Important question

[shravi]

For about a month now I've noticed that my internet connection isn't performing to its ability and I think I've finally found the reason (yes, I know, took me a while, I'm not the best with computers). It isn't protected/doesn't have a firewall.

So I did it:


When I checked to see it was working by clicking the icon at the bottom right, sure enough there was that image of the lock. But just 2 seconds later, this happened.

It just turns off without me doing anything. I have no clue why.

Please help me guys. I've somehow got my browsing speed up, even though it isn't as good as it used to be but the downloading speed has gone from 90-120 to 20-40.

 

[bobmotty2]

Oh mate! Whatever you do get a firewall and then do some scanning for spyware and malware. If you don't want to pay for these types of programs then d/l 'Comodo free firewall'. I use this and it is extremely flexible for newbies or more advanced users. Also avg 7.5 anti spyware. There is avg 8 but I don't recommend their antivirus. NOD32 is the best out there for me but you have to pay for that. Not much tho'.

Don't share any files with anyone until you have done these scans. I suspect your pc is hammered.

Install spywareblaster and update that. Works very well with java based stuff.

You can find all of this with a simple google search.

If you can't get on the net, what I would recommend is using another PC and put the installation files on a usb pen drive and then install them onto your pc.

One more suggestion. Start reading tech sites and familiarising yourself with basic security features of windows.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

Spyware Blaster? Are you sure that isn't one of the dodgy ones?

OP: These are tried and trusted scanning software:

Spybot Search and Destroy
AVG Free (I use 7.5)
Adaware 2007 (2008 is giving me problems)

(All the above are free, with optional upgrades that you have to pay for.)

I also use the Zone Alarm Firewall. Windows' firewall is better than nothing, but, By The Power of Grayskull, have some sort of firewall running! I agree with Bobmotty2, do a thorough scan of your PC, but if you've been running without a firewall, you might well find a fair few nasties.

Good luck!

 

[shravi]

On Spybot Search & Destroy, after running the check and fixing the problems, do I click Immunize as well?

 

[Abhas]

For starters, try unticking "Don't Allow Exceptions".

Are you connecting through Ethernet, or USB? If USB, switch to ethernet, coz USB is prone to problems.

Abhas added 0 Minutes and 54 Seconds later...

Yes, it is good to immunize your system.

Abhas added 6 Minutes and 5 Seconds later...

Did you try disabling your firewall?
I didn't quite understand the problem.. What Lock are you talking about?

 

[shravi]

Yes, I connect through Ethernet.

I can't turn on Windows Firewall, that's the problem.

This is the lock I am talking about, for the 2 seconds it appears, I managed to take a print screen.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

On Spybot Search & Destroy, after running the check and fixing the problems, do I click Immunize as well?

Immunising anything can't hurt, whether it's your children, or your PC!

 

[shravi]

Thanks a bunch for suggesting Zone Alarm MasterBlaster! Really.

It just said someone from another IP address is trying to access my internet connection so I suppose that has been the problem all along, right?

 

[MasterBlaster76]

Zone Alarm said that? Ugghh, I hope I never get such a message! I don't know what to do next, I'm not tecchy enough, but there are plenty of guys here that will, such as Kitshitiz Indian and Abhas.

I hope you get it sorted.

 

[shravi]

Nah, but I denied it so that means I'm safe. It's just people trying to access my internet connection I think. But now that I have ZoneAlarm, I know when they're doing it. Well, I think .

 

[MasterBlaster76]

That's what I love about Zone Alarm, whenever anything, anything tries to access the 'net, it tells you, you can allow or deny and make it remember your choice, so the message doesn't keep popping up.

 

[SciD]

Zone Alarm will make you net even more slow now

 

[bobmotty2]

Spyware Blaster? Are you sure that isn't one of the dodgy ones?

OP: These are tried and trusted scanning software:

Spybot Search and Destroy
AVG Free (I use 7.5)
Adaware 2007 (2008 is giving me problems)

(All the above are free, with optional upgrades that you have to pay for.)

I also use the Zone Alarm Firewall. Windows' firewall is better than nothing, but, By The Power of Grayskull, have some sort of firewall running! I agree with Bobmotty2, do a thorough scan of your PC, but if you've been running without a firewall, you might well find a fair few nasties.

Good luck!

Spywareblaster v.4.1 is really good & legit. It is for Java only. You need a few different types of spyware/malware software. There are many fakes but this is genuine. Anything with truesword as the company is usually fake. As for spybot/adaware these have very poor detection rates. The last I looked both were around 54% success rate. The best one is webroot but you have to pay for that. Another alternative firewall if you are a bit of a geek is jetico. As with spyware when a team produces a very effective program they are quite often grabbed to join bigger companies..webroot was a fine of example of that. So they don't last long.

Although AVG is free it is lacking in some departments. (Memory boot sector scans...etc). It's protection rates are very poor too but for free what do you expect.

As with zonealarm this is not vey good. Every packet that is sent out on the net has the name zonealarm in it so it is very easy for a hacker to see what your defences are. It is also a resource hog. Comodo knocks it for six....pardon the cricket fun.....

Windows firewall is not worthy of being called a firewall, end of story. Do not rely on it for adequate security.

Running a Pc without a firewall is like keeping your car keys in the ignition for anyone to use. Please get a firewall/spyware stuff then download hijack this and post the log on their site. If you want to know more about the hijack this log then let me know.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

Zone Alarm will make you net even more slow now

It hasn't slowed my 'net down at all.

 

[Abhas]

Well..I'm not too sure about this.. How can someone share your internet, through your computer... Are you on a LAN??

Try this..

Go to Control Panel, Switch to Classic View, Double click on Network Connections.
In the Local Area Connection 2, Right Click and click on Properties.
A window will open. Select the Tab named "Advanced".

In the "Internet Connection Sharing", Make sure "Allow other network users to connect through this computer's Internet Connection" is unticked.

Click on OK. and close all windows.

I'm not too sure what the Lock symbol signifies, because I've never noticed it on my computer.

Another thing.. How do you connect to the Internet, I mean, You have a modem/router, and you connect it via an Ethernet Cable right?