| Author |
Message |
Charles Newman
Guest
|
 Posted:
Fri Dec 24, 2004 6:24 am Post subject:
Virus and Cable Modem |
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It is possible for a virus or trojan to screw up my
cable modem without affecting the rest of
Comcast's network? I was having all kinds of
trouble with the modem losing sync, but when I
wiped out and reinstalled Windows (which I do once
a month), the problem suddenly dissapeared. At
the time of day I am writing this, is when the problem
started to get really bad, but there has been no
problems since I wiped out and reinstalled Windows. |
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Bit Twister
Guest
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| Posted:
Fri Dec 24, 2004 6:32 am Post subject:
Re: Virus and Cable Modem |
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On Thu, 23 Dec 2004 17:24:13 -0800, Charles Newman wrote:
| Quote: | It is possible for a virus or trojan to screw up my cable modem
without affecting the rest of Comcast's network? I was having all
kinds of trouble with the modem losing sync,
|
Virus on your pc will not cause the modem to lose sycn.
| Quote: | but when I wiped out and reinstalled Windows (which I do once
a month), the problem suddenly dissapeared.
|
Are you saying you are losing the sync light on modem
or losing sync with the modem.
| Quote: | At the time of day I am writing this, is when the problem started to
get really bad, but there has been no problems since I wiped out and
reinstalled Windows.
|
When was this? It could be the cold weather causing the coax.connectors
to shrink and giving you a better connection, or line amps doing
better in the cold. |
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Beauregard T. Shagnasty
Guest
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| Posted:
Fri Dec 24, 2004 6:35 am Post subject:
Re: Virus and Cable Modem |
|
|
Charles Newman wrote:
| Quote: | It is possible for a virus or trojan to screw up my cable modem
without affecting the rest of Comcast's network?
|
Of course. But not your modem, your computer.
| Quote: | I was having all kinds of trouble with the modem losing sync, but
when I wiped out and reinstalled Windows (which I do once a month),
|
Why? My Windows2000 was installed almost five years ago.
| Quote: | the problem suddenly dissapeared. At the time of day I am writing
this, is when the problem started to get really bad, but there has
been no problems since I wiped out and reinstalled Windows.
|
Do you have a firewall on that computer? A box with no firewall on a
broadband connection is a bullseye waiting for a missile - which will
be coming along in just a few minutes, every time you reinstall Windows.
--
-bts
-This space intentionally left blank. |
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Charles Newman
Guest
|
| Posted:
Fri Dec 24, 2004 6:48 am Post subject:
Re: Virus and Cable Modem |
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|
"Bit Twister" <BitTwister@mouse-potato.com> wrote in message
news:slrncsmsco.pjq.BitTwister@wb.home.invalid...
| Quote: | On Thu, 23 Dec 2004 17:24:13 -0800, Charles Newman wrote:
It is possible for a virus or trojan to screw up my cable modem
without affecting the rest of Comcast's network? I was having all
kinds of trouble with the modem losing sync,
Virus on your pc will not cause the modem to lose sycn.
but when I wiped out and reinstalled Windows (which I do once
a month), the problem suddenly dissapeared.
Are you saying you are losing the sync light on modem
or losing sync with the modem.
|
The "cable" light on the Scientific Atlanta modem
was going off, and the modem was trying to
reconnect, but could not. But the problem, as I said,
seems to have been corrected when I wiped out
and reinstalled Windows. I have in image made
with Norton Ghost, which I used to restore
Windows. When I did that, the problems seem
to have dissapeared, so far. I will know later on,
around 10PM local time,. when the problem with
losing connectivity has been the worst. If nothing
happens then, then I know that restoring Windows
from the Ghost image will have solved the problem.
By that time of the day, around 6PM, I was already
having a lot of problems, and no problems so far
tonight.
| Quote: |
At the time of day I am writing this, is when the problem started to
get really bad, but there has been no problems since I wiped out and
reinstalled Windows.
|
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Charles Newman
Guest
|
| Posted:
Fri Dec 24, 2004 6:52 am Post subject:
Re: Virus and Cable Modem |
|
|
"Beauregard T. Shagnasty" <a.nony.mous@example.invalid> wrote in message
news:331a2eF3oj487U1@individual.net...
| Quote: | Charles Newman wrote:
It is possible for a virus or trojan to screw up my cable modem
without affecting the rest of Comcast's network?
