This is a bit of a weird technical geekery type entry. The only reason for putting it here is on the offchance that anyone else experiences this same “problem” – because when I had the problem, there was absolutely nothing no the web that I could find to explain it.
Anyway, it relates to an ADSL connection and I what I think is a thing with a 3Com HomeConnect ADSL Duallink modem. Basically, with it all plugged in, doing a Windows Update for the new WPA patch it installs on your computer a new Internet Gateway with the title “BT Openworld Broadband on SHANDYMAN”.
Do you have this?
This was initially confusing because I have BT Broadband… but not BT Openworld Broadband, and whilst similar there is a subtle difference between the two. And as far as I could tell there was zero reason why it should be there, especially as it got installed after doing said Windows Update.
After considering all the options – that it could be scumware, or a virus or something else nasty and/or malicious, I’m of the opinion it actually isn’t… and is in fact the Universal Plug and Play (uPnP) in Windows XP technically doing it’s job. The interesting point though is that you can’t delete it, you can’t uninstall it or remove it and you can’t even disable it.
After a lot of messing about, I believe it is actually quite OK and although has all the signs of being nasty, it isn’t. I think when doing a host lookup on my connection to Windows Update, the WU software guessed, slightly incorrectly, about who I was connected to. Or actually guessed correctly since I am pretty confident that BT Broadband and BT Openworld Broadband are one and the same, just packaged differently for the everyday consumer.
But if like me, you don’t like having weird things on your computer that you don’t want, you’ll probably want to remove it, and here’s how.
You’ll need to access the control panel of the modem. Do this by attaching the USB cable and/or a LAN cable to the back of it, and in your web browser enter the IP address: 192.168.157.100 – this gives you access to the setup features of the modem. The way to remove the new internet gateway is to un-enable the “Allow sharing between USB and LAN connections”. Simple as that.
I think the explanation of what it does, based on this remedy is reasonably obvious. In order for an ADSL connection to be shared between, for example a computer connection (USB) to the modem and other wired computers (LAN) you need a bridge between the two protocols. However, if you’re like me and using a dedicated router to dish out the internet connection and no computer is physically connected to the modem, then you can quite happily and safely remove the bridge. It will disappear from the Network Connections panel of your Windows OS.
Of course if you get any problems as a result, simply reenable it and that should fix it.
I’d be interested to hear from anyone who experienced this problem – as it seems to me that to add something like this to a computer with zero warning is not the best. So maybe I missed something and it is supposed to do that so someone let me know. Of course the other thing I’m dying to know is why in the heck is (I imagine) the modem called SHANDYMAN!!? Which programmer picked that as the firmware name!? Weirdo.
Thanks to Si and Ingo for help deciphering this one!