Lately when I have been listening to music (using MusicMatch) I have found that the music starts to slow down it's tempo so that each note & lyric seem to drag out. When I run to the computer to check on it, I keep finding pop up windows advertising different products or services. It is not an Internet explorer window though. This not only annoys but also scares me that someone has control over what my computer does. I am not entirely sure that MusicMatch is the culprit though. I did upgrade their software recently, but this also happened when Musicmatch was not running. The only other program I have installed lately is Media Jukebox. Is there any way that I can block this or if some program is running in the background is there a way I can detect it so I can fix this problem. I am a little paranoid right now. By the way I am running XP HOME on a Cable internet connection. Would a firewall help? If not what can do the trick?
Thanks for any help you guys can give.

They're probably WinPopUp messages, which anyone can send to your computer from anywhere on the internet. A firewall would definitely help if that's the case.

Edit: Here's some info.

Could it be this?

Thanks to both of you. That is exactly what I am talking about......Now off to buy Firewall software. Any recommendations on software?

Something else you might want to try is to download Ad-aware and run it. This is a GREAT piece of software that can locate just about any piece of spyware or unwanted ad software and remove it for you. It works wonders.

I realize that your problem was more system related - but this software works great for just about any other annoying thing that is not system related.

- trs

Instead of getting firewall software, I would invest in a hardware firewall that is built into a cable modem router. You can buy these at any electronics home center (Best/Worst Buy, Curcuit S**tty, etc) and they are farily inexpensive. I have a Linksys Wireless router and for me it works great, although I have heard complaints about Linksys compared to D-Link.

Anyway, for $100 you can have a hardware firewall, a router so you can connect multiple computers to your cable modem, and a wireless access point. here's one that is 802.11g (fast wireless) and inexpensive.

And it's FREE

Instead of getting firewall software, I would invest in a hardware firewall that is built into a cable modem router.

I agree, and can't stress this enough. A hardware NAT/Router is so much better than firewall software, and they're not very expensive these days.

My feeling is: If the machine is exposed enough to be getting those WinPopup messages, then there's a high likelihood that it has other things exposed that would allow a remote compromise. Probably hacked to the gills by now. Noticed any new FTP server folders full of porn lately?

You can even, if you've got the parts lying around, make your own hardware fw. Just run a minimal linux dist on an old machine with 2 NICs...no worries

Linux Router Project

You can even, if you've got the parts lying around, make your own hardware fw. Just run a minimal linux dist on an old machine with 2 NICs...no worries

Someone clueless enough to run windows on a fixed IP address fully exposed with no firewall isn't going to have the skills to build and configure a Linux box as a firewall.

Point taken

A hardware NAT/Router is so much better than firewall software

Agreed. I picked up a NAT/Router at CompUSA for under $30 not too long ago. Was made by NetworkEverywhere - a division of Linksys. Complete with web interface.

I agree, and can't stress this enough. A hardware NAT/Router is so much better than firewall software, and they're not very expensive these days.

As long as it is not Microcom 808 (bought as Compaq a year or so ago). Poor excuses for software from Redmond don't hang as often as this piece of garbage (of course, specs are nice on paper).

Just run a minimal linux dist on an old machine with 2 NICs...no worries

I do this at the moment (a Pentium 133), but I've decided to replace it in the near future with an integrated box solution -- they're smaller and quieter.

Or you could combine a linux distro (such as www.ipcop.org) and a Mini-ITX box (www.mini-itx.com) which is my longer-term plan.

Currently I use IPCop running on a old compaq P100, 16MB machine with a 1GB disc. Unfortunatley, whilst it's performant, it's too noisy.

My plan is to go to a mini-itx (probably EPIA 500, which is fanless) system for size and noise as you say. (See linitx.com - check out the 'light' system)

Paul.

Smoothwall is good IMO. It's a Linux based firewall requiring a low-end PC and 2 NICs (or 1 NIC and modem etc.). There's a self-booting ISO available and installation is a breeze even if you don't know Linux. An extra 'win' here is that you don't have to fiddle with Linux to make rules or check for patches, it's all done via a web interface.

I do this at the moment (a Pentium 133), but I've decided to replace it in the near future with an integrated box solution -- they're smaller and quieter.

True, but they're less configurable. In my experience, I can do a lot more with my OpenBSD box than any of my friends can begin to do with their appliances (not counting normal Unix stuff I can do).

Of course, that may not be a concern for you.

Smoothwall were the same. IPCOP is a fork of the Smoothwall code from some time back.

They are pretty similar in function as far as I can see, but I prefer IPCOP. Either will do the trick...

Paul.

they're smaller and quieter.

True, but they're less configurable.

And that's really the root of the difference between the two. The integrated boxes are easy to set up (just plug them in), they are either quiet or silent, and work like an "appliance". But like any appliance, you're stuck with whatever features came with it. For the person who started this thread, I think that is the proper way for him to go.

For those who want a tweakable, configurable, upgradeable system, then you need the knowledge to build and maintain it (as well as needing the extra PC and two NIC cards).

then you need the knowledge to build and maintain it

And since Linux changes its firewall model with every major release, I'm frankly getting bored trying to keep up. Not to mention that I've not found any documention that explains iptables anything like as well as the HOWTO for ipchains did for that.

Well, you could use an OS that has a stable firewall package.

LOL. I just knew that was coming.

Doesn't run on Linux. How the heck am I supposed to use my empeg as a firewall?

How the heck am I supposed to use my empeg as a firewall?

Especially considering the empeg has only one ethernet interface.

I once used a single interface computer as a firewall. It's doable if not perfectly secure. Do any backbones support loose-routed packets anymore?

ppp out the IR interface.

Planning ahead for Chimaera's USB ethernet interface..

At the moment there is no way any hacker could get through it , but you won't get any useful data through it either

Old thread, but I thought this was amusing. I got a WinPopup spam today advertising for a product to block WinPopup spam.

They're nice enough to charge you $10 for the privilege of turning about a dozen mouse clicks total into a piece of software you have to install which might save a couple of mouse clicks here and there. Sweet!