Firewalls and Security:
Tip: Did you know that Windows XP (Home and Professional Editions) come with a built in firewall?
Ever wondered what a firewall or web security is? Well in a nut shell with all the DSL, Cable and the fast bandwidth packages out there today, web security has become a real problem. I heard someone say "that getting a fast Internet connection is like painting a bulls eye on your computer".
This is forever true in most cases. I will tell you why. Did you know that there are hackers out there right now, that are running software to scan a series of IP's in a matter of minutes?
What are they scanning for?
Why are they scanning for useless IP numbers such as mine?
Well to answer those two questions, leads to other questions, therefore I will try to put it to you in a very simple fashion and explain why hackers do what they do.
Your reaction or answer to that question will probably be this: "I have nothing on my computer for them to get anyway, why should I be worried?" This statement is senseless and irrelevant.
The fact of the matter is, more and more people are shopping, banking and doing business over the Internet. Ever bought anything over the Internet before? And auction maybe? A small trinket if you will? Or maybe you bought something rather large, or maybe you want to get online to check out your Credit Card statement or buy a plane ticket? No matter what you may have done over the Internet, no matter how small, it can all be affected by hackers. Understand where I am going with this?
Okay hold that thought. What most hackers are after on your computer is not the data on it, but the data that passes thru it. For example, a favorite tool for a hacker is a key logger. This is a small program that is uploaded to your computer in the background usually thru an open port (not having a firewall, will allow this to easily be done), and wala, he has your passwords, user names, Credit card numbers, Account numbers etc. All he has to do is just wait.
Another tactic used by hackers is what are usually called "Backdoor Trojans". These are used not only for stealing your keystrokes but allows a hacker full access to your files, data and history of where you like to go. Not only can a hacker run programs, but he can delete files, lock you out of files, and gain even further access to more personal things, like your best friends email and habits. Can you see where this can go?
Now you are probably asking, "Why would a hacker find my computer interesting? and why would he just pick on me?". Truth is, most hackers don't care, all they are after is info, any info. All a hacker needs is one password and maybe a user name. He then could do a lot with just those two things. Most average people use the same user name and password for everything. Hackers know this.
Another neat trick hackers like to do is something called IP spoofing. This is done by stealing your IP number and hiding behind it, to do more destructive things, or hack a more potential wood be computer, like a bank or a government agency.
This of course is not a very bad thing, but it can lead up to a hacker doing literally anything to your computer or personal information.
Then again, there are a small percentage of what I call "wanna be hackers" who just do it to show their power or to see how far they can get into someone's system. Remember the ole saying, "Information is power". Well with the wealth of info available out there on the Internet, it is as simple as a click away.
Remember "the goal of a true hacker is to not let you know he is there."
Otherwise he will not be successful. Think about it. Hackers who get caught either wanted to get caught or they were careless. I say, don't give that opportunity and take that chance. Invest in a firewall whether it be a software or hardware firewall, it is almost essential.
I see a lot of these companies selling DSL and Cable but not letting their customers know the dangers that result from this. Don't be a victim, I could tell you some horrible stories that will make you just wonder how something like that could happen. Hackers are real, and they are out there. I monitor hackers trying to break into my computer just in a few hours at night, and I get anywhere from 100-500 attempts a night just from surfing normal everyday sites.
Oh boy and game servers? That is a whole different can of worms. Hackers live on these servers and are like predators. (I guess it is just something about hackers and online games, they both go hand in hand). I see so many hacks coming from these game servers, and as the Internet gaming industry grows so will the danger.
So beware and if you have a broadband connection, get a good firewall.
www.zonealarm.com has a great firewall and it is free for home users. I personally don't prefer software firewalls. I like a hardware firewall such as a router, (I like to program them what can I say). However, I have seen some very good software firewalls out there, and I use a few myself. Beware of the cheapies and the ones that are not that popular. Norton makes a great firewall, but for an average user, it can be hard to setup and understand. There are a few holes that it has, but I am sure by now they have been fixed. Again, firewalls can be tricky to setup and it is soo easy to leave holes and allow a hacker to get in. That is why I recommend something like Zone Alarm. It is easy to setup and requires little or no knowledge about firewalls to setup.
However I would recommend a professional such as our qualified techs to help you with your firewall and Internet security, but for a simple home user with one computer, something like Zone Alarm is perfect.
I hope reading this info has made you understand how firewalls and hackers operate. Firewalls in my opinion should be a must even for modem users. Hackers are everywhere, and running a high speed Internet connection with out a firewall is like playing Russian Roulette.
If you have any further questions or need more info about firewalls and Internet security, feel free to drop us a line or give our office a call, we will be very happy to help you make the best decision for your protection.
Email us at: PC Handy Man Inc.
Or give us a call at: 337-233-3091
Wanna see how vulnerable you are and if your firewall is or is not doing a good job, here are some links to where you can go to have your system scanned to see if there is a problem or a potential hacking problem:
(Gibson Research Corp) A very good site for information and a free port scan on your system. This guy is awesome and is very knowledgeable about Internet security. He has several freebies on his site too and you can learn a lot.
I like this site, because you can actually run a speed test on your broadband connection and compare to other users in your area. It also has some other neato tools like a detailed port scanner, tweaking tools and so forth. A must for all DSL and cable modem users.