Posted on 06/07/2006 7:44:21 PM PDT by zeugma
Ping. You might be interested in this.
And I thought it was MY computer! Silly me.
The DOS command route -p add 207.46.0.0 mask 255.255.0.0 [192.168.0.254] (replace the address in brackets with a random address on your current subnet) will permanently route all would-be "phone home" packets to the random address that you specified.
Oh yeah an FYI... if you run ZoneAlarm or some other application level firewall, the executable file to that will be trying to call home is "WgaTray.exe"
Probably simpler to rename that file, or block it, if you don't want to route the packets.
Of course Apple sues and put all clone makers out of buiness. Is there some point being made here about Microsoft's right not to provide online updates to users of stolen software?
And the last post... I promise.
If you want something Windows does to REALLY worry about, this isn't it.
This is: http://web.archive.org/web/20050323094149/http://www.hevanet.com/peace/microsoft.htm
Windows 98 does not connect to Microsoft's computers. Microsoft Windows 98 connects to Microsoft's computers only by user request.
Windows XP connects with Microsoft's computers and expects to be allowed through the user's firewall in many new ways. Each user has a responsibility to control what goes in and out of his or her computer. Microsoft's new networking arrangements make this difficult. Here is a (probably incomplete) list of ways Windows XP tries to connect each user's computer to Microsoft's computers, or expects to be allowed through the user's software firewall:
Application Layer Gateway Service (Requires server rights. "Server rights" means that this Microsoft software inside your computer can set up an arrangement that allows other computers to control it.)
Fax Service
File Signature Verification
Generic Host Process for Win32 Services (Requires server rights.)
Microsoft Direct Play Voice Test
Microsoft Help and Support Center (If you don't stop it, using "Help and Support" notifies Microsoft of the subject of your search.)
Microsoft Help Center Hosting Server (Wants server rights.)
Microsoft Management Console
Microsoft Media Player (Tells Microsoft the music and videos you like. See the February 20, 2002 Security Focus article Why is Microsoft watching us watch DVD movies? [securityfocus.com].)
Microsoft Network Availability Test
Microsoft Volume Shadow Copy Service
Microsoft Windows Media Configuration Utility (Setup_wm.exe, sometimes runs when you use Windows Media Player.)
MS DTC Console program
Run DLL as an app (There is no indication about which DLL or which function in the DLL.)
Services and Controller app
Time Service, sets the time on your computer from Microsoft's computer. (This can be changed to get the time from another time server.)
creepy
They're all good posts, don't quit yet.
I install it on every XP load that I do.
It just makes sense.
The problem is, that users were not notified that the software would be phoning home on a daily basis. Of course, anyone who has watched Microsoft for long enough would not be suprised at all by their Big Brother techniques.
It's one reason (among many) that I don't use their software, legal or otherwise.
That's a cool tool. Never heard of it before. I'll pass it around. Thanks!
OK, fair enough, but users are notified that the purpose of the software is to detect illicit copies of Microsoft products.
Second, the software is not installed automatically, and it is not required to get security updates. It is required to get freebies like anti-spyware.
So thats why my Zone Alarm pops up with this thing every darn day.
Well, all my MS progs are legit, but they coulda just checked once and stoped at that.
I've used that before, it works rather well.
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