eventvwr error: TCP/IP has reached the security limit imposed on the number of concurrent TCP connect attempts.

Details Product: Windows Operating System Event ID: 4226 Source: Tcpip Version: 5.2 Symbolic Name: EVENT_TCPIP_TCP_CONNECT_LIMIT_REACHED Message: TCP/IP has reached the security limit imposed on the number of concurrent (incomplete) TCP connect attempts. Explanation The TCP/IP stack in Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (SP2) installed limits the number of concurrent, incomplete outbound TCP connection attempts. When the limit is reached, subsequent connection attempts are put in a queue and resolved at a fixed rate so that there are only a limited number of connections in the incomplete state. During normal operation, when programs are connecting to available hosts at valid IP addresses, no limit is imposed on the number of connections in the incomplete state. When the number of incomplete connections exceeds the limit, for example, as a result of programs connecting to IP addresses that are not valid, connection-rate limitations are invoked, and this event is logged. Establishing connection–rate limitations helps to limit the speed at which malicious programs, such as viruses and worms, spread to uninfected computers. Malicious programs often attempt to reach uninfected computers by opening simultaneous connections to random IP addresses. Most of these random addresses result in failed connections, so a burst of such activity on a computer is a signal that it may have been infected by a malicious program. Connection-rate limitations may cause certain security tools, such as port scanners, to run more slowly. User Action This event is a warning that a malicious program or a virus might be running on the system. To troubleshoot the issue, find the program that is responsible for the failing connection attempts and, if the program might be malicious, close the program as follows. To close the program At the command prompt, type Netstat –no Find the process with a large number of open connections that are not yet established. These connections are indicated by the TCP state SYN_SENT in the State column of the Active Connections information. Note the process identification number (PID) of the process in the PID column. Press CTRL+ALT+DELETE and then click Task Manager. On the Processes tab, select the processes with the matching PID, and then click End Process. If you need to select the option to view the PID for processes, on the View menu, click Select Columns, select the PID (Process Identifier) check box, and then click OK.

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