Re: Unknown download activity in background - how to determine what it is?
>> "John John" <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote in message
>
>> It's a pc, apply your own logic (utilise sensible apps.); So take
>> ownership, do some research, do not consult advertisement-driven
>> publications and be responsible - *you* are in charge! If you don't like
>> pc go for available alternatives.
>
> Regardless of what you might think I am no slouch at computers and I don't
> use Adware!
>
Never thought you were incompetent. I just provided useful information for
you kind consideration.
>
> (Did you know that some of the new Sysinternal Microsoft) utilities call
> home without your knowledge?
Really.
>
> Did you know that these Sysinternal utilities do not tell you that they
> call home and that they provide no inbuilt mechanism to stop this
> behaviour?
>
Really.
>
> Do you agree that those applications, amongst others, should be calling
> home without the user's knowledge?
The ones I use don't call. If I'd feel comfortable with an apps. I wouldn't
mind.
>
> Do you agree that users should have no easy method to detect and stop
> these unwanted connections?
Define unwanted; Only install apps. you are comfortable with.
>
> By the contents of your posts I would say obviously not!
Far from it, that's what you're assuming, that's it. Read on the line, not
in between.
>
> There are many other legitimate applications that call home for no valid
> reasons, when you install these application they don't always tell you
> that they will be calling home and they don't always make it easy to find
> that out or to disable "call home" features.
I know, but then again I don't download junk - not even legitimate junk. But
wouldn't mind a 'home call' from an apps. I am comfortable with.
>
> I am sure you didn't know of the Sysinternal utilities calling home...
>
Which Sysinternals apps. call home?
>
> ...and I am sure that you are not in charge of your computer as much as
> you thing that you are!
Assumptions.
>
> But then you don't think that users should have a way of being made aware
> or of stopping those outbound connections so who cares about "being in
> charge" of their computers?
>
Naw, you don't know what I am thinking, never mind about that.
>
>> M/S firewall *can't* do (but they could) because it's recognised to be
>> waste of resources and time. And yes, PFW's are IMO of no value
>> whatsoever; I know because I operate without these apps.
>> John John, don't get blinded by all the marketing hype 
>
> Marketing hype? It appears that you are the one blinded by marketing
> hype! Microsoft marketing hype!
>
If you are not comfortable with this apps. then uninstall and go for an
alternative.
>
> The misinformation published in one of the Microsoft articles provided by
> another poster makes it > clear that Microsoft and its shills are on a
> mission to discredit all firewalls...
It explains how things are in reality. The write-ups are educational and
non-binding. The authors have considerable credentials. Where are yours?
And where are the representatives with their credentials of PFW's refuting
the published arguments? Are you one of them?
>
> ...that monitor outbound connections and to insist that the Microsoft
> firewall is somehow or other superior to all others.
They don't claim superiority, just reality.
>
> Quite amusing when it's coming from an outfit that until a few years ago
> didn't even know what a firewall was!
>
You do underestimate M/S. (Or is it sarcasm?).
> As for your comments of "waste of resources" it is laughable to say the
> least. It this day and age of fast processors and large amounts of RAM
> this is a non issue.
A waste of resources in terms of manpower, spending time on an useless
(outbound filtering)feature. (Sorry for confusion).
>
> Also, the firewall will be using resources just to do its basic job of
> keeping intruder out, the little extra needed to monitor outbound
> connections is negligible.
> Lets get one thing perfectly clear here, I am not claiming, nor have I
> ever claimed that outbound connection monitoring was an effective method
> of dealing with all sorts of malware. I am simply saying that outbound
> monitoring is a useful tool that can alert you to some not so clever
> malware trying to call home and that it can alert you that something like
> your printer software, or Microsoft components might be trying to access
> the internet for no good reason at all. But then it appears that you
> think that users shouldn't know that these things are calling home.
> Neither you, nor Microsoft, nor anyone else will ever convince me that
> outbound connection monitoring is not a useful feature. Period!
>
Alright then; Good luck