svchost.exe??

[kmillerusaf]

Hey everyone,

I have a new laptop and currently have sygate personal firewall protecting my computer and it keeps telling me it is blocking svchost.exe from connecting to the internet. I was wondering if it should be and what would be causing it to try and connect to the internet. AVG and Ad-aware aren't picking up anything as far as spyware and viruses. Also I did a free port check @ ShieldsUp! and it says that my computer is accepting ping replies which makes my computer vulnerable... How can I set up Sygate or my laptop to not respond to ping replies? Thanks in advance all

Keith

[newbuilder14]

Check this out: http://exelib.com/exe/27

I actually entered quite a few processes to that site.

[kmillerusaf]

that's cool and all but it still doesnt tell me whether or not it should be trying to connect to the internet. should it?

[newbuilder14]

I think svchost is in charge of all your network connections.

[Cricket]

Depends where the svchost.exe is located. The real svchost.exe is located in the C:\Windows\System32 folder. If it's located somewhere else, it's malware (spyware, trojan, virus).

Description of Svchost.exe in Windows XP (http://windowsxp.mvps.org/svchost.htm)

:) Cricket

[glc]

If you have XP, why use Sygate at all? The XP firewall is quite adequate.

[kmillerusaf]

Well like I said previously, Shieldsup! said my system was vulnerable because it was responding to ping requests so I figured installing a firewall would be the thing to do... Originally I was just going to go with Windows Firewall until then but shieldsup! is still telling me I am vulnerable with sygate personal firewall active... what should I do?

[Ob1]

how is your network setup? dsl/cable modem? what kind of router/firewall do you have?
how many pcs are on your LAN?

most hardware routers/firewalls have the option to block icmp (ping) requests, so that should take care of ouside sources pinging your router/network.

you can also block icmp requests in the windows firewall, by going to advanced tab in the windows firewall, choose the settings tab for icmp and uncheck allow icmp echo requests

[kmillerusaf]

right now I am using free wifi where I am staying and am using sygate personal firewall as my protection... before that I was just using windows firewall

[kmillerusaf]

oh and by the way, all the options are unchecked for windows firewall yet it was still responding.. thats weird aint it?

[Ob1]

running two software firewalls is not a good, so im guessing sygate when installed has disabled or turned off the windows firewall. so you would have to configure sygate to block icmp requests.

if you have uninstalled sygate make sure windows firewall is turned on. if its still responding to icmp requests then on the advanced tab choose the restore defaults button on the firewall and then go back into icmp settings and uncheck allow icmp echo requests.

[kmillerusaf]

of course i know better than to run two firewalls or a/v's at the same time but I will uninstall sygate and try windows firewall again with the settings you have given me.. Thanks

Keith