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General discussion

85 billion packets of data sent in 5 days?!

Feb 23, 2005 9:34AM PST

When I click on my local area connection icon, it shows over 85 billion packets of data sent in 5 days! What gives? What do I need to do?

Thanx!
Steve Yee
syee1955@yahoo.com

Discussion is locked

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Check for spyware piggybacking on your internet connection.
Feb 23, 2005 10:15AM PST

.

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billions of data packets sent out
Feb 23, 2005 11:32AM PST

Thanks Mike. I used Anti-Spy from Yahoo and did remove some spyware, but the ridiculous amount of outgoing data continues!

Steve

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Re: billions of data packets sent out
Feb 24, 2005 6:11PM PST

hmm..
This seems like a very large number. Maybe the Yahoo! anti-spyware program did not eliminate all spyware. Try using some other anti-spyware program like Ad-Aware (you can download the free version (Ad-Aware SE Personal) from http://www.lavasoft.com ).
The problem could also be something else.

Rahul

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85 billion packets
Feb 24, 2005 7:59PM PST

Virus + Spyware + Adware = 85 billion packets.

Run adaware - spybot - virus application. If no improvement, reformat hard drive and start fresh.

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Check deeper
Feb 25, 2005 6:16AM PST

You need to install a better firewall.

Try Zonealarm to help find your culprit.
Zonealarm when installed has a learning mode.
It tells about every program in your computer that
accesses the net. When a new program tries to access
the net, you get a popup window with the name of the
program, a link for more info and the action you want
to take (Allow or block access).

Also Spybot has advanced tools that show whats run
at startup and allows you to turn things off.
It also includes the path of where the program starts
from. Anything started from a temp directory is suspect.

Happy hunting.

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Firewall and anti-spyware
Feb 27, 2005 1:05AM PST

Zonealarm is a pretty good firewall, but after trying Sygate Personal Firewall, I switched. I just like the interface better. As for anti-spyware, Ad-Aware SE and Spybot S&D are both excellent programs. If you really want to get "down and dirty" into the system and see what's going on, try HijackThis. It's not for the faint of heart, though. It's a pretty powerful program. If you don't know what you're doing with it, don't guess... ASK! There are lots of people out here that are willing to help.