Call me paranoid, but I have installed quite a few programs to prevent malware from making its way onto my computer. My most recent addition was an upgrading my firewall from the basic Windows FW to Online Armor ++. I dropped Avast to take advantage of the included antivirus in OA++. I also use Bufferzone, the freeware version of Malware Bytes, Windows Defender, and PeerBlock (using the spyware blocks and a couple of lists for known hijacked IP addresses.)
Most recently I noticed that PeerBlock has been blocking an attempted connection from my computer to IP address (64.27.10.30). There were 12 attempts tonight after I booted my computer up, each 2 seconds apart. PeerBlock identifies it as Hollywood Interactive, Inc. (CALPOP.COM,INC.) A simple IP trace shows this address registered to TallEmu, but hosted on the Calpop servers. What worries me is the reputation that Hollywood Interactive has acquired. http://spam.tinyweb.net/article.php/hollywood-interactive. Many of the links there have me worried that OA++ may have become tainted or hijacked for a rather sinister purpose. I have tried to shut off all the automatic "dial home" features, but this keeps happening. I can update the AV manually without PB blocking anything, so I have no idea what it could be blocking.
I have emptied the BufferZone, scanned thoroughly for viruses and other such malware, and updated Windows. I know that PB is blocking the connection, but I am still paranoid that something malicious might get through. I realize that the articles are several years old, but WOT still gives Hollywood Interactive very poor scores (listed as spammers/malware suppliers.) Has anyone else experienced something similar? Should I be worried? Thanks everyone for your help!
