Zarbol Tsar wrote:
> I connect to the Net using NTL and I have got an Ambit cable modem.
>
> Some of the green LEDs flicker on the cable modem even when my PC is
> turned off. I need to actually unplug the PC from the mains to make
> the LEDs stop flickering.
>
> What data is passing between my cable modem and my PC when the PC is
> powered down but not unplugged?
Some network cards stay connected even after the computer is turned off
(well, it's not actually 'off' - it's in standby but modern machines
tend to supply power to some devices in this mode) in order to listen to
Wake On LAN signals, etc.
I wouldn't worry about it at all - the CM passes on all data it receives
to whatever it's connected to by default, so all the downloading it's
doing (mostly port scans, ARP requests, that kind of thing) is basically
ending up in a big bit bucket. As long as there's no uploading going on
then everything's normal and fine and there's no need to worry. :-)
If you really are worried, just unplug the Ethernet (or USB) cable, the
PC or even the CM. That'll shut the thing up... ;-)
HTH,
--
Hyphen
http://www.khyle.org.uk