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Whats going on!! Whats uploading data from my PC???

  • 20-02-2008 10:33am
    #1
    Galway_guy_33
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 192 ✭✭


    Got O2 mobile broadband yesterday. Decided to format my PC and reinstall windows xp. I downloaded peer guardian to prevent anyone connecting to my pc.

    After the reinstall of windows xp i decided to download Service pack 2 as a test to see how quick it could download 266MB. Left it running over nite took about 56 mins when i looked in the O2 connection application its says it download around 300MB since i've installed it, however it also states 140MB's were uploaded, how can this be?

    I wasnt uploading any data? I'll install service pack 2 today and enable the firewall will this prevent this uploading?

    Surely if its uploading stuff i dont know anything about its eating into my bandwidth for my download?


Comments

  • #2
    Spear
    Moderators, Computer Games Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Help & Feedback Category Moderators Posts: 25,757 CMod ✭✭✭✭Spear


    Galway_guy_33 wrote: »
    Got O2 mobile broadband yesterday. Decided to format my PC and reinstall windows xp. I downloaded peer guardian to prevent anyone connecting to my pc.

    After the reinstall of windows xp i decided to download Service pack 2 as a test to see how quick it could download 266MB. Left it running over nite took about 56 mins when i looked in the O2 connection application its says it download around 300MB since i've installed it, however it also states 140MB's were uploaded, how can this be?

    I wasnt uploading any data? I'll install service pack 2 today and enable the firewall will this prevent this uploading?

    Surely if its uploading stuff i dont know anything about its eating into my bandwidth for my download?

    Windows firewall does not check outgoing connections. If you've exposed the PC to the internet directly then it's probably compromised.


  • #3
    Galway_guy_33
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 192 ✭✭Galway_guy_33


    What can i do to prevent this? Is there any freeware software out there for this?


  • #4
    Spear
    Moderators, Computer Games Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Help & Feedback Category Moderators Posts: 25,757 CMod ✭✭✭✭Spear


    Galway_guy_33 wrote: »
    What can i do to prevent this? Is there any freeware software out there for this?

    There's a huge number of free personal firewalls. I'd recommend Agnitum Outpost, but others will have their preferences.


  • #5
    XJR
    Users Awaiting Email Confirmation Posts: 294 ✭✭XJR


    Most Routers, modems will have an inbuilt firewall check the settings. I've also used Agnitum Outpost (free) and found it to be very good.


  • #6
    thebman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10,012 ✭✭✭✭thebman


    I've used Zone Alarm and its pretty good.

    One thing to consider is that if you were browsing or downloading, you also upload.

    You have to request information after all so when you click a link, you send a request and upload a small amount of data to the website.

    When downloading, you send requests/acknowledgments for the different parts of the file.


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  • #7
    Galway_guy_33
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 192 ✭✭Galway_guy_33


    But surely if i request a download of 266MB i shouldnt come back the next morning to find 140MB have been uploaded also?


    Didnt visit many website since the reformat mainly microsoft.com. i had the automatic update facility turned off so it cant be that. I'll install Service Pack 2 and one of the fire wall apps as suggested.

    Maybe im being a bit paranoid but 140MB is alot of data to upload over nite


  • #8
    jor el
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16,713 ✭✭✭✭jor el


    Virus infected computers on the Internet probe for open connections and attack them. You don't need to be connected to these websites or servers, they'll seek you out.

    There's a recommended software thread on the Computers forum and I'm sure there are plenty of Firewalls mentioned. Personally, I uses Comodo Firewall Pro, it's very good. Though I'm still using the 2.4.x version, I didn't like the 3.0 upgrade so went back.


  • #9
    Moriarty
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,007 ✭✭✭Moriarty


    It's not uncommon for unpatched versions of XP to be rooted inside a minute after being attached directly to an unfiltered internet connection. You need to have windows fully patched with all critical updates, make sure that you only run software which comes from reputable sources and if possible have a hardware firewall/router device sitting in front of any desktop machines.

    Moving this over to Comp/Tech.


  • #10
    Loveless
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 504 ✭✭✭Loveless


    Moriarty wrote: »
    It's not uncommon for unpatched versions of XP to be rooted inside a minute after being attached directly to an unfiltered internet connection. You need to have windows fully patched with all critical updates, make sure that you only run software which comes from reputable sources and if possible have a hardware firewall/router device sitting in front of any desktop machines.

    I can't remember where I read it, but I did see a stat before that said an unpatched PC connected to the internet for 5 minutes had a >50% chance of being infected.
    jor el wrote: »
    Virus infected computers on the Internet probe for open connections and attack them. You don't need to be connected to these websites or servers, they'll seek you out.

    Funnily enough the first time I got broadband I also did a clean install. The PC got infected immediately after the Windows XP install finished - I spotted it because as soon as I went to modify the Cache size in Internet Options, the StartUp page had already been modified to some Chinese site.

    So plugged out the Cable modem, and wiped it again.


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