Windows XP opens self to Net

Running XP plus SP 1 and 2 plus automatic installation of patches. When I clolse down for the night, before closing Outlook Express 6 (my e-mail), Windows Explorer 6 and Firefox (I use all 3) I make sure that the connection to the internet is marked offline. When I reopen next, Firefox is closed always, but most of the time Windows is already connected to internet. This occurs also when I close during the day by leaving machine alone and tdurning off monitor to save electricity. I always close all connections to outside first. But usually they have opened themselves.
My machine is a Dell dimension, and my connection is via DSL to Sprint, now Embarq.
This bothers me primarily because I worry that it means some unkind program has entered, or may enter. Don't really care whether connected or not, per se, but just about possible lack of protection.
What do you all think?

 

What anti virus/spyware/malware protection are you using?

 

If you have a decent firewall, and a decent Antivirus active scanner, it makes no difference if your computer has an active connection 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Many softwares call Home for updates and new definitions, including your antivirus software and anti-malware software. But they are not the only ones. Windows Update can play a role if you have your computer is set to hibernate or stand-by and your computer leaves that state for whatever reason.

Although hibernation or stand-by seems a reasonable choice for you rather than just turning off the monitor.

 

Hibernation is only a reasonable choice if you are using a laptop, not a desktop. For desktop pc better performance, I suggest you set your desktop background/wallpaper and screensaver to "none ", then go to control panel, system, advanced, performance, settings, check 'adjust for best performance'. and right click on desktop, click properties, click 'appearance', choose ' windows classic style'.
Then Start/Settings/Control Panel/Display/display properties/screensaver/monitor power/power schemes/settings/turn off monitor after 10 minutes, and set the next 2 drop down boxes ( 1. Turn off Hard Disks, and 2. System Standby) to "never "/apply/ok/ok.
Then Start/Control Panel/system/advanced tab/performance/settings/'adjust for best performance/apply/ok/ok
Then Start/Control Panel/Display/display properties/screensaver/monitor power/hibernate/take check mark out of "Enable hibernation "/apply/ok/ok.
Do not to use sleep and hibernate on desktop
If I'm going to be away from the pc for more than an hour, or whenever there is lightning in the area, then after shutting it down properly, I unplug the UPS (which all the computer stuff is plugged into) and disconnect the modum.

For security/safety purposes, to make sure you are not getting a spoofed webpage, right-click desktop/properties/display properties/appeareance/color scheme/olive green/apply/ok/ok , or go to Start/Control Panel/Display/display properties/appearence/color scheme/ and use any NON-MS default blue, such as eggplant or wheat/apply/ok/ok.
Or right-click desktop/properties/display properties/appeareance/color scheme/and use any NON-MS default blueeggplant or wheat/apply/ok/ok.
Then if you click onto a webpage, and it comes up in the MS default blue, then you will know you are on a fake/spoofed page, and you should close out immediatly, and run a scan for infections.

As for the MS updates, the way I have mine set is to only notify me that updates are availiable, but to not download them automaticaly. Then I can check to be sure I get just the ones I want. I then click on "custom ", and after the updates have been downloaded I look them over to see which ones I want, then disconnect from the net, disable firewall and anti-virus program, and then install the updates, turn the pc off for a few minutes, turn it back on, and then re-enable the firewall and anti-virus programs before reconnecting to the net.

 

Please explain why hibernation is not a reasonable choice for a desktop.
Roger

 

And disconnecting manually your UPS and modem from the wall is a "better performance " choice?

This claim totally baffles me, and I wish it would be explained further. Most web pages control the look and appearance of their sites, and these settings are completely removed from the settings found in Display Properties.

And this does what, exactly? Is this again a "performance" optomization step? Could you be more specific as to how many minutes you leave the PC turned off with the firewall disabled and the modem disconnected?

 

I'll wait till the op answers the questions in my first post, and incorporate it all into one reply.

 

Hello sultan_emerr,

I'm anxious to read why Hibernation is not reasonable for a Desktop as well

For the record, I use hibernation on a desktop in the summer for obvious reasons and never had problems with it. I understand that some users do, in that case the feature should be disabled and that will delete the hiberfil.sys file on the drive.

Regards - Charles

 

I agree.

 

sultan_emerr,

I do not recall asking for your help.

Sultan_emmar: "I agree "

Bill Castner interjecting here: that is very kind of you Sultan_emmar
But I think you should allow Charles to speak for himself.
I suspect he feels comfortable enough that he does not need yours, or any ones, validation.

I hope you will forgive me for not waiting. We are all waiting for your particular words of wisdom. I, for one, am curious as to what advice you can add to the above.

Bill Castner

 

Fine with me. Then I won't bother answering your post, but will only reply to the op when he posts back.

 

Sultan,

My sincere apologies.

You are approaching this problem in a unique and fascinating way; I believe unprecedented by those who have come prior to your contribution.

This could help very many people.

Please, provide more details.

My best wishes,
Bill Castner

 

Who's the Administrator of this forum?

 

Arie. You don't want to make waves on this forum.

 

Oh, ok then. For the purposes of this thread only, I will just pretend like hibernation(and sleep) are wonderful things to use on a desktop pc, and forget it.

 

Everyone should calm down please.

Hi sultan_emerr,

Having made this statement

I think you should explain it. All of us, I think, are willing to listen to any arguement made, then we can agree or not.

Regards - Charles

 

You are not being directly quoted and attacked.

People have a right to defend themselves.

We all want to hear Sultan defend his charges against us.

Sultan retreating under fire, and you defending him, are no help for us being slammed personally for disagreeing with Sultan.

I will "calm down" when you defend the color scheme changes, the unplugging from the UPS and the modem from the wallplate, and the waiting for several minutes in a powered down state after a Windows update.

If you can defend Sultan for this nonsense, then please Charles, pick up the gauntlet.

But defending Sultan when reasonable people challenge him is as silly as the opinions he so forthrightly put forward as fact.