Of course. But not your modem, your computer.
|
Well, something was causing the modem to lose
connectivity, which has appeared to have stopped
since I restored Windows on the image I have made
with Norton Ghost.
| Quote: |
I was having all kinds of trouble with the modem losing sync, but
when I wiped out and reinstalled Windows (which I do once a month),
Why? My Windows2000 was installed almost five years ago.
|
Wiping out and resinstalling Windows get rid of
any spyware, viruses, or trojans my virus software
might miss.
| Quote: |
the problem suddenly dissapeared. At the time of day I am writing
this, is when the problem started to get really bad, but there has
been no problems since I wiped out and reinstalled Windows.
Do you have a firewall on that computer? A box with no firewall on a
broadband connection is a bullseye waiting for a missile - which will
be coming along in just a few minutes, every time you reinstall Windows.
|
I do have a firewall, but even with a firewall, things
like spyware, adware, viruses, trojans, and the like
can still sneak in, which is why creating an image
with Norton Ghost, and using that once a month to
restore Windows is actually a good practice. |
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Warren
Guest
|
| Posted:
Fri Dec 24, 2004 7:28 am Post subject:
Re: Virus and Cable Modem |
|
|
Charles Newman wrote:
| Quote: | The "cable" light on the Scientific Atlanta modem
was going off, and the modem was trying to
reconnect, but could not. But the problem, as I said,
seems to have been corrected when I wiped out
and reinstalled Windows.
|
The only way something on the computer could cause the modem to appear
to loose sync would be if it were resetting the modem. Whether sync was
lost, or whether the modem was reset would be something that the logs
would show.
--
Warren H.
==========
Disclaimer: My views reflect those of myself, and not my
employer, my friends, nor (as she often tells me) my wife.
Any resemblance to the views of anybody living or dead is
coincidental. No animals were hurt in the writing of this
response -- unless you count my dog who desperately wants
to go outside now.
Spend your Amazon Gift Certificates at my site:
http://www.holzemville.com/mall/ |
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Bit Twister
Guest
|
| Posted:
Fri Dec 24, 2004 7:33 am Post subject:
Re: Virus and Cable Modem |
|
|
On Thu, 23 Dec 2004 17:48:16 -0800, Charles Newman wrote:
| Quote: | The "cable" light on the Scientific Atlanta modem was going off, and
the modem was trying to reconnect, but could not. But the problem,
as I said, seems to have been corrected when I wiped out and
reinstalled Windows.
|
Maybe cable provider fixed a line problem or maybe a tech put a filter
on a neighbor's drop to keep a trashy tv from putting noise back on
the cable feed while you were reloading.
| Quote: | Windows. When I did that, the problems seem to have dissapeared, so
far. I will know later on, around 10PM local time,. when the problem
with losing connectivity has been the worst.
|
Hmmm, why would any malware decide to get worse at 10pm.
| Quote: | If nothing happens then, then I know that restoring Windows from the
Ghost image will have solved the problem. By that time of the day,
around 6PM, I was already having a lot of problems, and no problems
so far tonight.
|
Think about how a cable modem works. You have an ethernet connection
to the cable modem. It takes your bits and transmits them to the cable
headend. You cannot talk to the the cable modem's software controler
except to fetch it's webpage if it has one, and it is programmed to
allow you access to the web pages.
To change the software settings in the modem, commands have to be sent
to the cable modem from the headend.
Your malware cannot tell the headend to reroute packets back to the
modem.
Now they say unpatched win boxes last around 12 minutes. So, next time
you believe malware is causing sync loss, you can try unplugging the
ethernet cable.
Then again, maybe you have a weak cable trasmitter, and constant
transmission from malware causes the transmitter to overheat and that
causes the problem. |
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Bit Twister
Guest
|
| Posted:
Fri Dec 24, 2004 7:58 am Post subject:
Re: Virus and Cable Modem |
|
|
On Fri, 24 Dec 2004 02:28:01 GMT, Warren wrote:
| Quote: |
The only way something on the computer could cause the modem to appear
to loose sync would be if it were resetting the modem.
|
Dang, forgot all about the reset modem buttons on the cable modem web
configuretion page. :( |
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Beauregard T. Shagnasty
Guest
|
| Posted:
Fri Dec 24, 2004 8:04 am Post subject:
Re: Virus and Cable Modem |
|
|
Charles Newman wrote:
| Quote: | "Beauregard T. Shagnasty" <a.nony.mous@example.invalid> wrote
Do you have a firewall on that computer? A box with no firewall
on a broadband connection is a bullseye waiting for a missile -
which will be coming along in just a few minutes, every time you
reinstall Windows.
