Forced off the net by spyware

[MissaFX]

Hello all,
I don't know what the crap is going on with my dad's pc, but for some reason it downloads 30 megs of data every time I connect to the internet or let it run for an hour or two.  This is why my bandwith maxxed out so fast this month   I cannot find any process or update doing this and unless I want to start getting raped by charges, I will have little choice but to not use the internet for some time.

I will pop in a few times if I can before then, but see you guys on the 14th

[ceti alpha]

That sucks missa. I will keep looking and ask around to see if there is a solution to this.

[Necromancer]

See ya in a couple o' weeks; enjoy the PC-FX game time.

If you want to find the culprit, may I suggest NetHogs?  It'll show bandwidth used by each process, though it's for Linux so it may not be useful for you.  If you're on Windows, then try CurrPorts.  It'll reveal all open ports, which process opened the port, and allow you to close the connection and/or process.  Unfortunately it doesn't show which one is being a pig, so you'll have to suss that out for yourself.  If all else fails, install a firewall and set it to ask for all outbound connections and don't allow any until you're 100% certain that they're good 'uns.  Best of luck.

[MissaFX]

I found the bastard with CurrPorts, ty...but I have less than 140 megs for 12 days...joy.

[ceti alpha]

I found the bastard with CurrPorts, ty...but I have less than 140 megs for 12 days...joy.

Woot! Necro saved the day. 

[Necromancer]

but I have less than 140 megs for 12 days...joy.

No high-def. porn for you! 

Seriously though, what was it?  Spyware, misbehaving app, or what?

[MissaFX]

but I have less than 140 megs for 12 days...joy.

No high-def. porn for you! 

Seriously though, what was it?  Spyware, misbehaving app, or what?

It was this gateway app called "Big Fix" which I asked my dad if I could remove for him when he got the PC.  It got hung up doing some auto download of 28 megs, where it was downloading it over and over again.  I deleted the program.