ADSL and hackers

Hello

I have installed an ADSL line to the Internet. That really gives me many new possibilities like using this communication channel for hours, but what are the consequences. Am I now an open target for all hackers on this planet, and what would/could they do to my computer?

Can they e.g. copy or delete all my VB-programs?
Can they see exactly what I have on my computer and so on?

What can I do to protect me and my computer against these guys?

Please give me some points.

Jorgen

[vbzero]

You're an open target, if you don't lock your computer.
But that's not because of ADSL - it's allways so.

Rules: Don't accept or open any files from
a person you don't know, or a program which was sent
by e-mail. Hackers could fake the e-mail adresses
and even use your own, or another mail adress from
one of your friends.

To check this out you could open the mail properties
when an e-mail has arrived and look for the IP it
was sent from.

If this IP belongs to an unknown ISP - delete the mail
emediately.

What you can do to make your machine a little bit more
safe:

Install a really good anti-virus program to block any
viruses or stupid trojans.

Install a really good firewall which monitors all events
on your computer and blocks any unauthorized access or
several attacks from hackers (TCP/IP, UDP, IGMP, etc.)

[vbzero]

I forgot: If you're using Windows 9x/Me - your machine
is open for anyone in the world - it's an stupid OS -
only for gaming and for unexperienced users.

Try Linux/Unix, or NT(Win 2000) - These OS's are mostly
safe and you can also esayly develop some little tools
to lock you machine for others.

But don't forget - nothing is safe forever!

[CAPHS]

You are not an open target.
Think about it for one minute. Who is going to waste their time to get into *your* computer? Not many people I would assume. Besides, its generally not too easy to hack into someones computer, unless of course you run a trojan or such. Windows 95 computers are prone to 'Nuking' (They can bluescreen your machine) this was fixed with a patch. As for windows, i find it rather good. It really annoys me when people bag out an operating system for no reason. Windows is not lame. Windows is an excellent product that i would say lives up to its promises. It is a user friendly operating system, targetted at home and business customers. It achieves its goals. It may suffer some pitfalls, but what operating system doesnt? Don't even think of saying linux. Linux has its share of bugs too, dont you worry about that. Linux is easier to 'hack' than windows, because generally there are more daemons running. If there are no daemons that have open ports, nobody can connect to you. Thus windows is more secure in that respect. Anyway. I tire of constant OS bashing.

[vbzero]

Hacking is not depending on trojans, or something like that
stupid lamer programs. Real hackers don't attack you with this method. But you're right - nobody will be interested to hack into any private person's computer. And those who try to do this, are always stupid lamers.
I didn't say that Linux/Unix is the best system. I also said something about WinNT/2000 and those are also Windows OS's.
I'm using Windows 2000 as well. It's one of the userfriendlyest OS's I know. But I don't trust Win9x/Me
because I used these in earlier time and I saw the bugs
and the security holes.

There are built-in NSA key which could not be deleted if you don't want the system to be destroyed.
These keys are sending signals every 5 minutes and I can't say whatfor.

But I know that those systems are not very safe.
I hacked many of them without trojans or something.

But for a home user this would be enough because nobody
is going to do this on your machine. There is no reason and
no sence.

[vbzero]

A sample for security holes: if someone is using Microsoft Internet Explorer on his Windows machine, another person would be able to view your e-mails, send e-mails from your machine, send URLs from your machine, view URLs and could access some directories to view your data.
The person could not manipulate anything, or delete files.

But that's enough I think, isn't it?

This week a report to this bug came out and Microsoft is
very busy to make a new security patch for that.

[CAPHS]

I think you will find that you are exaggerating just a teeeeeeeeeeeny bit. Btw, how about the root exploits for fingerd v1? how about holes in sendmail? how about putting a password cracker on telnet?

[HeSaidJoe]

In a 2 hour span Norton Internet Security 2001 blocked 10 Trojans from 3 different IP numbers.

There are other people who come in for a look if your door is open...doesn't mean they will take or do anything but it happens.

