Home Computer Invaders

[Marty O]

I have heard that certain criminal elements have figured
out a way to use a simple home desktop computer, running
XP Home with no local network, cable internet access, to
use as a porn server.

Any validity to this? If so, how does one check his
machine? The reason I ask is that several months ago I
ran defrag and saw I had used 15% of my computer's hard
drive space, now I have used 35% and haven't added
programs, although I have taken several updates for XP.

Thanks,
Marty O

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

What does your firewall report? Do you have unauthorized
out-going data?

Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

*** Good security housekeeping tips, in no particular order: ***

* See http://securityadmin.info/faq.htm

* Go to www.lavasoftusa.com and download AdAware...install, launch, update &
run it. This will rid your computer of spyware/adware.

* Use antivirus software (www.grisoft.com has a freebie) and update it
regularly - at least once a week; daily if possible.

* Use a good firewall to block access to your computer from the Internet
(www.sygate.com is a decent freebie for a standalone workstation; hardware
appliances are a better choice for networks). For software firewalls, see
BlackIce or the freebie at www.sygate.com - but you do get what you pay for.
For a good hardware firewall, see NetGear or Linksys or DLink - they all
make easy to use products, but make sure they're true firewalls and not just
NAT devices, as those are not going to stop anyone. Expect to pay about
$100-$120 USD for a good hardware firewall.

* Get a popup blocker to stop IE popups, such as www.panicware.com (they
offer a free one) or try the new Google toolbar 2.0 which does the same
thing (and is just plain cool)

* Run Windows Update regularly (http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com) to get
all the latest patches for your operating system.

* See http://www.mvps.org/inetexplorer/Darnit.htm for lots of information on
browser hijacking and how to stop it

* Do not use Imesh or Kazaa any other peer-to-peer file sharing software,
ever.

* Do not use Hotbar.

 

[Diggy]

(I think that if you have a firewall that monitors outgoing traffic, and you
keep your virus and spyware software up to date, then peer-to-peer programs
don't pose a real problem.)

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

(I think that if you have a firewall that monitors outgoing traffic,
and you keep your virus and spyware software up to date, then
peer-to-peer programs don't pose a real problem.)

I respectfully disagree - there's always something that can come through.
Using a condom lessens the danger of promiscuous encounters, but doesn't
eliminate it. I've banned all P2P file sharing software from any networks I
support....it isn't worth the risk.

 

[Diggy]

Does using a p2p program expose a computer to threats different from what
you would otherwise encounter on the net, or does it just increase the
frequency of encountering the same old threats?

I think the p2p program will just increase the frequency of encountering the
threat, and that means that a good firewall and virus program will protect a
computer. For example, if a computer's defenses are good enough to block 1
instance of 'virus-x', then those same defenses will have no problem
blocking 10 instances of 'virus-x'.

Furthermore, though there may be some viruses and spyware that are
specifically designed to take advantage of p2p sharing, isn't it true that
most virus programs look for these types of mal-ware just as thoroughly as
they look for any other type of mal-ware?

--

(I think that if you have a firewall that monitors outgoing traffic, and you
keep your virus and spyware software up to date, then peer-to-peer programs
don't pose a real problem.)

--
ICQ# 221748460
"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"

*** Good security housekeeping tips, in no particular order: ***

* See http://securityadmin.info/faq.htm

* Go to www.lavasoftusa.com and download AdAware...install, launch,

update

&
run it. This will rid your computer of spyware/adware.

* Use antivirus software (www.grisoft.com has a freebie) and update it
regularly - at least once a week; daily if possible.

* Use a good firewall to block access to your computer from the Internet
(www.sygate.com is a decent freebie for a standalone workstation; hardware
appliances are a better choice for networks). For software firewalls, see
BlackIce or the freebie at www.sygate.com - but you do get what you pay for.
For a good hardware firewall, see NetGear or Linksys or DLink - they all
make easy to use products, but make sure they're true firewalls and not just
NAT devices, as those are not going to stop anyone. Expect to pay about
$100-$120 USD for a good hardware firewall.

* Get a popup blocker to stop IE popups, such as www.panicware.com (they
offer a free one) or try the new Google toolbar 2.0 which does the same
thing (and is just plain cool)

* Run Windows Update regularly (http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com) to get
all the latest patches for your operating system.

