--- TIC-TECH message:
Wes brings up an important issue. I've been using cable modem at home
for the past year and a half. About a year ago I downloaded and
installed ZoneAlarm, a highly rated (free-for-personal and nonprofit
use) firewall. It provides a log of who's hitting on my computer, where
they are from, protocol, port, etc. Totally amazing, the activity is
constant. I'd recommend ZoneAlarm highly: http://zonelabs.com/ By the
way, this firewall is the only one recommended at the website Wes
mentioned below. - Mark
Mark Ahlness
mahlness@cks.ssd.k12.wa.us
Teacher, grade three at:
Arbor Heights Elementary School
http://www.halcyon.com/arborhts/
Wes Felty wrote:
>
> --- TIC-TECH message:
> More and more teachers have been buying a Cable Web connections, DSL, and
> other "always connected" Internet access. That's great, no waiting to
> connect and such. BUT, as usual with more powerful tools, the power is a
> double edged sword! (THis also applies to Dial-up Web access).
>
> With your connection to the Internet and the world always open, it means
> that Hackers have an easy access right into your computer. Anyone,
> anywhere in the world can slide right in and do whatever they want inside
> your computer. Some of my students have reported being scanned by hackers.
>
> I would suggest that you leave your computer off or disconnected when not
> using it (kind of invalidates the instant-on feature of the direct Internet
> connection). Or, you need to look into "fire walls". I don't know if the
> direct Web connections come with a Fire Wall or not. Or, if the Fire Wall
> is all that good.
>
> There is a simple and effective way to test your system. You can go to a
> Web site that probes your computer for vulnerabilities (with your
> permission). You may be amazed at how easily a hacker can get information
> about your computer. In fact, parts or your computer's software is
> designed to make it easier for other computers to connect to your computer.
> But, it was meant to be used in secure networks where you trust all of the
> other computers.
>
> In fact, the tips that you get from this site can let you eliminate things
> like having to logon to your own computer when your account is the only
> account. I have had my networking kids use this site and I periodically
> use it myself. New hacker attacks come along all of the time and this site
> tries to keep up with them.
>
> Just fire up your Web Browser and go to ...
>
> http://grc.com
>
- End TIC-TECH message. To join, leave, or visit
the message archive, go to Tic-Tech on the Web:
http://fp.seattleschools.org/fpclass/tic-tech/
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Thu Jan 04 2001 - 23:15:34 PST