Frequent requests to connect to internet

[Spyder32]

Originally posted here by groovicus
Umm..Sygate alerts me whenever a progam wants to connect to the internet..that's how I want it. I was under the mistaken impression that firewalls were supposed to alert you to traffic, both incoming and outgoing . I want to know when something is connecting.

Racudis, disable alerts for incoming stuff, just check the logs from time to time. Most of what you are seeing is normal noise.

As far as the outgoing stuff, that needs to be investigated. What, specifically, is trying to connect to the internet? Often times malware will try to connect, sometimes it is also legitimate....you may need to run
* Adaware
* Spybot
to clean some of it up.

Also, try one of these:
*PandaSoft
*TrendMicro

Your right groovicus, in some way's I do. But in the manner Zone Alarm does? No. The reason I said that was because I assumed like you said: it's probably just noise. But if it could possibly be a trojan, a virus, worm, etc then definitely take the required step's to fix thing's (scan for infections, remove, etc).

[groovicus]

I knew what you meant, but I was afraid a new user wouldn't, so I was just poking a little fun at you.
Incoming traffic, I pretty much ignore. Outgoing traffic, I always want to know, because if something is trying to phone home without my knowledge, then something is on my system that isn't supposed to be.

I noticed when I got a firewall, Explorer wanted to connect to the net. What for I don't know.

This is a good example. The only time my explorer wants to connect the internet is when I am using the on-board help system. However, some malware will use explorer, or corrupt explorer for their own purposes. It would drive me nuts not knowing why something was trying to connect that shouldn't be.

A good reason for not using Zone Alarm would actually be found in Pooh's thread found here:
http://www.antionline.com/showthread...hreadid=258937

[Spyder32]

I was just poking a little fun at you.

Ahh, si. Nothing like a little harmless fun, eh?

However, some malware will use explorer, or corrupt explorer for their own purposes.

That is very true as will some trojan's, worm's, or any malicious software. Manipulation is the key to their success (and a user's stupidity).