I do have a firewall, but even with a firewall, things like
spyware, adware, viruses, trojans, and the like can still sneak in,
|
...only if you don't practice safe hex. What browser do you use?
http://home.rochester.rr.com/bshagnasty/tips.html
| Quote: | which is why creating an image with Norton Ghost, and using that
once a month to restore Windows is actually a good practice.
|
It's nice to have a backup, but reinstalling once a month? Posh. You
have other issues if that is really necessary.
--
-bts
-This space intentionally left blank. |
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Ron Hunter
Guest
|
| Posted:
Fri Dec 24, 2004 8:04 am Post subject:
Re: Virus and Cable Modem |
|
|
Charles Newman wrote:
| Quote: | It is possible for a virus or trojan to screw up my
cable modem without affecting the rest of
Comcast's network? I was having all kinds of
trouble with the modem losing sync, but when I
wiped out and reinstalled Windows (which I do once
a month), the problem suddenly dissapeared. At
the time of day I am writing this, is when the problem
started to get really bad, but there has been no
problems since I wiped out and reinstalled Windows.
There should be NO REASON to do a monthly clean install of ANy version |
of Windows. If you have to do this something is wrong with either your
hardware, or the way you use your computer.
In any case, this should not affect your modem in any way. If it loses
sync, either the line is bad, or the modem is defective. Have them checked.
--
Ron Hunter rphunter@charter.net |
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Ron Hunter
Guest
|
| Posted:
Fri Dec 24, 2004 8:04 am Post subject:
Re: Virus and Cable Modem |
|
|
Charles Newman wrote:
| Quote: | "Beauregard T. Shagnasty" <a.nony.mous@example.invalid> wrote in message
news:331a2eF3oj487U1@individual.net...
Charles Newman wrote:
It is possible for a virus or trojan to screw up my cable modem
without affecting the rest of Comcast's network?
Of course. But not your modem, your computer.
Well, something was causing the modem to lose
connectivity, which has appeared to have stopped
since I restored Windows on the image I have made
with Norton Ghost.
I was having all kinds of trouble with the modem losing sync, but
when I wiped out and reinstalled Windows (which I do once a month),
Why? My Windows2000 was installed almost five years ago.
Wiping out and resinstalling Windows get rid of
any spyware, viruses, or trojans my virus software
might miss.
the problem suddenly dissapeared. At the time of day I am writing
this, is when the problem started to get really bad, but there has
been no problems since I wiped out and reinstalled Windows.
Do you have a firewall on that computer? A box with no firewall on a
broadband connection is a bullseye waiting for a missile - which will
be coming along in just a few minutes, every time you reinstall Windows.
I do have a firewall, but even with a firewall, things
like spyware, adware, viruses, trojans, and the like
can still sneak in, which is why creating an image
with Norton Ghost, and using that once a month to
restore Windows is actually a good practice.
It should NEVER be necessary. I have three computers, all running |
WinXP. All have firewall and antivirus protection, and all work from a
router. I have had no virus, trojan, or maleware problems, and I
haven't done a thing to windows except install patches and Service Packs.
--
Ron Hunter rphunter@charter.net |
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cquirke (MVP Win9x)
Guest
|
| Posted:
Fri Dec 24, 2004 4:10 pm Post subject:
Re: Virus and Cable Modem |
|
|
On Thu, 23 Dec 2004 17:52:27 -0800, "Charles Newman"
| Quote: | "Beauregard T. Shagnasty" <a.nony.mous@example.invalid> wrote in message
Why? My Windows2000 was installed almost five years ago.
Wiping out and resinstalling Windows get rid of
any spyware, viruses, or trojans my virus software
might miss.
I do have a firewall, but even with a firewall, things
like spyware, adware, viruses, trojans, and the like
can still sneak in, which is why creating an image
with Norton Ghost, and using that once a month to
restore Windows is actually a good practice.
|
Poor practice compared to finding out what malware is getting in, how
it's getting in, and fixing that. All you are doing is learning
nothing, and re-creating the same infectable state again and again.
