phone modem has a mind of its own.

[jinxy]

Hello, a friend of mine asked me if someone in this group might know
the answer to a problem he is having. The problem is that, when his pc
is ON and idle, and NOT online, he claims that it will randomly dial
up and connect to the net, it seems to always be at different times
during the day. What is telling the modem to dial-up and connect? He
buys 75 hours of net time for $15.00 but with the random dial-ups , he
can come home to find that 14 hours have gone by. If this happens 4
or 5 times in a month, then there goes his 75 hrs. Currently he is
having to unplug the phone line when he goes out, or shut the pc down.
Is it possible it could be viral?
He is running XP home with sp2. Thanks in advance for any inputs you
may have.
-J

 

[BigJim]

real simple, disconnect the phone jack when not in use.

 

[Marcel Overweel]

Hello, a friend of mine asked me if someone in this group might know
the answer to a problem he is having. The problem is that, when his pc
is ON and idle, and NOT online, he claims that it will randomly dial
up and connect to the net, it seems to always be at different times
during the day. What is telling the modem to dial-up and connect? He
buys 75 hours of net time for $15.00 but with the random dial-ups , he
can come home to find that 14 hours have gone by. If this happens 4
or 5 times in a month, then there goes his 75 hrs. Currently he is
having to unplug the phone line when he goes out, or shut the pc down.
Is it possible it could be viral?
He is running XP home with sp2. Thanks in advance for any inputs you
may have.
-J

Probably just some background program(s) trying to get on-line to
check for updates, like a mouse driver or acrobat reader or such.

There is a connection setting somewhere in internet explorer where
you can choose what should happen if a program tries to get on-line
(internet explorer / properties, tab page 'connection')

(a) never connect
(b) only connect if here is no other connection
(c) always connect to <something>

Make sure it's set to never connect.
(having windows 2000 here and translated from dutch so texts could
be a bit different for you).

Hope this helps.


regards,
Marcel

 

[Frank McCoy]

Hello, a friend of mine asked me if someone in this group might know
the answer to a problem he is having. The problem is that, when his pc
is ON and idle, and NOT online, he claims that it will randomly dial
up and connect to the net, it seems to always be at different times
during the day. What is telling the modem to dial-up and connect? He
buys 75 hours of net time for $15.00 but with the random dial-ups , he
can come home to find that 14 hours have gone by. If this happens 4
or 5 times in a month, then there goes his 75 hrs. Currently he is
having to unplug the phone line when he goes out, or shut the pc down.
Is it possible it could be viral?

Not likely a viral, but a Trojan, dialer, or even some program trying
for updates.

He is running XP home with sp2. Thanks in advance for any inputs you
may have.
-J

If XP home, make sure "auto update" isn't dialing in to Micro$hit and
checking for updates.

Also, in "Help and Support" (In the Start menu) enter "autodial" for
instructions on how to configure your system so programs cannot connect
without you knowing and approving it.

 

[Compfix]

Not likely a viral, but a Trojan, dialer, or even some program trying
for updates.


If XP home, make sure "auto update" isn't dialing in to Micro$hit and
checking for updates.

Also, in "Help and Support" (In the Start menu) enter "autodial" for
instructions on how to configure your system so programs cannot connect
without you knowing and approving it.

--
_____
/ ' / T
,-/-, __ __. ____ /_
(_/ / (_(_/|_/ / <_/ <_

He should also install something like Zonealarm-a free firewall,which will
indicate what it is that is accessing the internet.

Bob

 

[DaveW]

Some hacker on the net has placed malware on his system, out of shear
meaness, that is dialing out automatically. The REAL question is what data
from his computer is the malware SENDING when it dials out?
I would heartily suggest he reformat the harddrive and do a fresh install of
his OS and programs.

 

[Franc Zabkar]

Hello, a friend of mine asked me if someone in this group might know
the answer to a problem he is having. The problem is that, when his pc
is ON and idle, and NOT online, he claims that it will randomly dial
up and connect to the net, it seems to always be at different times
during the day. What is telling the modem to dial-up and connect? He
buys 75 hours of net time for $15.00 but with the random dial-ups , he
can come home to find that 14 hours have gone by. If this happens 4
or 5 times in a month, then there goes his 75 hrs. Currently he is
having to unplug the phone line when he goes out, or shut the pc down.
Is it possible it could be viral?
He is running XP home with sp2. Thanks in advance for any inputs you
may have.
-J

It is possible for a rogue dialer to rack up large international phone
bills.

I'd check his modemlog to find out which number is being dialed, or at
least how many digits it has:
http://modemsite.com/56k/modemlog.asp

- Franc Zabkar

 

[Marcel Overweel]

Some hacker on the net has placed malware on his system, out of shear
meaness, that is dialing out automatically.

(snip)

How do you know that?

Marcel

 

[jinxy]

(snip)

How do you know that?

Marcel




- Show quoted text -

Thanks to all that responded to my post. I have given your suggestions
to my friend and he will try them on the weekend.
-J