Sometimes (not always) when I try to update my Norton 2002 antivirus, Zone Alarm says that "distributed.com" is asking for server rights. Of course I say "NO" but then the consequence is that the Norton live update stops working and I cannot update my virus definition file. It's only after I reboot my computer that I can give it another try. If I don't get the query about distributed.com asking for server rights, then all is OK and I can update Norton antivirus. Do you know what's happening ? Should I grant distibuted.com server rights ? Is there any security risk doing so ? Why is DCOM asking for server rights ? Many thanks in advance for your answer.

hi moctar, i had the same problem like that last year. it started when my wife installed pcanywhere to work from home. if i remember correctly the problem is with the file rpcss.exe wanting to connect to the internet. at the time i was using zone alarm and it was giving me fits. i found through some research on the matter that you should not delete rpcss.exe nor Dcom.exe as it will cause you lots of problems. the reason for Dcom and rpcss.exe is that they are a microsoft files that broadcast out to certain sites of which i can't remember at this moment. the solution to disabling the broadcasting out is in the registry. go to HKEY local machine/software/microsoft/ole and change the key that says Enable Remote Connect to "NO" you may leave the Enable Dcom key to yes. hoping that someone else has more info on this topic. hope this helps, murve

Could this be UPNP ? You could turn this program off and see if it does the trick. It worked for me.... http://www.computing.net/security/wwwboard/forum/942.html If it does work post back for others to see. Thanks.

http://www.microsoft.com/com/tech/DCOM.asp

Thanks to all for your answers and help. I will try the offered solutions and keep you posted.

You need DCOM for IE5 but you can do without RPCSS.exe. I renamed mine RPCSS.EX_ ages ago and nothing has happened so far.