Sudden dial-up box problem

[grahambell]

For some reason, about a week ago the internet dial-up box started to appear every time I booted up my computer. Also appears on shutdown. Tried clicking connect to see what happens, and it doesn't load Outlook Express or IE, but the dialog box showed that data was being downloaded, so I disconnected.

I've emptied the temp internet folders, pressed 'delete cookies' run a full virus scan and even loaded the Freeserve CD and done the retrieve account bit but it's still doing it.

So, any idea what's causing it and what I can do about it?

Thanks.

[TheHobbit]

do you get a pop up dos box, even if its *really* brief? is it windows 98?

[grahambell]

Haven't noticed a pop up DOS box, but I'll try and take a closer look next time. Yes, it's Windows 98 (SE).

[hut49]

Sounds like some program is set to dial automatically. Prevent this by going to the dial-up settings drop down under "tools" in Internet Explorer and clicking the button that says never dial a connection.

If you're not sure why it has suddenly started dialling automatically - new software installed recently eg antivirus or firewall set to automatic live update? - then I would suspect something may have taken up residence on your pc and would run both AdAware and SpyBot - both available as free downloads.

[TheHobbit]

when my fathers pc started doing that, he had been infected by a kind of virus called a worm.

so... things to check:

check your AV product is up to date, and has the latest signature files downloaded. also, have a peek in c:windows, c:windowssystem and c:windowssystem32 looking for any of the following (it might not be this virus, but this one does infect win98 PCs very easily, and is the one I found on Dads):

BRASIL.PIF (may be 24,064 bytes)
BRASIL.EXE (may be 24,064 bytes)
ALEVIR.EXE (28,672 or 32,256 bytes)
MQBKUP.EXE (28,931 bytes)
MARCO!.SCR (12,800 or 39,424-40,963 INSTIT.BAT (21,504 bytes)
SCRSVR.EXE (45,056 bytes)
PUTA!!.EXE (29,065 bytes)
MSTASK.EXE (20,480 bytes)
SRV32.EXE (18,432 bytes)
BRASIL.EXE (47,616 bytes)
MQBKUP.EXE (17,408 bytes)

[grahambell]

Hi Hobbit.

Checked for DOS box and didn't see one. My Norton AV is supposed to be up to date, but I'll check for the ones you've listed.

Thanks.

[jam1et]

You havent set your AV application to download updates on bootup have you? This will probably run in the back ground so you wont see your AV software running apart from the attempted dial up. When it happens do a ctrl+alt+del and look in task manager to see whats running in the background. When you've got a list let us know on here and we can check em out.

[grahambell]

Hi jam1et,

Wouldn't have thought it was that as it only started doing it last week and no AV settings had been changed.

Seems more like something it's picked up, but I'll give it a try and see what happens. Cheers.