Sometimes, one of those oldies-but-goodies for PC security comes along and reminds you of an essential tool. Did me. I used to do it frequently - then forgot about it. From the latest issue of WXPNews. How to find out what programs on your computer are connecting to the Internet. . . Wondering if there's a spyware program on your computer that's surreptitiously sending information over the Internet? Want to know which of your legit programs are "calling home?" There's a command line utility that will help you find out, and it works in both XP and Vista. Click Start. In XP, click Run and type cmd in the Run box. In Vista, you need to open the command prompt with elevated privileges, so click All Programs, Accessories, then right click Command Prompt and select Run as Administrator. At the command prompt, type netstat -nab This displays a list of running programs, the protocol being used by each to connect to the Internet, and the IP address and port being used. IronMan

PS: Yes, there are a number of ultilities - freeware and sharware - which can accomplish the same task. But for quick and reliable check without these programs, the -nab command still works well. :)

Hey Ironman - I've seen this thing mentioned in a recent article somewhere. I just can't remember the article itself. Care to fill me in :-) BTW this is good info for the Sherlock Holmes wannabe :-) i_Xp/VistaUser

netstat: Network connections -n: Numbers (IE no domain names or service names; only IP's and ports.) -a: All, lists the listening ports as well. -b: Don't know what it stands for, but it gives the owner of the connection. Also useful: -bv: Lists the .DLL's involved.

XpUser, I've been a subscriber to the WXPNews newsletter for a number a years. Always useful, and they've been publishing helpful tips for Vista ever since its release. Here's the URL for their website and the article I/you mentioned (#5 on the list when you get there): WXPNews As far as Sherlock Holmes, I've always been a huge fan of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. :) Razor2.3, I've used those commands too. Good that you posted them - security-conscious folks need to know them. IronMan

Got it, thanks. BTW Deb Shinder is also one of my favorite authors. i_Xp/VistaUser

I love those two guys too. Sir Arthur and Conan Doyle are really nice guys. To add to what you were saying. In SPAM emails they use jpeg files to notify them if an email address is good or not. When your email downloads the pictures it sends a message back letting them know it was received and by what address. I'm not a big fan of Zone Alarm just because they are like giving a monkey a loaded gun. I know a lot of people who have wasted a lot of money paying for support when Zone Alarm breaks their internet connectivity. but.... One advantage of it is that it will report when something is outgoing as well as incoming.