Strange PC start up

[Mick Handy]

One of my PCs started itself up last night around 2.00am ... All by itself, yes it was switch off and there are no nasty viruses etc on it .... does anyone have any idea why it done this.

[nachovx]

PC literate poltergeist !

[mart]

or even a PC literate pornographic poltergeist.

Mart

[Deuce Bigolo]

Maybe no viruses but how about some malware

Wouldn't put anything past someone trying to remotely activate your computer even when powered down

E.T. letting everbody know he got home safely or maybe just a gremlin in the computer,well they do have the facility to turn themselves off without any instructions so why not on?

cheers
B....OZ

[Holden MacGroyn]

Sounds a bit like the Back Orifice Trojan, more widely known as BO.

Try using CWShredder & Hijack This.

[Guilbert]

Some PCs have a 'wake up on LAN' type setting.

Is it on a LAN, or connected to a phone line ?

If you're machine was not fully off but in hiberate mode
it can switch on if a fax or phone call comes in.

This facility is used by people who want their machine to
be available if a conection comes in, but do not want in on
all the time.

Check your BIOS settings to see if it on.

[nachovx]

I usually put my machine into Standby Mode, but once in a while it will start itself up again after 30 seconds - rebooting or restoring to a few days prior usually sorts it out.

[Tricky]

As already was said it could be the "wake up on lan" events. Could be you have a virus scanner set to scan and also set to power on to scan?

Do you have a remote for your pc like you would a tv (I do so thought i might ask) as sometimes stray IR can turn on devices.

Was it shut down correctly and turned off totally?

How you know the exact time it came on?

I am guessing its just a network configuration since you said "one of my pc's"

[Mick Handy]

Thanks all for your ideas ....

There are no nasties on the PC so that can be excluded.

It's connected to the net via a neatgear ADSL modem router with built in firewall (which is very good nothing gets in)

I know what time it booted up cause i was sitting 3 ft away from it at the time (kinda spooky at 2 in the morning)

I could have put it into standby mode by mistake (one to many spliffs maybe)

Who knows ... maybe it'll happen again ???

Thanks again