* See http://www.mvps.org/inetexplorer/Darnit.htm for lots of

information

on
browser hijacking and how to stop it

* Do not use Imesh or Kazaa any other peer-to-peer file sharing software,
ever.

* Do not use Hotbar.

 

[Russell]

-----Original Message-----

.... several months ago I
ran defrag and saw I had used 15% of my computer's hard
drive space, now I have used 35% and haven't added
programs, although I have taken several updates for XP.

Thanks,
Marty O
.

Other things that can take up disk space are:
System restore
caches like for browsers, and browsers can create a
cache for each person
email deleteing; it can be sent to a delete folder and
if you do not clean it out it takes up space
file deleting too can use up space if you do not clean
out the recycle bin

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

The sole purpose of P2P software is to open your hard drive to the
entire Internet. So yes, using P2P applications like Kazaa or
Morpheus greatly increase the risk of the computer's being
compromised.

Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH

 

[Diggy]

So, does using a p2p program expose a computer to threats different from
what
you would otherwise encounter on the net, or does it just increase the
frequency of encountering the same old threats? I think the latter.

Isn't it true that most virus programs look for p2p associated mal-ware just
as thoroughly as they look for any other type of mal-ware? I think so.


--
ICQ# 221748460

Does using a p2p program expose a computer to threats different from what
you would otherwise encounter on the net, or does it just increase the
frequency of encountering the same old threats?

I think the p2p program will just increase the frequency of encountering the
threat, and that means that a good firewall and virus program will protect a
computer. For example, if a computer's defenses are good enough to block 1
instance of 'virus-x', then those same defenses will have no problem
blocking 10 instances of 'virus-x'.

Furthermore, though there may be some viruses and spyware that are
specifically designed to take advantage of p2p sharing, isn't it true that
most virus programs look for these types of mal-ware just as thoroughly as
they look for any other type of mal-ware?

--

(I think that if you have a firewall that monitors outgoing traffic, and you
keep your virus and spyware software up to date, then peer-to-peer programs
don't pose a real problem.)

--
ICQ# 221748460
"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"

*** Good security housekeeping tips, in no particular order: ***

* See http://securityadmin.info/faq.htm

* Go to www.lavasoftusa.com and download AdAware...install, launch,

update

&
run it. This will rid your computer of spyware/adware.

* Use antivirus software (www.grisoft.com has a freebie) and update it
regularly - at least once a week; daily if possible.

* Use a good firewall to block access to your computer from the Internet
(www.sygate.com is a decent freebie for a standalone workstation; hardware
appliances are a better choice for networks). For software firewalls, see
BlackIce or the freebie at www.sygate.com - but you do get what you

pay
for.

For a good hardware firewall, see NetGear or Linksys or DLink - they all
make easy to use products, but make sure they're true firewalls and

not
just

NAT devices, as those are not going to stop anyone. Expect to pay about
$100-$120 USD for a good hardware firewall.

* Get a popup blocker to stop IE popups, such as www.panicware.com (they
offer a free one) or try the new Google toolbar 2.0 which does the same
thing (and is just plain cool)

* Run Windows Update regularly (http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com) to get
all the latest patches for your operating system.

* See http://www.mvps.org/inetexplorer/Darnit.htm for lots of

information

on
browser hijacking and how to stop it

* Do not use Imesh or Kazaa any other peer-to-peer file sharing software,
ever.

* Do not use Hotbar.

Marty O wrote:
I have heard that certain criminal elements have figured
out a way to use a simple home desktop computer, running
XP Home with no local network, cable internet access, to
use as a porn server.

Any validity to this? If so, how does one check his
machine? The reason I ask is that several months ago I
ran defrag and saw I had used 15% of my computer's hard
drive space, now I have used 35% and haven't added
programs, although I have taken several updates for XP.

