What data is being sent of my pc to M$?

[voidmain]

quote:Originally posted by The_Muffin_Man/B0b:
Anyone know a good packet sniffer for Winblows? Can you actually get the packets that are coming out of the computer you have the sniffer on?

I actually use a good one that runs on Windows. It's currently owned by NAI but used to be it's own company called Network General. Here's a link:

http://www.sniffer.com/products/dssrmon-analysis/default.asp?A=1

The one we have I believe runs us around $20,000 yearly.

Also Microsoft has their own version of a sniffer called "Network Monitor" but would you trust it if you are trying to sniff suspicious Microsoft activity? It's included in Server versions of their OS and with SMS.

Of course if you don't want to pay that much I believe there is a Windows version of Ethereal which is Free/free. See http://www.ethereal.com/

You don't have to run it on the machine you are sniffing. You can run it on a different machine as long as the two are on the same non-switched network segment (plug both boxes into a hub, not a switch).

[ October 14, 2002: Message edited by: void main ]

[rtgwbmsr]

A quick 60 second scan found something interesting:
I'm IP scanning everyone on my netblock and reporting it to the first addy in my netblock. WTF?

[rtgwbmsr]

HappyXPUser: During a Windows update where M$ claims that no info is being sent back to M$ (except maybe packet responses on HTTP), there are loads of TCP transmissions going on from my computer to M$.
Data sent from M$ to my computer is sent securely on SSL, but when I send data to M$, it's not secured.

Does that help?

[Doctor V]

Happy WP user, want to switch your OSes language?  Its easy easy easy, no need for reboot.  Just Hold down Ctrl Alt and F2, then log in as root, enter
/usr/sbin/localedrake
choose the language
killall X
done!, only took 20-30 seconds...
Oh wait, maybe this won't work for you.

V

[slave]

quote: posted by flap:
..your Pokemon erotic fan fiction etc.

You mean like this?

[SpeeDFreaK]

Happy XP user, try tiny personal firewall 2. It's free, knows just about every program that accesses the internet, and hopefully it will stop XP from sending stuff off without your knowledge (they may have your consent in the EULA) until you know what they're getting from you. Or you could possibly just block microsoft.com at your firewall and unlock it only to check for updates.

[trickyt]

Well thanks everyone for the handy advice. Looks like my next step is to get a sniffer (some are listed in earlier posts), and see what is REALLY leaving my pc.  Also it sounds like I ought to be installing Linux.  OK, I'm up for it maybe.  But do I have to remove my installation of windows XP.  XP is so much better than the previous version, that i am loath to wipe it out.  Can I install Linux and have a dual boot option with XP or Linux?

[rtgwbmsr]

Cool. Mandrake Linux and a number of other distros can resize your Windows XP partition (to make room for Linux). This thread has lots of info on Linux installation in general, but most of it is on partitioning.

http://forum.fuckmicrosoft.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=13&t=000057

Thanks for having an open mind!
Have Phun!

[trickyt]

Special thanks to the following: (I have given you all stars)
Flap
Psyjax
Calum
HibbeeBoy
VoidMain (5 stars)
The_Muffin_Man/B0b (5 stars)
SpeeDFreaK

So glad to hear that I can make a separate partition (re-sizing the old Windows one), to make space for Linux.  My disk currently shows 59GB out of 80GB free.  How much space do you recommend setting aside for Linux?

[Pantso]

Wow you really have a lot of space there! Leave 30 GBs for Linux I don't know or divide it equally. with so much space I wouldn't even think about it!

Go ahead and good luck with Linux  

[rtgwbmsr]

I say 20 GB for Linux. I would only recommend 30 GB if you plan on spending more time in Linux than Windows.

Erm...my rating dropped in stars but went up in #s...how odd!    :confused:          

I rated you Happy XP. You can figure out what I gave you. You are open minded and not stubborn...very good qualities in a person.

Back on topic: If you need help, we are here. No matter how much of the installation you get through you can get back to Windows to get help.

[ October 15, 2002: Message edited by: The_Muffin_Man/B0b ]

[dishawjp]

Happy XP, welcome to the forum.  WinXP is what drove me to Linux.  I bought my daughter a WinXP computer when she got ready to leave for college this fall.  I installed TPF, a freeware Windows firewall.  The damned computer was dialing into Microsoft.com every 20 minutes that she was online.  Ridiculous!  Obscene too.  Of course I set the firewall to deny dialouts to Microsoft.  I have no idea just what information was being sent, but seriously resent the fact that M$ felt that they had the right to use my (well, my daughter's) bandwidth to dial home... for whatever purposes.

In addition to that nonsense, WinXP was a hog.  Her computer had an Athlon XP 1.8 GHz processor and 256 MB of RAM and was slow as hell.  Even adding another 256 MB of RAM only made it acceptable.  Add to that the fact that the OS limits, or at least attempts to limit your ability to remove the OS or many of its components, and you have what is, to me at least a totally unacceptable excuse for an OS.

If you happen to be happy with WinXP, then good for you.  I've been working and playing with computers for a long time.  I used to be a real believer in Microsoft products for desktop computer applications until Win95, and continued to use it until WinXP.  I even have a Win98 computer in my house, one of 5 desktops, but am working very hard to get free of Windows totally.

Look hard at partitioning your HD and giving Linux a serious try.  It affords a lot of advantages and may well be a serious competitor to M$Windows in the near future for desktop purposes.

I'm sitting in fromt of an OLD P166 w/48MB of RAM, I have a AIM "window" open, am posting to FMS.com and listening to a CD.  Linux works.  WIndows is broken.  Give it a fair shot and you may well find yourself changing your name to "Happy Linux User" or something similar.

Jim

[Fett101]

quote:Originally posted by DOSman:
In addition to that nonsense, WinXP was a hog.  Her computer had an Athlon XP 1.8 GHz processor and 256 MB of RAM and was slow as hell.  Even adding another 256 MB of RAM only made it acceptable.  

Intriguing. My 900mhz, 512mb ram goes silky smooth. Over half of the Ram going unused right now.

[Calum]

happy xp user, i just thought... if ou are considering linux, i should tell you to go and have a read through the FAQ pages at www.faqfuckmicrosoft.tk which is a new site, wheresome of the regular posters here have contributed answers to many questions that people frequently ask.

Just thought of it, maybe i should get into the habit of letting new posters know about it!

[Calum]

"Microsoft windows is sending a report about the problem to Microsoft. This is done with sending all your money and credit card details." or something like that. Ever notice that if you get that message (or a similar one!) and you then click cancel, it sends some data anyway? (what is it? who knows, i can't find out as i will never be installing any Microsoft *** XP products on any computer i ever own!    )