Auto dialer warning and control

Will Privacy Expert Suite warn me (and give me a chance to block the action) when a program tries to dial up the manufacturer's web site and pass information about some condition on my computer? My ISP has provided a Security Manager but it gives no warning when Windows starts connecting to a server Microsoft Inc. about updates, and on my copy of XP Microsoft has blocked my ability to turn off automatic updates (so that I can contril the process). There must be a program somewhere that allows me to take control over when a software can contact a remote server at the manufacturer's location. Help!

 

the software you need may be a personal firewall (with application control). it can prompt you when an application tries to connect out and u can either allow or deny it.