Thanks,
Marty O

 

[ceedee]

peer 2 peer sharing programs do not expose you to any threat per se
as long as you configure there share folders correctly they are fine
they only "share" content from a specified location on your harddrive
they do not allow people to execute code etc on your pc or to snoop about

there is one problem with some p2p programs like kazaa in that in order
to install these programs they also install some spyware/adware components
but thats the price you pay as it is free.so its up to you if you accept
that or not

the major problem with p2p is not cuased by the p2p program itself but by
the users
negligence.a large number of downloads on these things are infected by virii
and trojans
and as such if you run a p2p and download thru it without using an up to
date antivirus and trojan checker
then ou are foolish and deserve all you get but dont blame the p2p software
for your stupidity

So, does using a p2p program expose a computer to threats different from
what
you would otherwise encounter on the net, or does it just increase the
frequency of encountering the same old threats? I think the latter.

Isn't it true that most virus programs look for p2p associated mal-ware just
as thoroughly as they look for any other type of mal-ware? I think so.


--
ICQ# 221748460

Does using a p2p program expose a computer to threats different from what
you would otherwise encounter on the net, or does it just increase the
frequency of encountering the same old threats?

I think the p2p program will just increase the frequency of encountering the
threat, and that means that a good firewall and virus program will

protect

a
computer. For example, if a computer's defenses are good enough to

block

1
instance of 'virus-x', then those same defenses will have no problem
blocking 10 instances of 'virus-x'.

Furthermore, though there may be some viruses and spyware that are
specifically designed to take advantage of p2p sharing, isn't it true that
most virus programs look for these types of mal-ware just as thoroughly as
they look for any other type of mal-ware?

--

(I think that if you have a firewall that monitors outgoing traffic,

and
you

keep your virus and spyware software up to date, then peer-to-peer programs
don't pose a real problem.)

--
ICQ# 221748460
"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"
*** Good security housekeeping tips, in no particular order: ***

* See http://securityadmin.info/faq.htm

* Go to www.lavasoftusa.com and download AdAware...install, launch, update
&
run it. This will rid your computer of spyware/adware.

* Use antivirus software (www.grisoft.com has a freebie) and update it
regularly - at least once a week; daily if possible.

* Use a good firewall to block access to your computer from the Internet
(www.sygate.com is a decent freebie for a standalone workstation; hardware
appliances are a better choice for networks). For software

firewalls,
see

BlackIce or the freebie at www.sygate.com - but you do get what you pay
for.
For a good hardware firewall, see NetGear or Linksys or DLink - they all
make easy to use products, but make sure they're true firewalls and not
just
NAT devices, as those are not going to stop anyone. Expect to pay about
$100-$120 USD for a good hardware firewall.

* Get a popup blocker to stop IE popups, such as www.panicware.com (they
offer a free one) or try the new Google toolbar 2.0 which does the same
thing (and is just plain cool)

* Run Windows Update regularly (http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com)

to
get

all the latest patches for your operating system.

* See http://www.mvps.org/inetexplorer/Darnit.htm for lots of information
on
browser hijacking and how to stop it

* Do not use Imesh or Kazaa any other peer-to-peer file sharing software,
ever.

* Do not use Hotbar.

Marty O wrote:
I have heard that certain criminal elements have figured
out a way to use a simple home desktop computer, running
XP Home with no local network, cable internet access, to
use as a porn server.

Any validity to this? If so, how does one check his
machine? The reason I ask is that several months ago I
ran defrag and saw I had used 15% of my computer's hard
drive space, now I have used 35% and haven't added
programs, although I have taken several updates for XP.

Thanks,
Marty O

 

[Guest]

-----Original Message-----



Other things that can take up disk space are:
System restore
caches like for browsers, and browsers can create a
cache for each person
email deleteing; it can be sent to a delete folder and
if you do not clean it out it takes up space
file deleting too can use up space if you do not clean
out the recycle bin



.Thank you for the insightful information!

 

[Guest]

Thanks for your time and insight!

-----Original Message-----
(I think that if you have a firewall that monitors outgoing traffic, and you
keep your virus and spyware software up to date, then peer-to-peer programs
don't pose a real problem.)

--
ICQ# 221748460
"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"

*** Good security housekeeping tips, in no particular order: ***

* See http://securityadmin.info/faq.htm

* Go to www.lavasoftusa.com and download

AdAware...install, launch, update

 

[Guest]

I have a McAfee Firewall, and I haven't seen any reports
of unauthorized access. Thank you