With broadband I sometimes stay online for days at a time. Usually unintentionally. If I'm logged onto a site like msn.com for this duration I seem to get a lot more spam than if I'm logged onto LOD. Is this my imagination or is msn really getting into my computer and dropping cookies all over the damned place while I'm not even around? I have zonealarm firewall but I have to give permission for so many programs to access the internet that I'm not sure it's really doing any good. Also, if logged onto a non commercial site like LOD for a long time am I needlessly wasting server resources or something? I'd like to use a home page that's not selling every 'bit' of information it can find. Thanx, BA
A couple questions actually...
- Thread starter GR8VIII
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RE: A couple questions actually...
The short answer is NO - they are not reading your computer.
When you download a web page - the connection is made via your request for the data from their server - then once it is delivered - the connection is broken. It's like hanging up after a phone call.
There are always extreme examples of leeching, server attachment, and the like - but in 99% of the cases - you are completely safe.
The short answer is NO - they are not reading your computer.
When you download a web page - the connection is made via your request for the data from their server - then once it is delivered - the connection is broken. It's like hanging up after a phone call.
There are always extreme examples of leeching, server attachment, and the like - but in 99% of the cases - you are completely safe.
RE: A couple questions actually...
Whew, thanks Dave. That's a relief. I've noticed sometimes while sitting here doing nothing and the processor just starts working it's ass off. I'm always wondering what it's doing and for whom.
"Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get ya." (don't remember who said that first but I like it)
Whew, thanks Dave. That's a relief. I've noticed sometimes while sitting here doing nothing and the processor just starts working it's ass off. I'm always wondering what it's doing and for whom.
"Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get ya." (don't remember who said that first but I like it)
scotty96lsc
Registered
RE: A couple questions actually...
That leads me to a question as well. I have Road Runner and was wondering even when my computer is off I see the lights jumping up and down the modem. Can someone access the computer when it is off?
That leads me to a question as well. I have Road Runner and was wondering even when my computer is off I see the lights jumping up and down the modem. Can someone access the computer when it is off?
RE: A couple questions actually...
Your computer ought to be safe when it is turned off, unless you have wake on lan over the network card, but, you'd know, because it would turn on. Those lights are probably just the modem resyncing the connection.
If you are really curious about what is on your computer, download and run ad aware. Its from a wierd url - lavasoft.de I think, but search for it and it should come up.
Scott
Your computer ought to be safe when it is turned off, unless you have wake on lan over the network card, but, you'd know, because it would turn on. Those lights are probably just the modem resyncing the connection.
If you are really curious about what is on your computer, download and run ad aware. Its from a wierd url - lavasoft.de I think, but search for it and it should come up.
Scott
RE: A couple questions actually...
When you are on line and have an IP address, it is common for networks to communicate with one another even if you are not receiving or transmitting any data. It's the computers and networks way of kind of saying "yea dude i'm still here just hanging out waiting for the next request" and some other computer responding "killer dude...mee to". That of course is in it's simplest terms I can think of. There is always network traffic over the WAN. Even though you are not working, the ISP is serving requests from others who are. Nothing to worry about.
You can go into your network settings and put an Icon in your system tray to show the lan connection. You can double click that icon and monitor the number of packets that are being transmitted and being received. A few packets being transmitted when you are not doing anything is normal, but if you have a boat load and you are just idle, I'd maybe get a little concerned. Now be ware if you have file swapping software open, you will see packet transfers no matter if you are doing anything or not. Hope this helps a little.
When you are on line and have an IP address, it is common for networks to communicate with one another even if you are not receiving or transmitting any data. It's the computers and networks way of kind of saying "yea dude i'm still here just hanging out waiting for the next request" and some other computer responding "killer dude...mee to". That of course is in it's simplest terms I can think of. There is always network traffic over the WAN. Even though you are not working, the ISP is serving requests from others who are. Nothing to worry about.
You can go into your network settings and put an Icon in your system tray to show the lan connection. You can double click that icon and monitor the number of packets that are being transmitted and being received. A few packets being transmitted when you are not doing anything is normal, but if you have a boat load and you are just idle, I'd maybe get a little concerned. Now be ware if you have file swapping software open, you will see packet transfers no matter if you are doing anything or not. Hope this helps a little.
Luke Walling
Registered
RE: A couple questions actually...
Scott and others,
download and update Spybot from http://security.kolla.de
Looks pretty good.. Liking it more than Adaware these days.
Scott and others,
download and update Spybot from http://security.kolla.de
Looks pretty good.. Liking it more than Adaware these days.Luke Walling
Registered
RE: A couple questions actually...
also, you might make sure that file and printer sharing isn't setup or is setup with access rights defined and password protected. If you have a cheap NAT router or even zonealarm you should be somewhat OK and can block incoming netbios traffic..
also, you might make sure that file and printer sharing isn't setup or is setup with access rights defined and password protected. If you have a cheap NAT router or even zonealarm you should be somewhat OK and can block incoming netbios traffic..