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Repeated Dialup Attempts

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14 replies

by johncburgess

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Have 6 networked systems, 5 running XP Home and 1 XP Pro. 56k Dialup modem is on XP Home system and all other systems access the internet via Internet Connection Sharing through a gateway on that system.

For unknown reasons at inconsistent times (usually overnight when the office is unoccupied)
the modem attempts to connect automatically even though I have disabled all auto-update features in all applications.

Am I being hacked from outside??? or is there another explanation???

14 replies

by normandhome

Your modem is attempting to connect. Try updating the driver for the modem and go through the configuration settings to make sure everything is in good shape.

by valis

most likely some program is trying to access the net on your home computers, could be antivirus, could be an email program, or something else.

by johncburgess

Perhaps I should have been more specific. All application auto update features (including anti virus, msn etc) have been disabled. All auto scheduling in any application(s) have been disabled. No applications appear to be open(ing) at the time of the connection attempt. Have deliberately set modem settings such that the modem can not auto connect. With ICS setup on all systems I have gone through a procedure of attempting to isolate the system requesting dialup by physically powering off all machines except the ICS gateway system and/or the XP Pro system server.

I can not identify any process which initiates the dialup attempt.

Any ideas???

by dmiles

This may be a configuration of the system,Open the browser of the suspected machine,select Tools menu,Internet options,lick on Connections tab,under Dial-Up and Network Connections,the button that Never Dial A network Connection when network is not present is unchecked

by johncburgess

If you had read the above notes you would have seen that I have already checked this ... but thanks for trying to help

by johncburgess

Thnaks Don, yep I've already checked for spyware (I religously use AdAware) and regularly run a full virus scan on all systems.

Have already downloaded zonealarm recently and am reviewing results ... no real joy yet.

Thanks anyway

by mageshvin

if ur not in internet and your modem trys to connect to the internet automatically. then ur not hacked by a external network.there should be some trojans or virus programs thats resides on the system and triggers the dialing of the modem.
did u check for the timings. is it happening at a particular time.do a complete check on the system with anitvirus and also check for the start up items.

by johncburgess

Please read the question and further comments. Have checked/disabled all application updates/scheduling etc. Have checked for all spyware programs and scanned for viruses.

The connection attempts (as stated in the question) ARE NOT CONSISTENT.

Recent download and installation of zonealarm may be pointing to some connection attempt from outside via the ISP.

Am also following up on "Zoka11" suggestion regarding W32 time... so far the points may be going that way, although I'm still coming to grips with the mechanism of W32 time syncronization attempts and trying to relate back to logs.

Thanks for trying to help

by i.a.h.bradshaw

Not a direct answer, but have you tried logging the activity on the modem (ports used, ip addresses from and to?)? If you have this info, you can then isolate the pc causing the problems and with the port and destination ip add. then you should be able to work out the app. causing the problem.

Try CommView

http://www.tamos.com/products/commview/

it's a bit pricy ($130) but works well. *** Check with them that it can work with your setup - I'm not sure about modems, only LAN and Broadband ***

If this is a bit steep then try some of the gozmos produced by Visualware

http://www.visualware.com

which are a bit cheaper, but may be harder to use for what you need.

Hope this is of some help!

Feel free to mail me if you want any help!

Cheers

Ian.

by vaughanm

Ok an outside hacker can not trigger your modem if it is not connected to the internet as you do not have an ip address on the internet until you connect. the reason that your computer is trying to connect is because you have either a virus, trojan or some spyware, try running spybot search and destroy as well as adaware on all your computers, also try spysweeper from www.webroot.com. it is good to use several scanners as one will pick up things that others don't, also try another anti-virus like avg from grisoft.com, if you already have avg then do a google for another free anti-virus as like with spy scanners anti-virus scanners will pick up things that others don't.
hope this helps

by laquangthong

The modem attemps to connect automatically because one in six of your pc is trying to get onto the internet. If you want the modem to stop dialing, just uncheck the option "connect automatically ... " in the NIC's properties.

Noone is trying to hack you. And I don't think any hacker out there is interested in hacking a computer through an share dial up line. It's way to slow to do anything. There might be some adware or trojan in one of those six computers trying to get to the internet. Download the adaware program and sweep the hard drive to get rid of those adware.

Hope this help,

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