Internet Logs

[mike2002]

I'm running Windows 98SE.
In C:/WINDOWS there is a folder named 'Internet Logs'. In there I've noticed that, as well as Zone Alarm logs, there are 40 .TMP files with names like xDBB020. Currently they date from the present time back to 22 June, and total 17.2Mb. I do delete them from time to time.
As yet, I haven't got around to automatically programming their periodic removal with either 'Clean Disk Security' or 'Tracks Eraser Pro', but what do other users do about these files?

[kayofcircles]

I'm using 98SE too, and I just looked in my Internet Logs and, other than the ZA log, only have a couple of tiny files with the "Windows doesn't recognize this file" icon dating to February. Now, further down in the Temp folder, I have a bunch of files..some from scanner..I need to delete. I am not being very helpful..sorry..but my answer would be that I manually delete Temp files, and open ZA log and manually delete "sections" from time to time. I use the free version of ZA, and used the "Delete log" option on Alert page once and ZA didn't keep a log for awhile, so I got in habit of opening log file and deleting sections. Truthfully, I am not sure why I bother to keep a log on ZA anyway..I don't really understand the text of the log, it upsets me to see how often I am pinged, and all I do is delete it anyway.

The only thing is that 17 MBs is a lot of stuff in less than a month, so is there any way you can tell where those .TMP files are coming from?

[mike2002]

Yes, like yourself, I wonder if it's worth keeping a log for Zone Alarm. Sometimes, as the mood takes me, I enable it and sometimes I don't. Even if you do examine a particular 'ping', it's a mystery who the 'pinger' is and where they originate from.

As Zone Alarm says, just sit back and let the product protect your computer. After all, what you don't see you don't worry about.
Returning to the .TMP files, they ARE connected with Zone Alarm but, despite searching Z.A's forum http://forums.zonelabs.com/zonelabs and help pages, I haven't found out what purpose they serve. Z.A.'s technical pages talk about deleting these files when installing other versions etc, and advise keeping the Alert Logs if the user wishes to do so.

As I've been running Z'A. for some years, these files must obviously self-destruct somehow, otherwise there would be hundreds of them.

The mystery continues.......
:confused:

[kayofcircles]

Okay, I am may get grief here, but I have never updated ZA. Could those be update files? My AVG update files are .bin files, and after fetching the update, and putting it in proper folder, I am supposed to delete previous update manually. I don't know if AVG does that automatically..I assume it does..if you update automatically. Since I have always been on slow dial up and want to choose when to fetch update, I do it the way I just said.

I just think small. Up until recently, I had a 4 GB hard drive and since I wanted as much storage space as possible for pics, anything "useless" got deleted..especially 17 MBs which still, in my small thinking, seems a lot.

[mike2002]

Zone Alarm Update Files - No. Z.A does not update as such, it brings out newer versions. I get my notifications sent by e-mail from Z.A. direct. When you install a newer version, Z.A. gives the user the options either for a complete reinstall or to update the version. That's where keeping the alerts come in (should the user wish to retain any previous alerts). Z.A. says that a reinstall is easier, and that's the one I go for. You do lose your list of blocked or approved programs, but it's no problem ticking yes or no each time you first run the applications.

But regarding AVG, that's different because you get an Update and not a newer version. And no, AVG does not delete the previous update, you have to do it manually. I leave the last update in place, so I've only got two at any one time. It does no harm to let a few remain, except if disk space is at a premium! They do weigh in at around 3Mb each.
When fetching the updates, I download them directly to the Update folder, but you then have to remember to run AVG afterwards to install it.

Yes I used to have a 4Gb drive, but my son gave me a thorough 'overhaul' and installed a 40GB one, leaving the 4Gb as a backup disk.

Back to these .TMP files; when viewed there's a lot of empty space (blank 'square' symbols). But here and there is some of the following text herein:

'Access to the Internet from this computer has been locked'.

'The requested network access is not allowed by the current security level'.

'The mail attachment has been quarantined'.

'Check application permission'.

'Lets the user determine if each application can access the Internet or not'.

'The application is not allowed to connect to the given protocol/port'.

There are also references to Microsoft, and also to some of my programs.
I sent an e-mail to Zone Alarm, but they do not offer any support to my 'free' version.

[kayofcircles]

Be careful..:)..Budfred will check in and tell you that ZA doesn't offer dog doo for support on their "pay for it" version either.

Your files do sound like ZA, but I am baffled. Maybe it's just because I have never upgraded to newer version that I don't have any. Hopefully, someone with newer version will check in and let us know if they have any of those files. But 40 files in less than a month almost seem like you're adding more than one a day..and each about half a MB apiece. Weird.

I have a whopping 20 GBs now, but was so used to thinking 4 GBs that I had my husband make the partition there..so C is still 4 GBs..but now I have a "closet" to store pics in when I am finished with them..:)

[Budfred]

Kay,

Actually canine feces would be a good way to describe ZA Pro support by email....:eek: :eek: :D

[Rick]

I just looked at the files I have also ( xDBnn )

They are created by ZA and list / report what has happened while running ZA
To Include denied access .
Those downloaded and quarantined files .
As well as Local network reports

To view them correctly you need a Binary editor .. NOT Notepad or write

[Rick]

Kay

What version of ZA are you running ?
The current update is Version
4.0.123.012

[mike2002]

Rick: My version is 3.7.193. Version 4.x is only available in Zone Alarm Plus.

For all concerned, here are some facts and figures that Z.A. informs me:
23439 Intrusions blocked since install. (Is this normal, considering I went for a complete new install on 4 July 2003)!!
8592 Intrusions have been high-rated.
Inbound protection firewall has blocked 5 access attempts.

Not bad for a free program. :D

[mike2002]

Rick: Yes I managed to (sort of) view these files in the 'Clean Disk Security' program. There's a function to view the Raw File Data, in either Text, Hex, or Dec mode. Most of it still looks double-dutch to me, but it had things like 'Packet from (URL) TCP Port 3950'.
I guess I don't need to retain any of these files do I.

[Rick]

Mike the only files you should not get rid of are those from today
Depending on your version of windoz .
You may not be able to delete todays ( In Use Error)

[mike2002]

Rick: Well - I've deleted the whole lot, including today's.

Plus in Z.A. 'Alerts and Logs', Settings, Advanced, I've unticked the 'Archive Log Text Files Daily' box.

We'll see what happens now. I'll give it a few days and post again.

[kayofcircles]

I knew someone would notice that! Rick, a lady doesn't reveal her age, and a lazy lady doesn't reveal her version.:) The version I am using is doing its job and I pass the test in "stealth"..so "if it aint broke" applies as far as I am concerned.

Yesterday, after looking thoroughly through the ZA settings, I wondered if there wasn't some way to "not" collect those files..so glad you found it, and will remember for future reference.

[mike2002]

I checked my Internet Logs just now and, sure enough, no more .TMP files have been added.
But do I REALLY want a log of whos's trying to ping or hack my computer? I'm protected! To me, it's like people continually knocking on your door; I can't hear them - so why should I worry about it.

Another query solved. ;)

[Rick]

I must be getting lazy.
Or maybe the extra space on this system.
But I just ignore those little extra files in internet log

Until I want to know who it was that attached the wrong files
( One Trojan and a couple of scripts) to messages in a news group.

Then I just add them to the blocked list in my news reader
So they do serve a purpose

Kay
:)