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To: Gary E who wrote (2737)	2/10/2000 6:54:00 PM
From: TigerPaw	Respond to of 5853

OT as File Sharing was not turned on That is mostly correct. No other computer can access through normal means, but if you are enticed to load a virus or something it can open up your machine to outside use (by changing permissions). One reason I use the separate firewall computer is that I want to have all (except the firewall) allow shareing of files and printers. (I have a couple computers linked and the occasional laptop that I like to connect to the network printer). Even with a single machine though a firewall program (there are others besides SYGATE) you can detect and block many internet computer blind accesses (they only allow a response to your machine if you originated it by a request). This has been a hole for as long as the internet has been used, but usually you got a different IP address every few hours as you dialed and hung up so few people could determine where to send a blind packet. Cable modems and DSL are often left on for weeks at a time which gives hackers time to sniff random addresses, and the address will still be valid when they go back to plant something. TP

To: Gary E who wrote (2737)	2/11/2000 8:35:00 AM
From: Stoctrash	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 5853

**TEST YOUR NET SECURITY HERE**** grc.com Goto the Shields UP Tests and run the TEST MY SHIELDS and PROBE MY PORT!!! then read up!!! Here is the direct link: grc.com

To: Gary E who wrote (2737)	2/11/2000 11:22:00 AM
From: Scott C. Lemon	Respond to of 5853

Hello H G, > I have a DSL connection and was told that as long as File Sharing > was not turned on , no other computer can access my system. Is this > correct ? So the answer is not so simple ... ;-) 1) First, here is a good article about security and DSL ... many of the same concepts go across to Cable Modems also ... infosecuritymag.com 2) When you turn off "File Sharing" this is only closing one main "doorway" that could be exploited to get into your computer. There are several others. Depending on the operating system that you are running, you need to ensure that you have all of the latest patches and fixes for your computer. For example, if you have a version of Internet Explorer (v4 or later I think) you can click the Help menu and select Product Updates. This will tell you about the Windows patches that are available and what they fix. 3) The most dangerous types of problems can be created by "accepting candy from strangers". ;-) Any time you receive some application from a friend or associate (or an unknown stranger) via e-mail, a floppy disk, etc. you have a certain amount of risk that the application is infected with a "virus" which could do damage, or simply sit in the background waiting for instructions from some remote computer. Recently, there are two major examples of the extent of these programs - Back Orfice and the Zombie. These go beyond the simple destrctive virus and instead install software on your computer which can be "remotely controlled" over the Internet. There is no "simple" way to just "block" these apps ... it takes an individual that realizes that any software application received could contain such a "trojan horse" ... Scott C. Lemon