Application blocked
The following unknown application tried to connect to the Internet.
Application: arc.exe
Reason: Tried to create an internet connection
Location: c:\program files\arc\arc.exe
Reupation: Unknown
Popularity: Common
Operation: Tried to connect to the internet or local network
Destination: 54.148.37.87(80) *^^there were 2 other IP listed after this one^^*
Arc tried to establish a connection to 3 seperate IP address during a transaction with Paypal. A transaction which had nothing to do with Arc, PWE, or Cryptic. Arc was closed/not logged in.
Why? Has this happened to anyone else? This appears to be the action of malware. Another reason I should continue to use Steam and uninstall Arc, in my opinion.
In a complicated manor, I do not wish to go into; it's for your own safety.
The Arc client are open, disconnected, and you use a process Arc does. The reason it tries to connect.
Arc are always connected through several IP's. (Steam are even worse, on many other areas as well, if that where your point.)
But in all, I can't even find a reason you wouldn't pass Arc through your firewall? Or close it completely if you're disconnected any way?
In a complicated manor, I do not wish to go into; it's for your own safety.
The Arc client are open, disconnected, and you use a process Arc does. The reason it tries to connect.
Arc are always connected through several IP's. (Steam are even worse, on many other areas as well, if that where your point.)
But in all, I can't even find a reason you wouldn't pass Arc through your firewall? Or close it completely if you're disconnected any way?
Arc loader is not completely through my firewall, far as I know. I have Arc loader set up to request admin permission every time I use it. Only an idiot allows any program complete access to a PC, in my opinion. DOTexe (where this program seems to be doing its thing on my PC and requesting admin access) is where major changes on the PC happen, from the information I was given. I could be wrong about .exe, but I was told to NEVER allow unmonitored access by an outside program to DOS or .exe on my PC.
This is beside the point. Arc loader activated when I made a purchase using Paypal. My malware program told me in a notice(the list I posted). The purchase was not for items at any PWE vendors. It was for electronic components.
Unless PWE is affiliated with the sells department of Bestbuy or the transaction department of Paypal, Arc loader should not have tried to connect anything. Arc loader was closed and I was logged out. This is my point.
p.s. I was serious about using Steam to play STO. My malware programs have not detected any suspicious activities from Steam in the year I have been using it. I'm not trying to promote Steam. It just seems less suspicious.
Well, at one point ARC used to install a background process that monitored all of your internet usage, if I remember correctly. This is one of the reasons I never installed it. Suffice it to say that it's not very privacy friendly. Also the whole Pando Media Booster thing (basically it operated a background torrent process that used your computer as a file host). Plus Arc installed its ArcPlugin in Firefox and other browsers. In essence, Arc has always acted like malware in several ways.
It's been a couple years so I don't know how much things have changed, but maybe ARC's still watching all the sites you visit and when it sees Paypal is visited, it activates some sort of "Hey, this person bought something" signal to PWE that's part of the security for Zen-buying.
I'm just speculating, though. But I would suggest checking your browser add-ons to see if there's arc stuff in there.
Zinc: The universe of Star Trek Online is shaped and changed by the actions of the players...expect to see new planets and races discovered that were unknown the last time you logged in."
You do not have to use arc at least. The Sto launcher can be ran independently. Just look for the game and run it directly.
Just keep one thing in mind. PWE does not need arc to spy on your computer. If you think about it Sto is many times larger and access the HDD frequently and uses constant network connection while running. You could hide the needle in the tiny pile or you can hide it in the hay stack.
I wouldn't worry about arc. But if you want to and still need to enter the freebie codes once in a while you can always install it on a vm.
Pando Media Booster was high-jacked after they discontinued the use and the only problem with it. (Correct that it where a Peer-to-peer application, but it was removeable after use.) The fail laid with those people that didn't delete it from their systems right after last use. Before, it was just as trustworthy as Steam, and that doesn't say much.
If you're afraid that somebody is going to take some information off your computer, I suggest you don't install any program at all. Any firewall, AV or AM program would have a hard time stopping it, as you already have given the nessecary permissions, by installing the program. They can, in its sense, only detect what are open to your view.
STO and every other game, collects a vast variety of information, and you have NO control over what they take. You can only trust that it isn't personal information and they sell it.
Tend to trust lazy developers more when they doesn't overwrite your firewall, AV and AM permissions on installation.
Arc loader is not completely through my firewall, far as I know. I have Arc loader set up to request admin permission every time I use it. Only an idiot allows any program complete access to a PC, in my opinion. DOTexe (where this program seems to be doing its thing on my PC and requesting admin access) is where major changes on the PC happen, from the information I was given. I could be wrong about .exe, but I was told to NEVER allow unmonitored access by an outside program to DOS or .exe on my PC.
