Svchost.exe, alg.exe and SP2

Have had SP2 installed for almost two weeks now. Haven't
had any problems except that ever since installation, I
get firewall alerts when my computer first boots, and
again when I connect to the internet. The alerts are that
svchost.exe and alg.exe are trying to access the
internet. I have Mcafee firewall, so have disabled the
Windows firewall. I don't use ICS (Internet Connection
Service), and alg.exe is set to Manual in Services. I
always allow the files access. I have Mcafee antivirus,
Spybot, and Adaware, all are up to date. When I first got
the alerts from Mcafee firewall, I ran Spybot and Adaware,
they found nothing. Is it safe for me to let my firewall
always allow them access, so that I don't get the alerts?

Stan,

My problems started with the download of Windows XP, SP2.

I'm in a very similar position to you. I tried all the guidelines from
Microsoft troubleshooters etc., to get Windows auto-update to function and
messed up my McAfee Firewall (and Viruscan) and subsequently my SP2 download.
I think I've now got these back the way they should be.

However the only way I can get Windows auto-update to work is by giving
Svchost filtered access in McAfee Firewall. I'm still somewhat concerned
about this as it feels like a back door into my system. When I disconnect
from the internet and close Internet Explorer McAfee Firewall still says that
'Generic Host Process' is still accessing the internet!

I've posted a query through the McAfee User Forum (under Firewall 4) but so
far the only guideance I've found seems a rather vague 'it's probably OK'. I
think Microsoft need to address this issue as there seems to be a lot of
concern out there - (you only have to do a search on Google to see this).

I know this doesn't move the issue on atall but I hope it helps to know
your're not alone with this problem.

Regards

"Stan" wrote:

> Have had SP2 installed for almost two weeks now. Haven't
> had any problems except that ever since installation, I
> get firewall alerts when my computer first boots, and
> again when I connect to the internet. The alerts are that
> svchost.exe and alg.exe are trying to access the
> internet. I have Mcafee firewall, so have disabled the
> Windows firewall. I don't use ICS (Internet Connection
> Service), and alg.exe is set to Manual in Services. I
> always allow the files access. I have Mcafee antivirus,
> Spybot, and Adaware, all are up to date. When I first got
> the alerts from Mcafee firewall, I ran Spybot and Adaware,
> they found nothing. Is it safe for me to let my firewall
> always allow them access, so that I don't get the alerts?
>

Thanks for the info. I was able to get rid of the alg.exe
firewall alert by setting alg.exe to disabled in
services. I finally got fed up of getting the svc.exe
alerts so told my firewall that I recognized the program
and to always allow it. I always had to allow it anyway,
when I denied it access I'd get another alert after about
5 - 10 seconds, and if I denied that, I'd get another
alert, and would keep on getting the alerts untill I
allowed it access.

>-----Original Message-----
>Stan,
>
>My problems started with the download of Windows XP, SP2.
>
>I'm in a very similar position to you. I tried all the
guidelines from
>Microsoft troubleshooters etc., to get Windows auto-
update to function and
>messed up my McAfee Firewall (and Viruscan) and
subsequently my SP2 download.
> I think I've now got these back the way they should be.
>
>However the only way I can get Windows auto-update to
work is by giving
>Svchost filtered access in McAfee Firewall. I'm still
somewhat concerned
>about this as it feels like a back door into my system.
When I disconnect
>from the internet and close Internet Explorer McAfee
Firewall still says that
>'Generic Host Process' is still accessing the internet!
>
>I've posted a query through the McAfee User Forum (under
Firewall 4) but so
>far the only guideance I've found seems a rather
vague 'it's probably OK'. I
>think Microsoft need to address this issue as there seems
to be a lot of
>concern out there - (you only have to do a search on
Google to see this).
>
>I know this doesn't move the issue on atall but I hope it
helps to know
>your're not alone with this problem.
>
>Regards
>
>"Stan" wrote:
>
>> Have had SP2 installed for almost two weeks now.
Haven't
>> had any problems except that ever since installation, I
>> get firewall alerts when my computer first boots, and
>> again when I connect to the internet. The alerts are
that
>> svchost.exe and alg.exe are trying to access the
>> internet. I have Mcafee firewall, so have disabled the
>> Windows firewall. I don't use ICS (Internet Connection
>> Service), and alg.exe is set to Manual in Services. I
>> always allow the files access. I have Mcafee
antivirus,
>> Spybot, and Adaware, all are up to date. When I first
got
>> the alerts from Mcafee firewall, I ran Spybot and
Adaware,
>> they found nothing. Is it safe for me to let my
firewall
>> always allow them access, so that I don't get the
alerts?
>>
>.
>