10 members (Fdemetrio, VNORTH2, Gary E. Andrews, Perry Neal Crawford, couchgrouch, Sunset Poet, Guy E. Trepanier, bennash, Bill Draper, David Gill),
4,088
guests, and
270
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
Welcome to the Just Plain Folks forums! You are currently viewing our forums as a Guest which gives you limited access to most of our discussions and to other features.
By joining our free community you will have access to post and respond to topics, communicate privately with our users (PM), respond to polls, upload content, and access many other features. Registration is fast, simple, and absolutely free; so please join our community today!
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,675
Top 100 Poster
|
OP
Top 100 Poster
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,675 |
Hi Folks! I got up this morning and turned on my computer. And, the strangest thing happened. I had a system message concerning my C drive. Once I got that taken care of I immediately had a program come up that I have not opened in a couple of weeks. It was a music program. My question: Has anyone else had this happen to them? I do recall a similiar incident about a year ago but shrugged it off.
Also, how can one combat hackers? Should I consider disconnecting my phone line from my computer when not in use? Or, does shutting down the computer help in any way?
I know I must sound paranoid. But, Stoney (at another site) hit upon something a couple of weeks ago regarding hackers. And, to be honest it flew right past me. But, now I don't know.
Please, re-assure me and tell me this is not what it seems! And, that I am indeed just being paranoid. It's not like I have a lot to steal. But, it's almost like feeling someone's been "in my head".
Ron
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 145
Serious Contributor
|
Serious Contributor
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 145 |
I don't think hackers can get in through a low-speed phone modem connection, as long as you have "hung up" (terminated your connection to the internet). There is some danger, however, in cable internet, which is always connected. In this case, you can get firewall software such as is available from ZoneLabs (for free, last I checked). I found this software to be somewhat intrusive, but I got a router to connect two computers to my cable connection, and it has firewall protection built in. ------------------ Vic http://www.mp3.com/VictorWilburn fools who cannot hear the song ask that the rules be posted." -- Harlan Ellison
Vic [URL=http://www.garageband.com/artist/VictorWilburn[/URL] "Only fools who cannot hear the song ask that the rules be posted." -- Harlan Ellison
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 120
Serious Contributor
|
Serious Contributor
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 120 |
First let me say I'm no expert on the subject, but, if you shut windows down with a program open, it will open it up when it reboots. It is possible that the problem on the C drive was with an initialization file, and it reverted to an older file set to have the music program opened. If nothing else is happening, like the disk drive lit up continuously, there is probably nothing wrong. It takes a great deal of sophistication to go backwards through you modem without being discovered. There are programs such as remotely possible that can do it, but the program needs to be running on both computers. All in all, if you have some type of anti-virus software, you shouldn't have to worry about hackers (unless you have something really valuable on your drive, and the wrong people know about it). You may want to run scan disk on your hard drive and make sure it doesn't have bad sectors.
Walter Farmer farmboy
[This message has been edited by farmboy (edited 12-19-2001).]
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 46
Serious Contributor
|
Serious Contributor
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 46 |
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Ronald: Hi Folks! I got up this morning and turned on my computer. And, the strangest thing happened. I had a system message concerning my C drive. Once I got that taken care of I immediately had a program come up that I have not opened in a couple of weeks. It was a music program. My question: Has anyone else had this happen to them? I do recall a similiar incident about a year ago but shrugged it off.
Also, how can one combat hackers? Should I consider disconnecting my phone line from my computer when not in use? Or, does shutting down the computer help in any way?
I know I must sound paranoid. But, Stoney (at another site) hit upon something a couple of weeks ago regarding hackers. And, to be honest it flew right past me. But, now I don't know.
Please, re-assure me and tell me this is not what it seems! And, that I am indeed just being paranoid. It's not like I have a lot to steal. But, it's almost like feeling someone's been "in my head".
Ron
</font> Hi Ron, you can download a piece of software called Zone Alarm, its free to individule users, it is a personal fire wall that will alert you if some one is trying to get into your machine, also, the person that said that hackers wont get in through a dialup connection is wrong. thay may tag your machine and use it as a transmit station to hide there bad doing behind your ip address. I suggest you get this fire wall software and also download a piece of software called adaware. this detects spyware on your pc, so that preograms like real player cant report back what sits you visit. zone alarm can be found at www.zonealarm.com, im not sure about adaware but you can do a search. I hope this helps if you have anymore questions. let me know. Peace Terry Ponder ------------------ Terry Ponder http://www.mp3.com/terrypondertponder@sbcglobal.net
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 340
Serious Contributor
|
Serious Contributor
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 340 |
Thanks for all the wonderful info! It appears that I'm the only one that doesn't seem to know about these sort of things! Lol! Here is the link to JavaSoft's "adaware" program. Thanks Terry,FarmBoy and Harlan! http://www.lavasoft.de/
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,675
Top 100 Poster
|
OP
Top 100 Poster
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,675 |
I wanted to come back and let you Guys and Gals know that I did install the new software onto my system. Though I was never able to successfully load the "Adaware" program, I did install and am now running "ZoneAlarm". And, it seems to be working. I no sooner was set up than I had a "hit". A little later I was hit again by the same IPO address. I wonder though if the program is blocking good things too though, such as "Im's". Since I did authorize Aol I would think not. Any ideas? Oh, "New Baby Dell" is doing fine! Thanks! Ron Boyte
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 46
Serious Contributor
|
Serious Contributor
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 46 |
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Ronald: I wanted to come back and let you Guys and Gals know that I did install the new software onto my system. Though I was never able to successfully load the "Adaware" program, I did install and am now running "ZoneAlarm". And, it seems to be working. I no sooner was set up than I had a "hit". A little later I was hit again by the same IPO address. I wonder though if the program is blocking good things too though, such as "Im's". Since I did authorize Aol I would think not. Any ideas?
Oh, "New Baby Dell" is doing fine!
Thanks! Ron Boyte </font> Ron, if you authroize the software to access the net it should let everything come through that you say is ok to come through. also the ip that bang on your system ar usualy systems yo connect to for info or surfing and its varifing that your talking to it, but it hurts nothing if it cant see you on the other end. it also prevents hacker and such. if you have any specific questions, let me know Peace Terry ------------------ Terry Ponder http://www.mp3.com/terrypondertponder@sbcglobal.net
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,675
Top 100 Poster
|
OP
Top 100 Poster
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,675 |
Hey, "Thanks" for all the good advice! Here are two links for free software that I have found very beneficial as of late! They may have been covered previously. If not, read on! Each time I am on line now I feel protected! And, what I like about it is "I know when it happens"! The software alerts me and even retains a log! http://www.zonealarm.com/ http://www.lavasoft.de/ (adaware) You can buy the better versions, if you wish. But, for me the freebies seem to work! Don't be dismayed if you have a problem downloading. And, also load from site. It makes it easier to add to your computer. Hope it helps! Ron
|
|
|
We would like to keep the membership in Just Plain Folks FREE! Your donation helps support the many programs we offer including Road Trips and the Music Awards.
|
|
Forums117
Topics125,717
Posts1,160,950
Members21,470
|
Most Online37,523 Jan 25th, 2020
|
|
"If one man can do it, any man can do it. It is true. But the real question is, if one man did it, are you willing to do what it takes to do it as well?" –Brian Austin Whitney
|
|
|
|