, however. Alternately, there are
CoolWebSearch malware removal steps at SilentRunners.

Be sure to update these programs before running, and it is a good idea
to do virus/spyware scans in Safe Mode. Make sure you are able to see
all hidden files and extensions (View tab in Folder Options).

HijackThis is an excellent tool to discover and disable hijackers, but
it requires expert skill. See below for HijackThis links. A combination
of HijackThis and About:Buster works well in removing the About:Blank
homepage hijacker. Again, this is an expert tool and novices should get
help with it.

3) If you are running Windows ME or XP, you should disable/enable System
Restore because malware will be in the Restore Points. With ME, you
must disable System Restore completely. With XP, you can delete all but
the most recent (presumably clean) System Restore point from the More
Options section of Disk Cleanup (Run>cleanmgr).

4) Make sure you've visited Windows Update and applied all security
patches. Do not install driver updates from Windows Update.

5) Run a firewall.

Links to help with malware:

Software/Methods:
http://www.safer-networking.org - Spybot Search & Destroy
http://www.lavasoftusa.com - Ad-aware
http://www.majorgeeks.com - good download site
http://www.intermute.com/spysubtract/cwshredder_download.html
http://www.silentrunners.org/sr_cwsremoval.html. - SilentRunners

HijackThis:
http://www.aumha.org/a/hjttutor.htm - HijackThis tutorial by Jim
Eshelman
http://spywarewarrior.com/viewforum.php?f=5 - Spyware Warrior HijackThis
forum
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/
http://forums.tomcoyote.org/
http://www.spywareinfo.com/forums/

General:
http://forum.aumha.org/ - look under "Security" for various forums
http://rgharper.mvps.org/cleanit.htm
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://www.aumha.org/a/parasite.htm - The Parasite Fight
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm

Malke

 

[Eric Niewoehner]

Try disabling the adapter!

As radical as this may seem, there are so many programs that activate
LAN access that it is virtually without end. Malke's advise is a good
start in that you can at least double-check what is running on your
computer at start up. But I monitor network traffic on my home network
and it is interesting to note what is queried over the network without
any activity:

1) Windows Update
2) Windows Media Player junk
3) Previously mapped network drives on your network -- note -- you may
need to open Explorer and disconnect the mapped drive. Even so, I have
discovered that these previously accessed folders are cached in the
registry and rescanned during every initilialization of the PC (this has
been the case since Windows 9x).
4) To the unsuspecting, Windows Messenger (kill the beast)
5) To the chatty -- AOL AIM

Psicheaux wrote:

My computer recently started attempting to connect to the LAN on
startup. I
dont have any network set up. I get an icon in tray that gives me a
warning
after the connection fails. This started happening about the same
time the settings in Outlook Express changed so that it disconnected
after retrieving
messages. I knew how to fix the latter, but not the former. How do I
stop the computer from attempting to connect to the LAN on startup?

Does the computer have Internet access? Dialup? Something starting with
Windows is trying to access the Internet. It could be a legitimate
program or it could be malware. See what is starting by going to
Start>Run and typing (without quotes) "msconfig" [enter]. Look on the
Startup tab. Here are links to help you identify what you see:

http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_index.htm
http://www.blackviper.com/
http://www.liutilities.com/products/wintaskspro/processlibrary/

Here are normal malware removal steps:

1) Scan in Safe Mode with current version (not earlier than 2003)
antivirus using updated definitions.

2) Remove spyware with Spybot Search & Destroy and Ad-aware. These
programs are free, so use them both since they complement each other.
There is a new version of CWShredder from Intermute. I would not
install the other Intermute programs, however. Alternately, there are
CoolWebSearch malware removal steps at SilentRunners.

Be sure to update these programs before running, and it is a good idea
to do virus/spyware scans in Safe Mode. Make sure you are able to see
all hidden files and extensions (View tab in Folder Options).

HijackThis is an excellent tool to discover and disable hijackers, but
it requires expert skill. See below for HijackThis links. A combination
of HijackThis and About:Buster works well in removing the About:Blank
homepage hijacker. Again, this is an expert tool and novices should get
help with it.

3) If you are running Windows ME or XP, you should disable/enable System
Restore because malware will be in the Restore Points. With ME, you
must disable System Restore completely. With XP, you can delete all but
the most recent (presumably clean) System Restore point from the More
Options section of Disk Cleanup (Run>cleanmgr).

4) Make sure you've visited Windows Update and applied all security
patches. Do not install driver updates from Windows Update.

5) Run a firewall.

Links to help with malware:

Software/Methods:
http://www.safer-networking.org - Spybot Search & Destroy
http://www.lavasoftusa.com - Ad-aware
http://www.majorgeeks.com - good download site
http://www.intermute.com/spysubtract/cwshredder_download.html
http://www.silentrunners.org/sr_cwsremoval.html. - SilentRunners

HijackThis:
http://www.aumha.org/a/hjttutor.htm - HijackThis tutorial by Jim
Eshelman
http://spywarewarrior.com/viewforum.php?f=5 - Spyware Warrior HijackThis
forum
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/
http://forums.tomcoyote.org/
http://www.spywareinfo.com/forums/

General:
http://forum.aumha.org/ - look under "Security" for various forums
http://rgharper.mvps.org/cleanit.htm
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://www.aumha.org/a/parasite.htm - The Parasite Fight
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm

Malke

 

[Guest]

Thank You for taking the time to answer.
Actually a friends computer.
DSL.
I use Adaware & Spybot as well as AVG-personal.
His computer is completely unprotected(OEM McAffee-no updates)
I will bring installation files with me on thumb drive, copy to desktop and
open from safe mode.

