My Internet connection seems to randomly dial in. It
happens in the middle of the night, during the day when
no one is home and even when we are using the PC. How
can I tell what is causing this and kill the process?
Sounds like a modem hijack. That can be detected and eliminated as spyware.
Start by downloading LSP-Fix from <
http://www.cexx.org/lspfix.htm>, and
CWShredder from <
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4086.html>.
First, run CWShredder.
Now check for, and remove, spyware. Get HijackThis
<
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=3155> and Spybot S&D
<
http://security.kolla.de/index.php?lang=en&page=download>, both of which are
free and very trusted crapware detectors and removers.
1) Install and run Spybot. First update it ("Search for updates"), then run a
scan ("Check for problems"). Trust Spybot, and make all recommended deletions.
2) Install and run HijackThis. Do NOT make any changes immediately. Save the
Log.
3) Have your HJT log interpreted by experts at one or more of the following
forums (and post it here):
<
http://forums.tomcoyote.org/>
<
http://63.247.79.145/~coyote/forums/index.php?act=idx>
<
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/index.php?board=17>
<
http://forums.net-integration.net/index.php?s=8a1e9d7c1978cff54ca06a3210c7c1b0&showforum=32>
<
http://www.spywareinfo.com/forums/index.php?s=68ddc23721b063d5411ece09e5ac93f9&showforum=11>
(Any of the above forums may not be available because of an ongoing DoS attack,
so try another as necessary). All of these forums appear to be rather busy
right now, so be patient.
If removal of any of the spyware affects your ability to access the internet
(some spyware builds itself into the network software, and its removal may
damage your network), run LSP-Fix.
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
