My security clearance failed!! I need help.

[Guest]

 

[freakygirl]

Thanks to km, I found out that I'm very vulnerable to the Internet hackers/viruses...

Okay, now that I know this how do I fix it? I need details... I like have no clue about this shit!! So go slow and don't assume I know anything.. Okay..

Where is Weird Harold when you need him?

What firewall are you using?

 

[Guest]

Re: Re: My security clearance failed!! I need help.

 

[freakygirl]

LOL

Are you using windows? which one?

more than likely if you don't know of a firewall.. you aren't running one.

There are many.. I use BlackIce Defender.. and I'm very happy with it. $40 at WalMart... but I know there are free ones online. You might get more help from one of our many computer geeks

 

[LukkyKnight]

Start by downloading the free version of ZoneAlarm, it's impossible to beat for the price.

You should also make sure you're doing the Windows Upgrades for whatever version you're on (or are you a mac user?) http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/default.htm and download anything like a "critical update" for your version of the OS.

I'd also say since you were so "exposed" you might want to invest in the Norton 2002 suite, and let it run you for viruses, scripts, etc.

Meantime, it's a very bad idea to use MSN messenger, and if you can avoid using Outlook until you're all patched that would also be prudent.

Um... if a cyber-bartender knows anything.

 

[Azwed]

Zone alarm is pretty good. I use it and it is free to DL on the net.

www.zonealarm.com

 

[Guest]

 

[Weird Harold]

Okay, now that I know this how do I fix it? I need details... I like have no clue about this shit!! So go slow and don't assume I know anything.. Okay..

Where is Weird Harold when you need him?

I'm right here.

In order to fix your security problems, it's kind of ncessary to know what your system is and what measures you've already taken.

For a starting point, I'll use a typical Windows user on a dial-up connection.

First, in your internet options menu, set the security for the "internet zone" to "Medium" to block most HTML based threats. (You can add sites to your "trusted zones" as you learn which sites you can trust and/or modify the settings for the internet zone to suit your browsing needs.)

Second, find a firewall like ZoneAlarm you can download and carefully read the documentation before installing it.

Third, surf the net and read as much as you cn stomach on security threats and what you need to do to counter them. DO NOT trust any single site for a solution! Any true security threat will be addressed by more than one site and more than one site will offer a solution.

Finally, keep your virus scanning software up to date and make sure it has a "real time scanning" capability that catches virii before they can infect your machine.

 

[miles]

WHOA!!

Hold the phone!

DO NOT download a firewall if you have Windows XP - it already has one built in!

 

[freakygirl]

Re: WHOA!!

Hold the phone!
DO NOT download a firewall if you have Windows XP - it already has one built in!

Yeah.. what he said.. only louder this time..

 

[Weird Harold]

Re: WHOA!!

DO NOT download a firewall if you have Windows XP - it already has one built in!

This is good to know.

Now all youneed to do is walk her through setting it to "mildy paranoid" from the Windows default for evrything -- "Microsoft is Your friend. Let us have access to anything and don't worry about it."

 

[miles]

If you're patient and shop around you can get a hell of a deal on a router. They are usually around $100, but I got one a month ago that will end up being $40 after all the magical jump-through-hoops rebates that take 6 - 9 weeks. It's very easy to install - you plug the incoming DSL line in one end and another cable from the router to your PC. No more firewall software to slow down your PC.

 

[Guest]

Re: Re: WHOA!!

 

[Weird Harold]

Re: Re: Re: WHOA!!

Where and what now? If there is this so-called firewall, why the f**k did it let someone access to my files?

All Microsoft products default to the absolute minimum security levels -- good security settings keeps MS from collecting information on you and your system.

Check your help menu for "security" and "firewall" to see what capabilities Win XP has and how to use them.

 

[scylis]

so routers do everything a firewall does, only w/o slowing down your puter? cool beans! ours was free with the service!

 

[Guru]