"New user to DSL worries about Internet security"
I just read the following Q&A article by Patrick Marshall in a Special to The Seattle Times:
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Q. I've just signed up for US West's new DSL (digital-subscriber line) service, which will allow my computer to stay connected to the Internet 24 hours a day. I'm wondering what holes I need to plug to make sure that no one can access my computer's files since it will be online all the time. I don't really have sensitive files but the potential security problem worries me.
Should I disconnect and reconnect daily to reset the IP number? How can I set up my computer to make sure no one can access it? I have an extra hard drive besides the C:\ drive, and also a CD-rewriteable drive, so if necessary I could move sensitive files off the C:\.
Lorelle Smith
lorelle@websmithpro.com
A. The first thing to realize is that so long as you are connected to the Internet there is no absolute security. The question then becomes an economic one: How much time and/or money are you willing spend in order to provide what degree of security?
That said, your intuitions are pretty much right on. There are two fundamentally sound ways to protect your data from Internet hackers.
The first way to protect your data is to cut your connection to the Web. Unfortunately, that also means that you're not connected to the Web. If you're hosting a Web page, that's not practical. If you're just using your computer to browse the Web, it's a good idea to connect to the Web only when you actually need to.
The second key to protecting your data is to isolate it so that Internet hackers can't reach it even when you are connected to the Web. You might, for example, keep your sensitive data on another machine. If you keep it on the same machine but on a different drive or on another machine that is connected to your Internet machine by network, however, you need to use the security tools of the operating system to make certain hackers can't access the data. You might, for example, require a password to access the drive containing the data.
Most businesses that employ Web connections provide security by installing one type or another of a firewall. Firewall devices filter communications between local computers and the outside Internet. They're not foolproof. Smart hackers have been known to get through firewalls. But they provide generally good protection. The drawback? Look to spend between a couple and several thousand dollars.
A better solution for individual users is a so-called "personal firewall," such as PC Secure. You can set up PC Secure to accept FTP requests only from pre-authorized addresses as well as to allow connections from your computer only to approved sites. The price? Only $59.99. You can reach Software Builders International at 800-432-0025.
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Any Ricochet users know if we have to worry about hackers breaking into our computers, since most of us are probably hooked up 24 hrs per day?
Rex |
