Security

[Kimm]

O.K. This is a really "out there" question I know,.... just bear with me. My biggest concern about having a computer and being online is privacy. I mean I've heard about hackers getting into a computer and messing with files and so on, but,.... is there a way that someone could be watching me over my computer? Can someone get hooked onto my computer and watch everything I type and actually see me thru my computer screen? Told you it was an " out there" question. Just tell me if I need to get out more or find another hobbie or something. Seriously thou, is that possible, and if so how would one know?

[ryan2049]

Yes if they hack into your computer they can see your computer screen on theirs. They can even do stuff like open your disk drive or restart your computer and do stuff you didn't even do. If you get a firewall like Norton Internet Security that will keep them out. But I haven't had anyone hack into my computer yet so I don't really know what changes it makes. But you can check your running programs by pressing Ctrl+Alt+Delete and look for something unusual or you can go to start/run and type win.ini and check and see if you have something in the load or run lines that doesn't look right.

[Kimm]

Thanks Ryan. and so would someone be able to actually see me sitting at my desk looking at the computer? If so that's kinda scarey! cause how would I know if they were or not?

[Simon Clausen]

Someone *could* possibly install a trojan on your computer and be able to manipulate your mouse / keyboard and therefore do basically anything you could do to the computer. Using an advanced trojan they may also be able to see your desktop as well.

Don't worry, they would NOT be able to see you, unless you had a camera hooked up to your PC and had specifically configured it to video you, for something like video conferencing or chatting. Without this there would be not mechanism to take a picture of you the operator.

That being said, any good quality up-to-date virus software will stop any of the other trojan types so you wouldn't have to worry about it anyway. So if you haven't already, invest in some anti-virus software and you'll be protected not only from trojans but all the nasty virii as well.

Regards,

Simon Clausen
---
WinGuides.com - Windows Guide Network
<a target="_blank" href=http://www.winguides.com/>http://www.winguides.com/</a>

[Kimm]

"Whey" Thanks Simon, We do have a digital camera and all the peraphanilia (sp.?) to go with it, but it would have to be hooked up and running, huh? I think I would notice that. Thanks again. Take care

[Mike Lundell]

hey, food for though... there is a program out there called "the cleaner" i think it's completly freeware but it find all the "new" trojan's out there and removes them. Very Very useful for someone who is online all day and does things with a lot of different people. I'm not sure where to find it, but do a search and if you have no luck ask away... i'll help ya out.

<font color=blue>Mike Lundell</font color=blue>
<font color=green>gigabite@ida.net</font color=green>

[verneir]

Actually, no, Norton Firewall, or Black Ice Defender, etc, are NOT security. In fact, Windows, by rule of thumb.. is NOT secure. There is a huge myth about security. Number 1 -- These cheeseball firewalls keep out children who know nothing, great for the average joe who just wants basic protection. Number 2 -- Anybody that knows their stuff is going to blow right straight thru that pile and crash you and laugh that you paid $100.00 to symantec. Number 3 -- Get over it.

[coolsights2000]

The only one that can blow you out of the water is you because the only way they can open you back door is if you download the wrong thing you are the one who has to allow this download even that stuff you open in your email is dangerous the attachment that look like they do nothing when you click on them you better start checking for a trogan

the only way they can get in own their own is if you leave you ports open and set the security setting to low
SO:

1: Close you ports grc.com
2: Install ZONE ALARM
3: Install MCAFEE antivirus
4: set your internet security zone correctly
5: Install a restricted site list (new ones show up everyday and this list is just as important as a antivirus program)
6: Add Adsubtract to bust those ads so someone can't start setting up cookies (it also checks for suspisious cookies)
7: use Cookiewall to crumbled those cookies
8: use pow to stop those banner pop up ads
9: Get a adware spyware program


Do not download any Direct X stuff and stay away from stuff that glues itself to the internet explorer as a helper file::: The yahoo address bar is an example of a helper file also a helper file doesnt have to show anything just attach itself and run in the back ground


Even well know sites put spyware on your putter when you use there so call free great stuff So when some one cracks there code their is the backdoor:::

I can also say I tried some of that free stuff on my old hard drive and found that it dropped my security setting after downloading it and install it....

I am always checking for any thing that looks suspiscious my users call me delete happy!!!

Stay away from sysmetic and norton there programs are just waiting for a pickpocket to walk by..........MY opinion

I have learned allot by coming to this site so if you just look at the other post in at least the last two months you will find how to get to the above sites and more........


Learn where the trogans place there stuff so you can monitor it yourself

find out what is in you start files make list of how they are spelled a hacker can rename it to look the same.......

Use the system info to see what is starting up and running If you just do a search on a file name on the net you might learn what it is used for.....

Some of these files I have found they are useless running programs so I got rid of them

if you close you putter with a firewall just make sure you disable allow server

also monitor the autoexec.bat config.sys wini.ini system.ini for trogans

just remeber then if you get a trogan you are the one who let it in.......

If anyone knows of more files to monitor feel free to list them

One other thing if the only way to connect to your ISP is to drop you security find another one they do not need to ping you putter back thur the ports to check if it is connected

Thanks
Mac!!!

This Is just my opinion
So if it stinks wait for another one
Cause I'm no expert