Dell Computer Spyware?

[acr1965]

I have noticed over the past few days that Dell Support Center on my computer is trying to connect to sites I frequent- myspace, sportsline, rivals.com (yahoo affiliated sports site). I cannot remember the exact address on these sites DSC was trying to connect to but I believe I read they were either pictures or ads. Has anyone else noticed this with Dell? Also, can DSC be configured to only check for updates or will just blocking from the firewall work? I am not extremely confident in my firewall as it is PC Tools 3 but I have Vista and my choices are very limited.

[Chuck57]

-{ Quote: "I have noticed over the past few days that Dell Support Center on my computer is trying to connect to sites I frequent- myspace, sportsline, rivals.com (yahoo affiliated sports site). I cannot remember the exact address on these sites DSC was trying to connect to but I believe I read they were either pictures or ads. Has anyone else noticed this with Dell? Also, can DSC be configured to only check for updates or will just blocking from the firewall work? I am not extremely confident in my firewall as it is PC Tools 3 but I have Vista and my choices are very limited." }-

My wife has a Dell, but running with XP Pro. She didn't want Vista due to possible software problems with some programs she uses regularly.

I checked her firewall log and there's nothing related to Dell Support Center at all showing. I don't know about your other questions.

[acr1965]

My firewall log calls it SupportSoft Agent Service. I took a second look and the connections it has attempted are-

Images.commissioner.com (from Sportsline.com)
a484.ac-images.myspace.com
a436.ac-images.myspace.com
vmedia.rivals.com (yahoo affiliate)
i.d.com.com
spe.atdmt.com

I blocked them all.