On the error message occurring, he hit the warning that said "limited or no
connectivity" this, I assume disabled the adapter. I used restore to reenable
internet access. The problem does not disable the computer, but is
frustrating. If I disable the adapter, how do I disallow the problem, but
keep access?

Try disabling the adapter!

As radical as this may seem, there are so many programs that activate
LAN access that it is virtually without end. Malke's advise is a good
start in that you can at least double-check what is running on your
computer at start up. But I monitor network traffic on my home network
and it is interesting to note what is queried over the network without
any activity:

1) Windows Update
2) Windows Media Player junk
3) Previously mapped network drives on your network -- note -- you may
need to open Explorer and disconnect the mapped drive. Even so, I have
discovered that these previously accessed folders are cached in the
registry and rescanned during every initilialization of the PC (this has
been the case since Windows 9x).
4) To the unsuspecting, Windows Messenger (kill the beast)
5) To the chatty -- AOL AIM

Psicheaux wrote:

My computer recently started attempting to connect to the LAN on
startup. I
dont have any network set up. I get an icon in tray that gives me a
warning
after the connection fails. This started happening about the same
time the settings in Outlook Express changed so that it disconnected
after retrieving
messages. I knew how to fix the latter, but not the former. How do I
stop the computer from attempting to connect to the LAN on startup?

Does the computer have Internet access? Dialup? Something starting with
Windows is trying to access the Internet. It could be a legitimate
program or it could be malware. See what is starting by going to
Start>Run and typing (without quotes) "msconfig" [enter]. Look on the
Startup tab. Here are links to help you identify what you see:

http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_index.htm
http://www.blackviper.com/
http://www.liutilities.com/products/wintaskspro/processlibrary/

Here are normal malware removal steps:

1) Scan in Safe Mode with current version (not earlier than 2003)
antivirus using updated definitions.

2) Remove spyware with Spybot Search & Destroy and Ad-aware. These
programs are free, so use them both since they complement each other.
There is a new version of CWShredder from Intermute. I would not
install the other Intermute programs, however. Alternately, there are
CoolWebSearch malware removal steps at SilentRunners.

Be sure to update these programs before running, and it is a good idea
to do virus/spyware scans in Safe Mode. Make sure you are able to see
all hidden files and extensions (View tab in Folder Options).

HijackThis is an excellent tool to discover and disable hijackers, but
it requires expert skill. See below for HijackThis links. A combination
of HijackThis and About:Buster works well in removing the About:Blank
homepage hijacker. Again, this is an expert tool and novices should get
help with it.

3) If you are running Windows ME or XP, you should disable/enable System
Restore because malware will be in the Restore Points. With ME, you
must disable System Restore completely. With XP, you can delete all but
the most recent (presumably clean) System Restore point from the More
Options section of Disk Cleanup (Run>cleanmgr).

4) Make sure you've visited Windows Update and applied all security
patches. Do not install driver updates from Windows Update.

5) Run a firewall.

Links to help with malware:

Software/Methods:
http://www.safer-networking.org - Spybot Search & Destroy
http://www.lavasoftusa.com - Ad-aware
http://www.majorgeeks.com - good download site
http://www.intermute.com/spysubtract/cwshredder_download.html
http://www.silentrunners.org/sr_cwsremoval.html. - SilentRunners

HijackThis:
http://www.aumha.org/a/hjttutor.htm - HijackThis tutorial by Jim
Eshelman
http://spywarewarrior.com/viewforum.php?f=5 - Spyware Warrior HijackThis
forum
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/
http://forums.tomcoyote.org/
http://www.spywareinfo.com/forums/

General:
http://forum.aumha.org/ - look under "Security" for various forums
http://rgharper.mvps.org/cleanit.htm
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://www.aumha.org/a/parasite.htm - The Parasite Fight
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm

Malke

 

[Malke]

Thank You for taking the time to answer.
Actually a friends computer.
DSL.
I use Adaware & Spybot as well as AVG-personal.
His computer is completely unprotected(OEM McAffee-no updates)
I will bring installation files with me on thumb drive, copy to
desktop and open from safe mode.

On the error message occurring, he hit the warning that said "limited
or no connectivity" this, I assume disabled the adapter. I used
restore to reenable
internet access. The problem does not disable the computer, but is
frustrating. If I disable the adapter, how do I disallow the problem,
but keep access?

You're a good friend. Since you know your friend's computer is
completely unprotected, start with all the malware removal steps first.
If he has no antivirus at all installed, bring over TrendMicro's
Sysclean and scan with it in Safe Mode before trying to install a
full-featured av. If he is already infected, there is a high
probability that you won't be able to install an av program.

TrendMicro's Sysclean is an extensive antivirus tool which has the
advantage of not needing to be installed. It requires two parts - the
scanning engine and the virus pattern files.

1. Create a new folder on your Desktop or the C: drive named something
useful like "Sysclean".
2. Go here and download the two parts of the program to that folder:

http://www.trendmicro.com/download/dcs.asp - Sysclean
http://www.trendmicro.com/download/pattern.asp - virus pattern files

The pattern files will be zipped - extract them with your unzipper (like
WinZip) or if you have XP, you can just open the folder. You need to
put the extracted files in the Sysclean folder you made.

3. Restart your computer in Safe Mode. Get into Safe Mode by repeatedly
tapping the F8 key as the computer is starting up to get to the proper
menu.
4. Go to the Sysclean folder you made and double-click on sysclean.com.
Start the scan. After the scan is finished, look at the log. You may
need to make a note of where any viruses were found if they were not
able to be removed so you can manually delete them.

After you get his computer completely clean, then try the networking.

Malke