Luke writes in with a virus question:
Q. I think my computer is infected. My adsl modem won't stop blinking, even when I disconnect. And I keep getting all kinds of popups. I am running AntiVirus Guard and continuously scan for adware, but my modem still keeps connecting to unknown addresses.
A. Some of the adware/spyware that is going around today can be really tough to get rid of. Lots of the time you will have to run many anti spyware tools to get rid of it all. There will be other times when you remove the spyware it comes right back or you cant get rid of it at all. Have you tried multiple spyware programs? Check here for other programs.
You can also check your add/remove programs or startup items (msconfig) to find things that aren't supposed to be there and remove them. There may be something running in the background that is causing your modems extra activity. Its also better to do your virus and spyware scans in Safe Mode for better results. You can also find sites that offer free online virus and spyware scans.
Check out Windows Task Manager to see exactly what's running on your computer. You can look at the processes tab and check for anything out of place.
You should also make sure you have a DSL/cable router between your computer and your modem. The activity you are seeing might be others scanning for openings on unprotected computers. The router helps to hide your computer from the outside world.
