Question about Incoming Connections

[exbrit]

Yes It's all blocked anyway, but incoming connections blocked or otherwise aren't necessarily bad, that's all I'm saying.   However as Level 3 Communications and Microsoft work together from what I read online, logic tells me that this isn't anything to do with Amazon.

That said, being a member of Amazon can get you all kinds of solicitations from 3rd parties associated with them.  It's just I can't find any reference to Amazon using that IP.

Message was edited by: Ex_Brit on 25/05/14 8:12:02 EDT AM

[catdaddy]

I was going to edit my post to add also, thank you for the additional links, most informative. Of course you should know,having recieved Microsoft,s MVP Award, nuff said   And yes, Level 3 Communications is legit.

I like you am puzzled as to the that IP Address being associated with Amazon?

Have a Good one,

Going for my "Southern Breakfast"

[selvan]

Hi theflyingmonkey,

I would suggest to use a popular add-on / Extension called Collusion which identifies and displays the background connections made to different websites/servers while navigating to a specific web page. It is easy to understand and comes in a GUI where one can find all related domains when connecting.

Chrome Extension here

Firefox Add-on here (has been renamed LightBeam)

Try these and see if you are able to figure out any..!

[catdaddy]

Hi Selvan,

           Just thought I would inform you that the Hyperlink inserted for the (Chrome) Add-on does not open for me, the one for FireFox does?  It may  be that it is on my end....

Regards,

[Hayton]

The IP address you posted is, as Ex_Brit said, for Level 3 Communications. This is one of the largest network carriers in the United States : it is, in effect, running a big chunk of the internet for other people.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Level_3_Communications

The program you mentioned is a Windows Vista program-checking tool from Microsoft.

Link to Microsoft article removed

Selvan has given you advice about an add-on with which I am not familiar so I can't comment on it; I trust Selvan though not to recommend anything unless it's good. The one I use to see where programs and services are connecting to is TCPView from Microsoft Sysinternals, which I find is good enough for my purposes.

Message was edited by: Hayton - new info available about KB2952664 on 25/05/14 23:04:48 IST

[catdaddy]

@Hayton

         I might add as well, that the (KB2952664) Update is explained HERE  Which checks for compatibility for Upgrading (Windows 7)  not Vista Specific.

[Hayton]

Correct. Thank you for pointing that out. I've amended my previous post.

The question about KB2952664 was asked in another forum -

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r29249714-WIN7-Outbound-Traffic-Permission

Microsoft's explanation is simply that

This update helps Microsoft make improvements to the current operating system in order to ease the upgrade experience to the latest version of Windows.

The posters to that forum aren't convinced nor are they happy

KB2952664 was the cause of the request. It was an analyzer for upgrading windows.

I have that update downloaded but not installed. A pertinent part is at C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download\14f0a47cc8824c1f9cc72360b6191857\amd64_microsoft-windows-a..de-compat-telemetry_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7601.18467_none_e59f18f2101b1222
There I see a file wica.ini which contains:
WebServiceUrl=http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=393639
That redirects to:
https://compatexchange.trafficmanager.net/CompatibilityExchangeService.svc/extended
I believe that is the mothership.
Microsoft provided a glib description of this update, I think because if they had been specific that this update would scan the computer and upload data to a server, and also install drivers, that a lot less people would have installed it.

From what they say there it would not be a good idea to do a System Restore to any point before the KB was installed, and uninstalling it might have unintended consequences.

[catdaddy]

I read that also, and was dubious to say the least. Normally I go through the indvidual updates to see which I would benefit from. Having said that...I rushed through them,and due to the fact it was deemed as "Important"

I Installed it, and the rest is history. Like the "Old adage Goes"  Never (Assume)...and I did.  Big Time.....

All the best ,

Regards,

Hopefully the OP will read your thread,for if I am not terribly mistaken, was going to either Hide,or uninstall.

[exbrit]

Got it here and no problems with it.

[catdaddy]

Have you recieved a McAfee Prompt to (Allow) the "Inventory Tool" Peter?

I have...and I blocked it. Should I still keep it blocked, in your opinion?