I should have said that
Programs that stay active in memory and filter proactively
in addition to cleaning up any mess after any damage is done,
are better than programs which only
clean up the mess after the damage is done.
Here's an answer from a newbie. I get a sudden flood of red warning boxes
from my firewall program. Since they are so sudden and so many, it is
undoubtedly a hacker's automated probing routine/program.
Want to know if your PC can be easily hacked into ? Visit GRC.com
It's vital to remember though, that hacking into your PC is only one of
numerous strategies/methods of attack. I would guess the most predominant
is a broad category of tools/techniques/tricks to gain your confidence.
E.g. an innocent looking email attachment from what appears to be a friend,
an innocent looking link on a web page that appears to hold something
desirable, etc. The vermin and their ways are too numerous to detail
(viruses, worms, Trojans, Zombies, spiders, web bugs, etc., not to mention
combinations like Trojans infested with viruses). Just be sure to protect
yourself with other defenses, like anti-virus and anti-spyware programs.
Programs that stay active in memory and filter proactively are better than
programs that clean up the mess after the damage is done. They cost extra
though. Sometimes, cleaning up the damage is quick and easy. But there
seems to be no shortage of people coming to this newsgroup, because they
have lost valuable time and files struggling to clean up unusually extensive
or stubborn damage. So each person has to decide if it is worth their time
(down time) or worth their money (cost of prevention).
It also helps to not surf the web using your Administrator account.
how can you tell if someone is hacking into your computer
