Computer security.

[Axver]

Hey folks,

I have a little bit of a question and I figured this would be the best forum to ask it on. For those of you who don't want the story of why I ask, here's the question now: what do you consider sufficient computer security?

Anyway, the reason I ask is a few minutes ago, I was searching for some stuff online when I accidentally ended up on a porn website and got flooded by popups. I was clicking off them and trying to get myself out of there when I happened to notice one of them had some details, such as my IP address and the fact I'm on a LAN. It was also harping on about how I was at high risk of investigation and my computer was too open to the Internet. I figured this was a pile of rubbish and ignored it (well, not totally: I must confess to flicking my Internet connection off and back on), but it has got me to thinking about whether my Internet security is good enough or not. I know little about computers so I don't know if the fact it could tell I was on a LAN is significant or not (besides IP and LAN I don't remember what other information it had). Some people I know tell me I worry too much about security (I know a guy on a cable connection who flat-out refuses to install a firewall) while others tell me I worry way too little. In any case, I have a 512k DSL connection that I leave on 24/7 and I'm running a firewall, but on the lowest security setting because otherwise it won't let me sign onto MSN Messenger.

Would you consider this sufficient security? Do you believe it is worth upgrading to a higher level? I really know nothing about this stuff and I'm just concerned after seeing that pesky bloody popup.

Have a good one,
André

 

[4thwatcher]

what do you consider sufficient computer security?

depends on your needs really. if you intend to do some hosting with your static ip broadband connection, charging to experience, as long as youre running with a hardware firewall, i find no threat from it being hacked because your pc is behind a wall unless you opened all the ports just be extra careful with your antivirus software though.. because even youre running behind a firewall, your pc remains vulnerable to worm attack

 

[Athanasian Creed]

LOL, that "high risk of investigation" jazz probably came from a site that sells the program "Evidence Eliminator" Oh well, guess some people will go to whatever length to sell their software !


I personally think as long as you are running both an up-to-date AV program along with the firewall 24/7 you should be OK. The only worry spot i see is the low security setting for your firewall but nothing to lose sleep over.

That being said, i'd make sure to run at least every week 3 programs -

1) Ad-Aware
2) Spybot (make sure to have the latest version - 1.3)

AND

3) CW Shredder - it will eliminate any back door trojans/hijack programs that sometimes work in the background often without people knowing !

Maybe also get a program called "Hijack This" to prevent your home page being taken over !


Just my .02 cents (Canadian)


Ray

 

[pgp_protector]

A Few things to help you out

1) STOP using I.E. Use somthing like Mozilla Firefox (No More Popups)
2) If your using Broadband Get a Hardware Firewall / router
3) Get AdAware & SpyBot Search & Destroy
4) Visit http://www.grc.com/default.htm

 

[strasburg_valley]

One of my college professors once told me even if your computer is turned off inside the deepest levels of fort Knox its still not totally secure, Very secure yes, totally no....

 

[SAPguy]

Don't worry about it showing your IP. That is easy to get.

I could write a page that would show your IP, where you came from, what browser you are using, what OS you are using, etc, etc, etc...... That doesn't mean that I am willing or capable of hacking into your computer.

I wouldn't worry about it too much...... just watch where you surf

 

[daveleau]

Yep, don't worry about the IP. I run an intrusion detection software (BlackIce), a firewall (Sygate), AV (AVG) and a trojan detector (Tauscan) and am behind a hardware router/ 4-way switch, which has basic filtering to knock out some scans. I don't have anything of real importance on my systems, but I do use it to purchase things on the web. I simply do not want my system to be used or exploited by others. And with a static IP, we are basically sitting ducks if we are not protected.

Check out GRC: https://grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2 If you'd like to test your security.

 

[Alenci]

Everytime you make a request on the internet or transmit data you're pretty much broadcasting your IP (and a lot of other data about your system) to the world. My security suggestions are just to give out as little personal information as possible, and as far as your computer is concerned, use a firewall, virus scan, and adware scan software. Make sure you keep the virus definitions up to date, and if you're on Windows, always download new patches. Windows is so buggy that Microsoft finds gaping security holes every couple of weeks. Also, don't keep ports open that you don't need to use. I also configured my browser to prompt for Active-X controls and cookies, but this would get pretty annoying to a lot of people.

And for the firewall, if you have a good one, you should be able to manually configure a lot of settings. You can probably give the necessary permissions to MSN Messenger without compromising other security settings.