Your installations prolly spend half theier lives spewing out malware
via your nice fat cable connection. We do not thank you for that.
| Quote: | ---------- ----- ---- --- -- - - - -
Proverbs Unscrolled #37 |
"Build it and they will come and break it"
>---------- ----- ---- --- -- - - - - |
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Hooda Gest
Guest
|
| Posted:
Fri Dec 24, 2004 7:30 pm Post subject:
Re: Virus and Cable Modem |
|
|
"Charles Newman" <charlesnewman1@comcast.net.spammers.will.be.shot.on.sight>
wrote in message news:JcKdnWbI8I7B61bcRVn-rw@comcast.com...
| Quote: |
"Beauregard T. Shagnasty" <a.nony.mous@example.invalid> wrote in message
news:331a2eF3oj487U1@individual.net...
Charles Newman wrote:
I was having all kinds of trouble with the modem losing sync, but
when I wiped out and reinstalled Windows (which I do once a month),
Why? My Windows2000 was installed almost five years ago.
Wiping out and resinstalling Windows get rid of
any spyware, viruses, or trojans my virus software
might miss.
|
I have three machines; two at home, one at work. All three have been running
on their original installation since 1999. Only upgrades and patches have
been installed in that time.
I don't doubt that sometimes, under certain conditions, that someone might
get frustrated and frazzled enough to wipe and re-install but it should
*never* be necessary if you pay attention to what you install, what take off
(and how), use decent protections against malware, and don't confuse
hardware trouble with viruses and trojans.
Sorry, this is a pet peeve of mine.
--
Hooda Gest
"Respect is difficult to win, easy to lose." |
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Charles Newman
Guest
|
| Posted:
Sat Dec 25, 2004 12:22 am Post subject:
Re: Virus and Cable Modem |
|
|
"Beauregard T. Shagnasty" <a.nony.mous@example.invalid> wrote in message
news:331g1eF3r32saU1@individual.net...
| Quote: | Charles Newman wrote:
"Beauregard T. Shagnasty" <a.nony.mous@example.invalid> wrote
Do you have a firewall on that computer? A box with no firewall
on a broadband connection is a bullseye waiting for a missile -
which will be coming along in just a few minutes, every time you
reinstall Windows.
I do have a firewall, but even with a firewall, things like
spyware, adware, viruses, trojans, and the like can still sneak in,
..only if you don't practice safe hex. What browser do you use?
|
I use Internet Explorer, which is the standard in
browsers. 99.9 percent of the computers in the
world run IE, and nearly every Web site is designed
to best work with IE.
| Quote: |
http://home.rochester.rr.com/bshagnasty/tips.html
which is why creating an image with Norton Ghost, and using that
once a month to restore Windows is actually a good practice.
It's nice to have a backup, but reinstalling once a month? Posh. You
have other issues if that is really necessary.
|
Norton Ghost restores Windows in only a few
minutes. |
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|
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Charles Newman
Guest
|
| Posted:
Sat Dec 25, 2004 12:29 am Post subject:
Re: Virus and Cable Modem |
|
|
"Hooda Gest" <Be@One_With.Calm> wrote in message
news:aKVyd.1153994$Gx4.514879@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
| Quote: |
"Charles Newman"
charlesnewman1@comcast.net.spammers.will.be.shot.on.sight
wrote in message news:JcKdnWbI8I7B61bcRVn-rw@comcast.com...
"Beauregard T. Shagnasty" <a.nony.mous@example.invalid> wrote in message
news:331a2eF3oj487U1@individual.net...
Charles Newman wrote:
I was having all kinds of trouble with the modem losing sync, but
when I wiped out and reinstalled Windows (which I do once a month),
Why? My Windows2000 was installed almost five years ago.
Wiping out and resinstalling Windows get rid of
any spyware, viruses, or trojans my virus software
might miss.
I have three machines; two at home, one at work. All three have been
running
on their original installation since 1999. Only upgrades and patches have
been installed in that time.
I don't doubt that sometimes, under certain conditions, that someone might
get frustrated and frazzled enough to wipe and re-install but it should
*never* be necessary if you pay attention to what you install, what take
off
(and how), use decent protections against malware, and don't confuse
hardware trouble with viruses and trojans.
Sorry, this is a pet peeve of mine.
|
Well, Norton Ghost makes it easy. I can restore
from the image file anytime I want. Got the idea
from when I went to college. They used a program
they had to automatically wipe out and restore
Windows every night when the labs closed. The
final duty of the night for the last lab attendant of
the day was to run that program on all the computers
in the lab, which wiped out and restored Windows
every night on every computer. The lab attendants
had to do that every night before closing the lab
for the night. The system was totally automated,
all an attendant had to do was to start the program,
and then Windows would be wiped out and
restored, and then the system shut itself down for
the night. |
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