Problem with intermittant internet connection.

[Frank Martin]

I have WinXP pro and a Netcomm1300nb4 modem
which all worked very well in the past.

For the past two weeks I have been having
trouble because my internet connection works
intermittently; that is it works properly or
not at all.

I have tried many solutions, such as renewing
the ISP connection, checking plugs &
connections and disconnecting latest
software, and doing virus sweeps.

I have disconnected Zone alarm and gone back
to the Windows firewall.

The only clue I have discovered is in the
"Windows Task Manager" in the "networking"
chart window, and this shows the moving green
line at 0% when my internet connection is
working, but 3% when it is not. The green
line goes down and up as the connection works
& fails. This seems strange and I wonder if
anyone can help me fix this problem.

Regards, Frank

 

[DL]

Have you installed any driver updates from MS Update? if so roll them back

 

[Frank Martin]

Thanks, where do I find these drivers?

Have you installed any driver updates from
MS Update? if so roll them back

message

 

[Frank Martin]

I have since discovered the problem was
caused by a pernicious worm masquerading as
csrss.exe in the C:\Windows\Config folder.

It was probably a spambot because it was
causing so much outflow from my computer that
I couldn't get to use the internet at all.

I cannot imagine what was being sent out!

I got rid of it by running the HijackThis
software and identifying the registry string
that was causing the trouble, and deleting
it.

Then I deleted csrss.exe and all is well so
far.

Now I always check the "Windows Task Manager"
to observe any activity when I'm not using
the internet, and now there is zero activity
unless I'm using it.

I found the Virus checker "F-Secure" was the
only one of many that actually identified the
location of the worm; Computer Associates &
ZoneAlarm flopped badly. This "F-Secure"
actually unzips files to check for malware
although a complete scan takes a long time -
like overnight.

Regards, Frank