A lot of it depends on where you travel. If you visit hackers sites and warrez then you are leaving tracks and they will visit. I've noticed that if I am looking around on those sites my firewall is busy the next few nights following.

It's like anything...don't leave your gold watch on the front step while you sleep inside.

Have fun.

Yep , I have a cable modem here in the U.K - blueyonder. I am using Norton Internet Security, as with a fixed IP, any hacker can gain access to my PC which could easily play around with your system !!!!

Zone Alarm is a free firewall. Some peopkle say it is very good - http://www.zonelabs.com

My best option would be to get a good anti virus and firewall protection and you will be safe!!!

hope this helps

[PRIVATE1]

Originally posted by vbzero
I forgot: If you're using Windows 9x/Me - your machine
is open for anyone in the world - it's an stupid OS -
only for gaming and for unexperienced users.

Try Linux/Unix,

It's pretty simple Get a firewall .

"vbzero"
Why would you suggest a useless O/S ?
Don't get Unix or Linux as you can just turn on your monitor and look at a blank screen .

You must have fun sitting in front of a box that has so very little software made for it . It is not a good O/s for the Home User . What are they going to use it for ? Keeping a Diary ?

[]P

Hello again.

Thanks for all the information and comments. I have learned a lot from reading the replys, but they also created new open questions.

To vbzero:
I realise that it is not because of ADSL, that I'm an open target, but as I'm on the Net for a much longer time period, the possibilty to get unwanted visitors might increase dramatically. That was the reason for my lead.I'm using Win98.

To CHAPS:
You might be right in assuming that no hacker would find it interesting to get into my computer, but just the thought scares me and actually some one tried after I installed a Firewall.

To riculver:
I have downloaded the Zonealarm from zonelabs and installed it 3 hours ago. I'm not sure if I did the right setup, but during the past 3 hours 3 alarms came up indicating, that attempt has been made to access my computer. I tried to find out more about who, but I was not sure how to do it.
IP numbers were indicated, but how can I find out more about these numbers.

If you are using the zonealarm, please tell me more about how to configure the setup.

To PRIVATE1:

I have now installed Zonealarm. Is that a Firewall in your terminology.

Jorgen

[HAVocINCARNATE29]

i use zonealarm. you should expect 100's of "attacks" every day. 99.9% arnt attacks though. somone typed in the wrong ip somewhere. you'll get possible 1000's of "attacks" (which are just conection attempts) if you use napster or scour or any file shariong software.

if you are being attacked you'll know b/c the same ip tries to connnect to every single port on your computer. zonealarm bloacks all connection attempts though.


to trace an ip go here
http://www.arin.net/whois/arinwhois.html

[ccoder]

I only briefly scanned the replies and don't think I saw anything about the SOHO routers that are available. I strongly recommend that anyone with DSL or cable look at one of these.

I have a cable modem on my home network. Between it and the hub, I have a Umax UGATE-PLUS router. I also have a spare router (a Compex NetPassage) in case the main router goes down. The Ugate is strictly a router, while the Compex has a built-in 5 port hub (4 port if using the uplink). I prefer the Ugate over the Compex because of the better results from probe tests that I ran at Gibson Research's site: http://grc.com. The only port it could find was 113, with it reported as being closed. The NetBios probes also failed.

I also use ZoneAlarm in conjunction with the router. Between the two, I have never seen a single probe on my systems. The only alarms from ZoneAlarm were from services & apps trying to access the internet from my systems and I had the option to allow or disallow them. It took a few days before all the different alarms popped up, but things are very quite now.

ccoder:

Thanks for the reply. I have just tested my installation with http://www.GRC.com and it looks fine. I'm quite happy with the situation right now and thanks all for the help.

Jorgen

[Jakys]

Hacker's don't need reasons. They hack for fun.

[VB-Mike]

Try HackTracer from NeoWorx. Great product and appears to screen out the false alarms very well.

http://www.neoworx.com/products/hacktracer/

Will also use their patented technology to do a graphical traceroute\whois to the hackers destination, very cool.