Internet Tips & Tricks
By MARK DAVIS
General Manager, CommSpeed Internet Service
President, Prescott Computer Society
Visit the Computer Society Website
www.prescottcomputersociety.org
Hackers and Firewalls
QUESTION: I’ve
heard that a hacker can get into my computer and cause
havoc. Is this true?
 The short answer is
“maybe.” If you have a stand-alone PC that uses a basic
dial-up connection with a standard modem, you are not
all that likely to be attacked. On the other hand, if
you’ve made the move to a high-speed, always-on
connection like DSL, cable modem, or high-speed
wireless, you are a much more promising target.
The reason:
hackers use programs called scanners which automatically
cruise the Web in search of computers that they can
access and exploit. If you are using dial-up access,
your ISP assigns a new IP address every time you log on
to the Web. For hackers who want to plant a program in
your machine for future use - as in a denial-of-service
attack - that makes it very difficult to relocate your
computer when the time comes to commence mischief
making.
With always-on access,
however, there’s a good chance that you have a static IP
address, so once you’ve been found out, you’re always
accessible as long as your computer is turned on. And
the fact that your machine is always hooked up to the
Web just increases the odds that someone with
less-than-noble intent will knock on your computer’s
door someday and find it ajar.
So if you fall into any
of the above categories, should you consider installing
a firewall? Until recently, I would have dismissed the
suggestion, but in this day and age it might be worth
considering. A firewall protects your machine by
screening incoming and outgoing network traffic and
deciding whether the traffic is safe and allowable.
Firewalls are widely
available. ZoneAlarm and BlackICE are just two of
the better-known products that you can get through the
Web. Check out:
www.zonelabs.com and
www.networkice.com.
Installing a firewall used to be a real chore, requiring
knowledge of network protocols, port numbers, and packet
types. Increasingly, however, firewall makers are
targeting users who don’t have a really thorough
knowledge of the intricacies of Web technology - which
is most of us - and firewalls are becoming easier and
easier to install.
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