Breaking the limit

stevec · 21-02-2005, 21:49

Good evening - new guy / new post!

I'm using NTL dial-up (sad, I know) which as you know, has a maximum connection limit of 2hrs. Today however, it has been reaching and breaching the connection time by at least 45 mins, before I manually shut it down.

In theory this is good of course, but I was worried about having been infested with a dialler. So I did the following checks which I'd like an opinion on if you wouldn't mind?:

1.) Checked the DUN folder and established there were no new connections.
2.) Checked the number in my existing connection properties which had not changed.
3.) Ran both AVG 7.0 and Ad-Aware which found nothing.
4.) Made sure my XP Firewall was still active (it was).

In addition to this, I was still able to send and receive emails through Outlook Express, which is of course connected to the NTL mail server. I am working under the theory that had a different number been used to connect to the net, OE would have been disconnected from the NTL server and no mail would have been processed. Is that correct??

I emailed NTL Freedom CS for a possible explanation, enclosing all of the above information, who dutifully informed me that the time limit is 2 hours and made no comment on anything else I said. DOH - I KNOW!!

In your opinions, do you think this is anything at all to worry about and have I taken the necessary steps to ensure I'm dialler free??

Thanks for any input.

Steve

PS I have manually created a new conection which I am monitoring now, to see if it too breaches the 2 hour limit.

paulyoung666 · 21-02-2005, 21:52

hi and

to the site , maybe it would be worth giving spybot a go as well , as for the overun of the cutoff i am not sure

Graham F · 21-02-2005, 21:54

are you sure that you didn't connect via the pay as you go number which has no cut off?

stevec · 21-02-2005, 22:01

Thanks for the quick reply lads. I used the 0800 519 0100 number to make the new connection, which is definately the correct one. That was also the number in the active DU connection, when I clicked on its properties after the cut off expired.

Am I correct about the email scenario?

Steve

Graham F · 21-02-2005, 22:08

yes I think you are correct abt the mail, I think it may simply be a glitch at ntls end i seem to recall it happening abt 3 years ago for ntl:home dial up customers

stevec · 21-02-2005, 23:15

The 2nd connection I made also ran over the cut-off, only ending at 2hr 15mins because I disconnected it. Hmmmm, interesting - sounds like it is a problem at the NTL end (I hope).

BTW, I did download Spybot - Search and Destroy and found 11 previously uncovered (by Ad-Aware) browser hijackers and registry entries!! Just shows you can't be too careful eh?

STILL no response from NTL after a further 2 hours, who apparently are on until midnight!

Cheers.

bopdude · 21-02-2005, 23:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevec

STILL no response from NTL, who apparently are on until midnight!

Cheers.

There are a couple of lads and lasses that work for NTL on this forum, stick around / check back, they may see and comment on your ' problem '

stevec · 21-02-2005, 23:24

That would be good. I'm just a little jumpy and really need to know it's a problem at their end.

Thanks.

Raistlin · 22-02-2005, 00:15

You say that you are using the XP built in firewall.

It might be worth you upgrading to a different firewall and ditching the XP one if you are concerned at all about your security.

ian@huth · 22-02-2005, 00:23

If the connection is staying up for more than the 2 hours then it is a problem at NTLs end. Nothing your end can do to keep the connection up for longer than the ISP says. You can use software to automatically redial when the connection drops, but none to prevent it from disconnecting. Don't worry about it, just enjoy it.

stevec · 22-02-2005, 00:42

Thanks all for your comments. I do think that given all the measures I was/am taking, it probably is going to be an NTL issue. It's just nice to get a bit of feedback on it, especially when it's from someone who is perhaps a wee bit more knowledgeable.

Many thanks indeed.

Steve

iron25 · 22-02-2005, 01:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevec

I'm using NTL dial-up (sad, I know)

I have absolutely nothing to contribute except to say thanks for making me chuckle after reading your opening salvo. It was the 'sad, I know' bit that made me laugh

Forgive me, it is late and I needed a bit of a laugh

I'll add a

just to make sure you don't get the wrong idea. I'm not laughing at you, rather your use of the english language. I'm still chuckling whilst writing this (sad, I know)

stevec · 22-02-2005, 19:07

No offence taken whatsoever there iron - always glad to provide a chuckle or three

Raistlin - I am also using Zone Alarm Pro firewall, which I forgot to mention in my previous post. However NTL did get back to me this morning, saying that as long as I was connected to the free phone number then there is nothing to worry about.