It's a bad connection, make it stop!

[Lectraplayer]

A program (presumably spyware) keeps requesting something from CNN.com and would prompt me to dial a connection with my NetZero profile (using Windows XP dial-up networking, this profile don't work and requires that you run a piece of software to connect). To silence this message each time I turn the computer on, I went into the properties for that connection and hit both "Don't ask before connecting" and "Don't automatically connect" thinking that it would not attempt a connection, but instead, it automatically dials out a connection and then returns an error that it can't connect (gee, I wonder why!). What's the "other" way to access this same page? (I hit properties in the Network Connections window on this connection, but nowhere do I see the same options I originally selected, and I originally found those options by hitting the Properties button on the prompt window I was getting). I currently have another connection set as default, and I have the same options selected, and that connection is not bothered until I either call up Mozilla (and that other conneciton has not been attempted), or I go into Network Connections and manually instruct it to connect that way.

I know this looks confusing, so read carefully. This is the best way I can think to word this right now.

[mgmcc]

In "Control Panel > Internet options" then the Connections tab, have you set it to "Never Dial a Connection"?

[Lectraplayer]

I have had it this way, but yet this setting is being overridden. I wouldn't think Mozilla override this setting, would it? I know something else is trying to get the computer on the internet, and it wasn't even using my default connection!

Now, I've vaporized my NetZero profile, but my Copper.net profile keeps getting activated by whatever this is. Before, "Never dial a connection" would keep everything silent until I manually started the connection. Could spyware be to blame?

[mgmcc]

Are you running a software firewall that you can configure to block the rogue application from accessing the internet?

[Lectraplayer]

Currently, I only have the Windows XP firewall in place, but am moving to put in new security measures right now. Downlading Stop-Zilla right now.

[laboye]

NetZero has this "Third-Generation Dial-Up" thing where it:

-Keeps rediculously large caches of files and sites
-Checks and receives e-mail at specified intervals
-Dials-out and collects news articles at specified intervals

I am personally against this as it sometimes does it when it is not asked to. Uninstall NetZero's dialer software and reinstall it, making sure you specify the settings manually.

Otherwise, it is indeed spyware.

[Lectraplayer]

I don't have 3G, and have never noticed NetZero dial out. I had this problem before when I just had NetZero, but was able to make it go away (not related to the dialer.) Will axe NetZero, though. I like Copper better.