Windows XP popping up messages for dialling Internet Addresses

[P. Jayant]

Even after I removed all the suspected spy web-addresses from the RAS
AutoDial sub-folder from the Registry, as suggested by Kelly, the popping up
of those 4 or 5 adamant addresses continued. On checking up the list of
Active Processes using the Task Manager, I find that the Remote Access
Service Dialler is one of the active processes, all the time on my computer.
My questions therefore, are:

1) Has the Remote Access AutoDialler to be on in normal XP all the
time?

2) Is it for dialling outside or facilitating outside dialling into my
PC? If it is the latter then I need to stop the Process, in any case.

3) Even if it is for dialling outside addresses, since I do not want
the system to auto-dial any outside address, except when I initiate the
dialling process, I would like to remove the RAS Auto-dial Process from the
active list.



How do I do it? Just ask the Task Manager to remove it from the Active
Process List or is there any option in the "Network Connections" which I
have not noticed, so far?



P. Jayant

 

[Sharon F]

3) Even if it is for dialling outside addresses, since I do not want
the system to auto-dial any outside address, except when I initiate the
dialling process, I would like to remove the RAS Auto-dial Process from the
active list.

Open the Network Connections window (Control Panel (classic view)> Network
Connections. Click on Advanced> DialUp Preferences. In the window that
appears, check the box next "disable autodial wile I am logged on."

Also in Internet Options> Connections, select Never Dial.

 

[P. Jayant]

I did manage to stop Windows XP popping up Network addresses for dialling
as follows:

In desperation, I asked Windows to search for all files with exe extension,
scrutinized for spyware to the best of my knowledge: 1) those which were not
in standard folders of Programs, 2) those which were just categorized as
"application" without any uninstall file associated with them and 3) whose
names included suspicious terms from addresses like the
www.budweiser.drinkbeer.com which has been popping up cyclically.

It was very much unlike a good I. T. procedure but as a desperate act, I
took great risk and deleted a sample of these files. And lo and behold! The
popping up web addresses has stopped for the last 12 hours. I hope, I have
not started enjoying too soon.

But I am very uncomfortable that I deleted the suspected files without going
through the Add/Remove or Uninstall procedure. And I am worried, if I have
damaged the Operating System, any way.



Is it possible to ask Windows XP to check and repair any damaged files by
using the installation CD? What happens to the Sp1 Upgrade which I had
installed subsequently? Will it be automatically take care of by the repair
files procedure with the original installation CD? Or would I have to go
through all the SP1 and other upgrades executed over a period of time?



P. Jayant