Alert Message! from network router

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slowcoach

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Topic # 30676 17-Feb-2009 14:14

I have been getting between 20-30 emails daily with the Subject "Alert Message!". It goes something like this
"Dear User
You router has detected and protected you against an attempt to gain access to your network. This may have been an attempted hacker intrusion, or perhaps just your ISP doing routine network maintenance. Most of these network probes are nothing to worry about. But repeat alerts should be reported."

Then it lists the day, time, Source, Destination etc of this "probe". The days are always back in 2008!

I have contacted my ISP regarding these messages. They had stopped the ones with them as Source or Destination. They had not been able to stop the others.

I told our PC fixit guy last time he was here, and showed him the messages. He seemed to think they are not harmful. he thinks our firewall, anti-virus, and anti-spyware should give our network enough protection.

I am not worried that our network is in danger of intrusion, just that it is rather annoying to receive these messages and have to delete them everyday.

Any suggestions?

rossmnz

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Reply # 196297 17-Feb-2009 14:52

Disconnect your internet and phone line, close your windows and blinds.

Big brother has their beady eye on you.

All connection with teh outside world must be discontinued!!!!!!1111!!!

The force is strong with this one!

freitasm

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Reply # 196319 17-Feb-2009 15:52

What router do you have? Is this a home connection? This message sounds strange - usually home routers don't send notifications. Are you sure it's not someone trying to get you to install some malware?

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xpd

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Reply # 196320 17-Feb-2009 15:53

Obvious question.... what router are you using ?? <snap>

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nate

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Reply # 196328 17-Feb-2009 16:53

Check the headers of the email, if it doesn't originate from any equipment in a range under your control, ignore them.

slowcoach

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Reply # 196531 18-Feb-2009 15:55

Hi guys

Thanks for the quick replies

Freitasm and xpd - the router (hub?) is 3Com model 3CRWDR101A-75 (I think this is what you mean?). We are set up as a home network (wireless and wired).

nate - please enlighten me re what you mean by the header of the email? When I click on "View Full Header", which part should l be looking at? and how do I find out whether it originates from eqipment in a range under my control? (Sorry, I am really a novice at this)

freitasm

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Reply # 196554 18-Feb-2009 17:01

I guess the next logical question is "does this router support notifications" (which I doubt). If it does, then next question would be "do you remember setting up notifications to your e-mail?"

I think you will find out the router does not support notifications, and that you never entered your e-mail address anywhere in the router configuration - in which case I'd just say these e-mails are just some phishing scam.

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Reply # 196559 18-Feb-2009 17:15

Ive got the same router (or very similar) and never had emails from it nor does it have the option.
Id say theyre scam/phising emails...

XPD / Gavin / DemiseNZ

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nate

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Reply # 196595 18-Feb-2009 20:23

slowcoach:
nate - please enlighten me re what you mean by the header of the email? When I click on "View Full Header", which part should l be looking at? and how do I find out whether it originates from eqipment in a range under my control? (Sorry, I am really a novice at this)

Do a View Full Headers and copy and paste the info in here, then I can point out what is generating the emails.

slowcoach

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Reply # 196681 19-Feb-2009 11:57

Freitasm, xpd, and nate

I have checked my router settings. Under "Firewall" section, has been set to "Alert by e-mail" with my email address.

In the "Alert Message!" emails, there is a refernce to visit a website "http://combat.uxn.com/", to find out more about "the intruder". But when I click the link, it always give "Page Load Error"

nate, I have copied and pasted the "View Full Header" for one fo the messages below. I have deleted my email address from the message for privacy reasons

Return-path:
Envelope-to:
Delivery-date: Thu, 19 Feb 2009 11:14:30 +1300
Received: from Debian-exim by mx1.orcon.net.nz with local (Exim 4.67)
     (envelope-from )
     id 1LZugX-0007Zx-9P
     for ; Thu, 19 Feb 2009 11:14:29 +1300
Received: from [SLOW-COACHES-IP-ADDRESS-GOES-HERE] (helo=brnt)
     by mx1.orcon.net.nz with esmtpa (Exim 4.67)
     (envelope-from <>)
     id 1LZugX-0007Zk-2o
     for ; Thu, 19 Feb 2009 11:14:29 +1300
From: <>
To:
Subject: Alert Message!!!
Message-ID:
X-DSPAM-Check: by mx1.orcon.net.nz on Thu, 19 Feb 2009 11:14:29 +1300
X-DSPAM-Result: Innocent
X-DSPAM-Processed: Thu Feb 19 11:14:29 2009
X-DSPAM-Confidence: 0.6442
X-DSPAM-Probability: 0.0000
Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2009 11:14:29 +1300

Should I just continue to delete these emails, and otherwise not worry about them?

{EDIT MOD (RC):removed IP address}

Filterer

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Reply # 196686 19-Feb-2009 12:31

I'd say that you set up the email notification yourself, the email is from an orcon ip address and if you look on

http://support.3com.com/infodeli/tools/wireless/3crwdr101a75/3CRWDR101A75_User-Guide.pdf

page 70 of the pdf (page 68 in the top left corner) there is an option to turn on email notifications for suspicious network activity.

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slowcoach

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Reply # 196713 19-Feb-2009 14:54

Hi Filterer

Yes, it appears that the emails were sent to advise suspicious network activity, and that the router had been set up to do this.

So if I disable this, I would not get further "Alert Message!",but my network is still protected?

Filterer

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Reply # 196782 19-Feb-2009 20:55

Correct, these are only "notifications" that your router is doing it's job properly!

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Reply # 196794 19-Feb-2009 21:45

Ok, so it's clear now this is an option in the router, and you had it configured this way. I think everyone else were thrown out of the way because this wasn't disclosed.

As said the router is doing its job. Every day millions of packets will go around - some malicious, some just "background noise".

Receiving an email notification for each time there's one such packet would be irritating (as you found out) since there isn't really any reason to be notified that "hey I am your router and I have just protected you"... Because there isn't anything you can do really to avoid those packets so notifications wouldn't be any more effective than not receiving any notification at all.

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raytaylor

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Reply # 196819 19-Feb-2009 23:14

I get this typically 3-5 times a day although my router alerts me through log files. Usually its just a port scan.

Ray Taylor
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slowcoach

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Geek

Reply # 196906 20-Feb-2009 13:27

Thanks a lot guys!

That clears the mystery up for me.

It is good to have you guys to turn to.

Much Appreciated.