ADSL/Defrag

I got my DSL hook-up Friday (and it cooks!!). Installed a couple programs...yadayada. Decided to scan disc, disc cleanup and defrag. While the computer was defragging I noticed that all four lights on my router are lit up. That caused me to wonder...While I am in the defrag process I have no firewall or AV running. Could someone get into my box while this is happening? Should I pull the ethernet line? Sounds like a silly question to me, but the more I thought about it the more concerned I became. So, what is the right thing to do? Never had DSL before............God, I sure do like it!! TIA Bocce Mon

 

If I disable my firewall temporarily, I disconnect the DSL line. That makes SURE nothing is going to sniff your system while it's wide open... and it is. Disconnecting is not a bad idea; it's cheap insurance. I'm not running a router though. If your router acts as a firewall, you're probably still protected anyway.

 

Thanks GT............. Nope, no firewall so it is wide open. I'll start disabling it when I'm not protected. Thanks again.

 

An echo for GT: When I'm doing periodic cleanup and maintenance, *after* I've updated and run my AV and anti-spyware, backed up and cleaned the registry, and cleared the various trash dumps and junk files, I pull the broadband jack plug out of the back of the computer, and THEN shut down the software firewall, resident anti-virus, and all running apps, and THEN defrag my drives, then do my backups and images. Then I re-plug and reboot.

Using this order leaves my hardware wall alone. The router remains active and available for the other two machines it feeds. Only the machine I'm working on at the moment is out of the Internet loop. Once I re-plug and reboot it, everything is back up and running again.

But if the router were NOT involved, and just the cable or DSL modem plug was in the back of the machine, I'd pull that and then shut down everything (including the sware firewall) before the defrag and drive backups.

It's just a matter of smart, safe computing, IMO.

 

Now that your into DSL it's time to tweak the connections man

 

how?

So how do I tweak the connections? Live2 wire clocked my connection at 830kbps, which seems fast enough for me. One other question: At start-up I now get a dialogue box for a password. I want to be rid of it. I never had this in the past on dial-up. I installed a 10/100 ethernet card to facilitate the DSL. Can I get rid of this password box? I have not configured it, it simply says "default". I click ok and away we go. It is a minor annoyance, but I'd like to be rid of it. I am not going to leave it connected when servicing, I think that I'll use the process that Wizewiz described..it just makes sense. Thanks all.

 

Please do read through to the end from this site
http://www.speedguide.net/ chk out tweaking forum
and for help start here
http://forums.speedguide.net/showthread.php?s=&postid=643301#post643301 Run the TCP/IP Analyzer Test and mark your settings down before starting

 

Thanks!!

Will do. I've a lot to learn I guess!!

 

Almost forgot "always backup before starting" also I recommend cablenut for setting your dsl settings,saves all that trouble of setting it manually by going into your registry.

 

Thanks Jujet84. I'll probably look into all of that after work tonight. Anybody got any input about the password dialogue box?? BTW I run WinME..........

 

If you using WinXP, then you might have configured Windows Time to synchronize time with the Internet once in awhile. (Double click the clock in the taskbar to configure this)

Guess I posted this post (about xp) while you posted info about you were using WinMe. About password dialog, then this might help:

 

Thank you snakefoot!!

 

Don't know why his router lights are on, but at least some of the hacker apps can definitely hit you without a browser. After Blaster worm came out, a lot of people were getting infected with it after fresh installing Windows XP, but before being able to download SP-1, which fixed that vulnerability. At least one of them got nailed withing 5 minutes of finishing the Windows installation. I started advising keeping the high speed connection disconnected while installing, until they at least enabled the Windows firewall, as a stop-gap to protect it until they set up a better firewall & patched Windows. Blaster & some others sniff randomly for any open ports... browser not necessary.

 

I called my ISP

They said that all routers/modems stay lit as long as the computer is on. All four of my lights (power, DSL, ethernet, internet) stay on while the puter is on. The only one to go off when the puter is shut down is the internet light. The lady I was talking to didn't sound too bright. I'm just going to be safe, then I do not have to be sorry. The thought that with DSL an open browser is not necessary is kinda' scary. Besides AV/firewall, what else can be done? I did a security check through Symantec and they came up with an IP address. I checked this through ARIN and found that it was my ISP.