This is beside the point. Arc loader activated when I made a purchase using Paypal. My malware program told me in a notice(the list I posted). The purchase was not for items at any PWE vendors. It was for electronic components.
Unless PWE is affiliated with the sells department of Bestbuy or the transaction department of Paypal, Arc loader should not have tried to connect anything. Arc loader was closed and I was logged out. This is my point.
p.s. I was serious about using Steam to play STO. My malware programs have not detected any suspicious activities from Steam in the year I have been using it. I'm not trying to promote Steam. It just seems less suspicious.
Admin permissions and Firewall permissions are two different things.
Admin permissions allows a program to open on your account, and make system changes - However, from here on, you lost control if you granted it (even just once. After the first time, you could loose ALL control, even if it ask for permission every time).
Firewall permissions allows a program to establish an unsecure network connection. - It doesn't have to be unsecure, but also to have the ability to send information. Most programmers include a Windows Firewall exclution in the installation, as you already agreed to the use of the program.
Again, you used a portal ARC uses. It most likely have a trigger build in to make sure it's online at that point, to ensure you do not make futile attempts to purchase Zen. The facts it's running, even though offline, does not exclude this application, as any, from having some features that provides service and security.
The fact that your Malware programs haven't been able to find anything on Steam, are not a wuuhuuu thing. There can be many, many other reasons for that.
But, but... You use that you're most comfortable with. Just don't forget... They're all big-time companies that are out here to make money.
Comments
The Arc client are open, disconnected, and you use a process Arc does. The reason it tries to connect.
Arc are always connected through several IP's. (Steam are even worse, on many other areas as well, if that where your point.)
But in all, I can't even find a reason you wouldn't pass Arc through your firewall? Or close it completely if you're disconnected any way?
Arc loader is not completely through my firewall, far as I know. I have Arc loader set up to request admin permission every time I use it. Only an idiot allows any program complete access to a PC, in my opinion. DOTexe (where this program seems to be doing its thing on my PC and requesting admin access) is where major changes on the PC happen, from the information I was given. I could be wrong about .exe, but I was told to NEVER allow unmonitored access by an outside program to DOS or .exe on my PC.
This is beside the point. Arc loader activated when I made a purchase using Paypal. My malware program told me in a notice(the list I posted). The purchase was not for items at any PWE vendors. It was for electronic components.
Unless PWE is affiliated with the sells department of Bestbuy or the transaction department of Paypal, Arc loader should not have tried to connect anything. Arc loader was closed and I was logged out. This is my point.
p.s. I was serious about using Steam to play STO. My malware programs have not detected any suspicious activities from Steam in the year I have been using it. I'm not trying to promote Steam. It just seems less suspicious.
It's been a couple years so I don't know how much things have changed, but maybe ARC's still watching all the sites you visit and when it sees Paypal is visited, it activates some sort of "Hey, this person bought something" signal to PWE that's part of the security for Zen-buying.
I'm just speculating, though. But I would suggest checking your browser add-ons to see if there's arc stuff in there.
Just keep one thing in mind. PWE does not need arc to spy on your computer. If you think about it Sto is many times larger and access the HDD frequently and uses constant network connection while running. You could hide the needle in the tiny pile or you can hide it in the hay stack.
I wouldn't worry about arc. But if you want to and still need to enter the freebie codes once in a while you can always install it on a vm.
If you're afraid that somebody is going to take some information off your computer, I suggest you don't install any program at all. Any firewall, AV or AM program would have a hard time stopping it, as you already have given the nessecary permissions, by installing the program. They can, in its sense, only detect what are open to your view.
STO and every other game, collects a vast variety of information, and you have NO control over what they take. You can only trust that it isn't personal information and they sell it.
Tend to trust lazy developers more
But back at hand. It's a false positive.
Admin permissions and Firewall permissions are two different things.
Admin permissions allows a program to open on your account, and make system changes - However, from here on, you lost control if you granted it (even just once. After the first time, you could loose ALL control, even if it ask for permission every time).
Firewall permissions allows a program to establish an unsecure network connection. - It doesn't have to be unsecure, but also to have the ability to send information. Most programmers include a Windows Firewall exclution in the installation, as you already agreed to the use of the program.
Again, you used a portal ARC uses. It most likely have a trigger build in to make sure it's online at that point, to ensure you do not make futile attempts to purchase Zen. The facts it's running, even though offline, does not exclude this application, as any, from having some features that provides service and security.
The fact that your Malware programs haven't been able to find anything on Steam, are not a wuuhuuu thing. There can be many, many other reasons for that.
But, but... You use that you're most comfortable with. Just don't forget... They're all big-time companies that are out here to make money.