Non-broadband security

[whitesands2]

Hi all,

I'm a non-broadband computer fan. Most of my Internet usage revolves around e-mail, Web surfing, discussion groups and the like. My question is, on a W98 machine and a standard 56k modem, how much risk am I at regarding the ability for someone to hack my system?

I keep my Norton Antivirus program updated regularly, and typically don't open files with attachments from people I don't know. So I think I'm fairly safe relative to a virus threat, but I'm not so sure on the hacking aspect...

...I disabled file and print sharing on my PC (no network at my house) and typically don't spend more than an hour or so per day online. Since I dial up to the 'net via a traditional phone line and am not always "ON" as in the case of HFC or DSL, I assume I'm fairly safe from attacks. Is my sense of security ill advised? Anything you might suggest otherwise?

I'm thinking that folks using port sniffers might attempt to ferret out fast running machines with broadband connections to the 'net, but I thought I'd post my concerns to see what you guys/gals thought.

Thanks!



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whitesands2

[chacmool]

I had 56K dial-up for a few years and was never concerned about security, have DSL now and, as you mentioned, it's different.

From the little I know, you should be fairly safe. However, with the hacker/slacker turkeys, one never knows.

The firewall from ZoneLabs called ZoneAlarm is free...I'd get it. If you have not allready read the other posts on this form, I would. Although some are long, and not to your concern, there is a cazillion bits of info/opinions on various firewall software.

[whitesands2]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by chacmool:

The firewall from ZoneLabs called ZoneAlarm is free...I'd get it.

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I've used ZoneAlarm and found it to be an amazing system hog. Well, thank you for your reply.

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whitesands2

[SeedOfChaos]

Well, as long as you're connected, you're exposed to the web as much as anyone else on the web. It's good that you have an up-to-date virus scanner, that way you don't have the risk of a hacker using back orifice, sub7, or any other Trojan Horse entering your computer. Turning the file/print sharing off is also essential.

But of course you do have two big advantages over the people with broadband connections. First of all, you surely have a dynamic IP. Thus if someone hacks you, he'll have a hard time "finding" your computer again when you reconnect sometime, because you have a different IP then, possibly in a different subnet even. And the second one: hacking risk is basically a function of how exposed your computer is multiplied by time. If you're only an hour per day online, then of course your risk of getting hacked is only 1/24th the risk someone who never turns his comp off has.

To hack your computer the hacker also needs to have your IP adress. There are several places where it's easy to get one's IP adress (especially ICQ, just use the netstat command that comes with windows http://www.speedguide.net/ubb/wink.gif ), but emailing your friends newsgroups and so on shouldn't be too much risk. Posting on webboards like this one also leaves your IP just for the Moderators, and I really can't imagine Brent or Bouncer to go after us people (what was that again? "just because you're paranoid that doesn't mean there's noone after you"?) and hack us. But beware, some chats publish your IP to all people in the chat when you log on/off. I really hate such chats, why the hell do they do that???
If you are using ICQ, Chats, Irc, then there are ways for strangers to get your IP#, if not, you're only real risk is random-stupidity-hacking/nuking type of guys.

Never post your IP anywhere....

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"I have lost all my beliefs to a world of hypocrisy"
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(Hypocrisy - Paradox)

[whitesands2]

Thanks much for the information!!