Certainly your PC can be hijacked...for this simple reason you need
anti-virus software, anti-spam software, and two of the better spyware
removal utilities Ad-ware and SPYBOT. As for your PC ending up being used as
a spam server...unless you are running a Microsoft Exchange server with the
relay open...your system really cant be used as a spam relay. I would worry
more about your own personal data loss rather than SPAM. Think of it this
way....hopefully most of your neighbors are like mine and they dont have a
clue about computers, networking, etc. You should be OK even with the "out
of the box" setup...at least you took the initiative to get something
between the connection and your PC. Keeping your PC protected is really just
common sense and really does require a ton of money!!
I use the following:
Norton Anti-virus Corporate Edition (excellent if you have multiple PC's
connected in a home network)
Norton is THE BEST...there is no doubt in my mind. However, if you do happen
to get infected...sometimes the Symantec FIX TOOLS are NOT the best. I
actually found the Sophos fix tools to be better in catching an infection.
Lockspam anti-spam software (www.polesoft.com) - doesnt cost anything and
works well
Ad-aware (www.lavasoftusa.com) - download the "free" personal edition
Spybot (www.safer-networking.org) - download free
- Ali
-----Original Message-----
From: olympus-owner@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:olympus-owner@xxxxxxxxxx]On
Behalf Of Jim Brokaw
Sent: Sunday, May 02, 2004 3:19 AM
To: olympus@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [OM] Re: Annoying virus
on 5/1/04 10:09 PM, John A. Lind at jlind@xxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
> I've received a spate of worm laden emails recently containing several of
> the recent NetSky and Bagle (aka Beagle) variants. One surprising one was
> a BugBear too! Nearly all of them come from high speed (cable/DSL)
> accounts which have permanent IP addresses (versus dial-up's dynamically
> assigned ones). IMHO several technologies have converged to wreak the
more
> recent worm havoc:
> (a) Rampant growth of high speed cable/DSL for "home" use which means the
> vast, vast majority of these users are totally clueless about high-speed
> connections (routers, etc.), permanent IP addresses and how to better
> secure a permanent connection . . . especially if left *on* 24/7 (which
> many do).
Got a question for the network wizards on our list, sorry about the OT
followup...
I've recently upgraded to DSL (which is great, after years of 'dialing
in'...) and my Pacbell SBC-Yahoo kit included a wireless-B router/DSL modem.
If I understand the fairly limited beginner-grade installation instructions
the hardware includes a firewall. This wireless router/modem is always on,
but I only have the computer on when I am actively using it.
I use both the Mac, running OS-9.2.2 and a laptop running Win-XP-Pro. I have
the Windows firewall enabled on that connection, and also use Zone Alarm
(the free version). The laptop is also only on when I'm actively using it.
When I get another wireless card (probably a USB wireless dongle or such) I
have a desktop PC which will also be running Win-XP-Pro, firewall enabled
and Zone Alarm too. (note to Microsoft -- these are -two- separate licensed
versions. Bill Gates gets a new wing on his house from the profit on the
XP-Pros on these boxes...).
I did enable the WEP code-number to keep my wireless private, I'm just
piggish enough not to want to serve the whole neighborhood from my
connection...
So my question -- can my always-on wireless router be hijacked and turned to
serve spam without a PC being on and hijacked along with it? If necessary
I'll figure out a way to shut it off when not actively using it...
--
Jim Brokaw
OM-'s of all sorts, and no OM-oney...
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