Last night I left my computer on to get some stuff via p2p. I run Peer Guardian as a firewall.
Looking through last nights logs, I see where my computer tried to contact EA, IGN (Gamespy) and Valve.
Considering I have installed Steam, IGN's downloader and EA's Link, I could see those programs trying to contact their homes. However, not a single one of these programs was running. That kind of bugs me.....
You really have to tweak everything that running in your system tray. You just caught three that were looking for updates, etc. ., well I hope updates. Could be sending back info on your hardware, etc.
Run something to take a close look at your systemtray proggies and/or load each of them up and look for automatic updates and turn that crap off. I've been using Ashampoo WinOptimizer 4 to turn most of that crap off.
Probably some background task that doesn't show in the taskbar. Also, was Xfire running? It has some sort of game update utility in it, doesn't it?
BTW, what are you using for your bittorrent client? I was doing some reading last night, and found that Utorrent was bought by Bittorrent (I think) that is also owned by the RIAA. I'm looking into replacements for Utorrent now, as I'm obviously not going to trust it anymore. . .not that I really use Utorrent for anything but mod dl's anymore, but why run something you can't trust not to have a backdoor, or call home with usage info?
I think Utorrent 1.60 was the last version before the buyout. I might go to that.
You know the recent thing that I noticed is the Punkbuster now has installed it's own service, of course I am sure it notified all of you when it took that liberty, it musthave forgotten to notify me.
I run a tight ship. I keep my services and especially my TSR's to a minimum. These guys were not running. That's the part that really bothers me.
The XFire thing might be the best bet. It does try to check for updates to my games. It was also running at the time.
I use 1.6.1 uTorrent. I wasn't planning on upgrading.
Bittorrent, as far as I know, doesn't actually have any ownership from the RIAA. However, I'd like to verify that. Bittorrent was actually created by a programmer for Valve. Last I heard, he was still at Valve.
I run a tight ship. I keep my services and especially my TSR's to a minimum. These guys were not running. That's the part that really bothers me.
The XFire thing might be the best bet. It does try to check for updates to my games. It was also running at the time.
I use 1.6.1 uTorrent. I wasn't planning on upgrading.
Bittorrent, as far as I know, doesn't actually have any ownership from the RIAA. However, I'd like to verify that. Bittorrent was actually created by a programmer for Valve. Last I heard, he was still at Valve.
I'm gonna look for a good info link on the RIAA thing. If you want, you can Google Utorrent and RIAA and get a bunch of related hits. None of them I spotted are what I'd call solid info, which is why I hadn't started another post just for it yet, but since you'd mentioned Utorrent. . .
Atomm wrote: Oh, I think I got that mixed up. Are you saying the RIAA was involved in the buyout of UTorrent?
I cannot find any hard info on whether BitTorrent or Utorrent has anything shady going on WRT keeping track of/reporting use. They probably do not have any such code built-in. However, I think I finally have a decent link that explains some ppl's concerns and raises the possibility of conflict of interest.
My best guess after spending a couple hours sorting thru hearsay & paranoia: Someone saw ppl using iTunes and other legit sites for purchasing songs, and decided to work in that direction with movies, so they cut a deal with BitTorrent. Subsequent deal made with an up-and-coming competitor in Utorrent. PROBABLY nothing sinister going on behind the scenes. Still might use the old version, even though I only use it for Mod DL's
I only let uTorrent access the internet when I run it and I only download legal demo's and patches with it so I am not worried about that one.
Atomm, I was going to suggest a service but you already covered that one. What I am surprised about is you mentioned you WERE using a firewall! We had a conversation not too long ago that you insisted that your router was enough protection and you never ran a software firewall. I tried to tell you you should run a firewall anyway... Things that make you go hmmmmm 🙂
Anyway back to the original problem; If it is not running as a service and you are not running the .exe files for those programs, that it is a bit weird that the process is trying to access the internet.
Maybe just block them anyway just in case. Hopefully it is not a virus, doubtful, or spyware, more likely, taking over the .exe to send out spam etc...
And Doc, Yes, we women can change... I change once a month. I am the essence of evil during this time and some people do think it's for the better. LOL