Router Suddenly Drops Network Connection

Cause

A computer on your network is infected with a virus.

Resolution

What you hear about a virus — even from your knowledgeable friends or computer administrators — may be misinformation. This confusion helps viruses spread, because correct information is mixed with incorrect information.

Read this carefully.

• As of September 2003 certain kinds of Internet viruses became more effective.
• Routers, including NETGEAR's, are affected by viruses that open more TCP/IP connections than the routers can handle. When this happens, the router is not able to process traffic normally.

• You must do this to solve this problem:
  1. Purchase a virus protection program.
  2. Update the virus definitions.
  3. Scan all files on your computer. Delete or repair infected files.
  4. The virus protection needs to remain on, scanning all incoming files.
  5. Set the program to scan all incoming and outgoing email.
  6. Do not leave ports in the 130s and 140s open, unless being used. By default they are closed, and there is not a problem. They would not be open unless you explicitly opened them, for example through a DMZ server or by port forwarding.
  
  
• You should do this:
  1. Windows users should install all the latest critical updates. Link to Microsoft Windows Update. Critical updates are often released only a few days apart, so to be very safe, make going to the Microsoft updates one of your weekly tasks. It doesn't require much effort.
  2. If you do not have a NETGEAR router with a firewall, run a firewall product. (Windows XP comes with a firewall.)
  3. If you have a NETGEAR firewall router, turn off the Windows XP firewall. (Windows may have turned it on without your knowledge.)
  4. If you have a portable computer, it should be protected by a firewall at all times.

Doc: N101208.asp Oct. 23, 2003