Secure?

BIGGI

How can I keep my computers secure from outside sources? I am behind a router (linksys) and the firewall WinXP SP2 has.

I frequent another forum and some guy got hacked pretty bad. From what I read, he had the "best" firewalls and router. The said 'hacker" got through his defenses like cutting butter with a hot knife. This "hacker" got his address, CC number, SS Number, full name etc. He/she got everything.

So by reading that I know I'm wide open to whomever.

What I have on my computer:

- porn
- games
- wedding **** (invitations templates, etc)

I don't store any information here at all. But! I have made many purchases using my CC. My next question, when a hacker goes into someone’s computer, what are they looking for? Do they go looking for my CC purchases? If so, where is this information stored so I can go delete this? Do the go after my cookies? My temp files? What?

Any advice I will take to heart, I don't want this happening to me.

Armo

well, as long as you have the unnessisary ports blocked on the router, and on your machine you shouldnt be too bad off, its really hard to get past stuff like that unless the person is really good. most of the information about SS# and stuff like that is from internet purchesses and like AOL accounts and stuff related to internet browsing/purchasing. I dont thin theres a high demand for hacked pr0n for the games section the only thing they would be after would be a vailid CD key for games which is pretty dumb considering if you know ware to look you can find them on the net instead of having to break into a machine for one. you should be ok as long as your firewals block the unnessisary ports

BIGGI

What ports would those be?

Sorry here comes a dumb question, are these ports blocked already? If not, how do I do so? I'm only familiar with 'port forwarding'. I have never blocked a port before.

TheBaron

pr0n is first on your list. good man

Armo

that windows firewall has port blocking ( which is basicly what a fire wall does ), by default i belive ALL ports are blocked on a firewall until you allow them access. like the internet is port 80, secure http is 443, pop3 is 110, smtp is 25, anyhoo, if i remember correctly when you try to access a program that is using a blocked port windows will ask you if its OK to allow the traffic in. most programs that users usually use run off the "well known ports" that is ports 1-1024. programs such as games ( HL - 27015, Azuerus - 6881-6889, mirc - 6667 ) stuff like that use a higher port number which you will need to allow the windows firewall access through as well as port forwarding in the router. if you have more than 1 machine with the windows firewall, you can do what i do ( kinda dangerous lol ) i got every port on the router forwarded, but the firewall will stop the requests for unwanted traffic. i dont suggest you do that if you wnat to be totally secure, i recomment forwarding ports that need it.

BIGGI

Sorry if I cam off paranoid, maybe just a smidge. I was more curious about how secure I was. Thanks for the tips.

Only ports I have open are for WoW.

;]

Dexter

If this person got hacked through a firewall, chances are that a Trojan virus got on his system and opened a port thread for external access. Keep your virus scans up to date, keep your firewall secure, and you should not have any worries about being hacked.

If you are worried about your credit card purchases being lifted, always empty your browser cache after making a purchase. However, most secure transaction sites do not store your CC numbers in cookies on your system, rather they are stored in on the server itself.

Dexter...

A2I

Try

http://www.hackercheck.com/

or

http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/sc_prescan.asp?langid=ie&venid=sym&plfid=23&pkj=TTHHPJUIYCZRWEJGSSK