Cable Modem: WOW!!!!

Steve Feldman · Post by **Steve Feldman** » 5 Jun 2001 8:40 pm

I just got back in town after a couple of days out. I want to thank you all for this very helpful info!

Steve Feldman · Post by **Steve Feldman** » 4 Jul 2001 7:58 am

Update -

I just downloaded (kinda late, I know) Zone Alarm and a companion program called 'AdSubtract'. I had 803 cookies on my system! I now have 3, including one that I allowed from the Forum.

Un-be-freaking-leivable the intrusion that apparently goes on without your knowing. [This message was edited by Steve Feldman on 04 July 2001 at 08:59 AM.]

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 4 Jul 2001 9:00 am

Steve, I see them pop up all the time on ZoneAlarm. Most are broadcast type crap, that I couldn't believe existed on the net. On day I got a bunch of them from the Home Shopping Network server, looking for HSN devices.

Coming from a strict controlled internal nationwide network, it amazes me what goes on (SNA/SDLC/Token Ring LAN).

However, with the amount of alerts from ZoneAlarm it would be nice to be able to option it so only the "bad" ones generated an operator alert.

Craig Allen · Post by **Craig Allen** » 4 Jul 2001 11:54 am

Jeff, very nice, and to the point.
I DO use Z/A, Add/Subtract, and also a little prog, called Ad-Ware.

Ad-Ware snoops your system for "spyware", AND, it's FREE!!!!!!!

I have also put Disk Cleanup on my desk top.
I run it EVERY time I close my internet connection. I don't expect that it will save me from anything, but it does keep my H.D. less cluttered.

I don't pay too much attention to Z/A right now because I'm using dial up, but next week I'll be on DSL, and then it will be an Imparative!

As to on-line banking.........I just don't know.
I managed a bank in New England for 3 years, and I have to tell you that some insider knowledge tells me that banks are some of the most secure places on the planet. But, I don't do on-line banking. Not that I wouldn't, I prefer to do face to face interfacing when I'm playing with money!! LOL

So, If it feels good, do it, if not, let it lie. On-line banking isn't for everyone, nor should it be.

But, do the things that Jeff suggests, and you should be very secure. And keep your Anti-Virus CURRENT.!!!!!!!

Bon Chance

Geoff Brown · Post by **Geoff Brown** » 6 Jul 2001 2:26 pm

Ad-Aware is an excellent program. The latest version, 5.5 can be had at www.lavasoft.com
Getting spyware on your system is pretty much inevitable, and AW does a nice job of finding it.

Since being burned (albeit minor) in regard to internet security, I have educated myself a little bit on just basic things, like dumping my internet cache and cookies after a session online. Just a good habit to get into. I like and use ZA as my firewall. But uninstalling it can be a bugger if you ever want to do so. They apparently realize this, since they have uninstall directions posted at their site. I hadn't checked out this forum till now. Good info.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 7 Jul 2001 2:33 am

I have a program called "Cookies Manager". It allows you to sort them and keep the "good" ones, such as the forum cookie, and dump the ones you don't want. I usually run the program at least once a day and it will trap any new cookes (that are not in the don't keep category) and allow me the option of selectively dumping them or keeping them. I also have the Ad Aware, but since I got the Cookie Manager I've never came up with a "bad" cookie on the Ad Aware scan.

I don't remember where I got this program at. May have been from ZD Net.

Larry Beck · Post by **Larry Beck** » 7 Jul 2001 8:25 am

Tech trivia:
Part of the vulnerability of cable, DSL or any constantly on medium lies in the IP addressing. Hackers look for IP addresses that are on line, then typically look for open ports that the compluters may be listening on. That's where Zone alarm comes in by shuting down those open ports.
Point one: If your computer isn't on, no one can see the ip address. So just because your connection is always available, doesn't mean you have to have your computer on all the time.

IP addresses are assigned two ways, Static or dynamic (dhcp for you techies). The safest for you is dynamic. Static setups have the same IP address all the time. Once a hacker has found you, they can always come back and work on access to your system.
Dynamic addresses are handed out from a pool as you log in or connect. That means you will probably get a different address each time you connect. It is a lot harder for hackers to revisit your system when the address is always changing. This is the case with dial up, and some DSL/Cable systems.
Point #2. Dynamic addresses make moving targets.

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Carter S12 and a wall full of 6 strings - http://members.home.net/lbeck22/

Geoff Brown · Post by **Geoff Brown** » 7 Jul 2001 6:23 pm

"I also have the Ad Aware, but since I got the Cookie Manager I've never came up with a "bad" cookie on the Ad Aware scan."

Cookies are pretty "lightweight" as far as spyware goes. The really damaging spyware usually comes packaged in a software download. Web 3000 and Webhancer are a couple of particularly nasty ones. I'm not sure about Webhancer, but I do know that Web 3000 spyware actually alters registry files (kernel32.dll, among others if my memory serves me right). You would never see it if you didn't know what to look for. It doesn't show up as cookies. And who goes diggin around in their registry files all the time?

Ad-Aware proves it's value in being able to find these altered .dll files that can slip past us undetected. Before I knew or cared about online security, I couldn't understand why my system was running so slow after a while. Come to find out,I had Web 3000 spyware on board. It had been on my HD for 3 years, silently spying, and sending data about me to someone...someplace. Nice. And removing it is not just a matter of clicking and deleting files, either. I also found this out the hard way, and ended up having to reformat. Spyware of some kind comes on an awful lot of free software programs that are d.loadable from the web. I don't d.load programs unless it's something I can't live without, or unless I know it is free of spyware. The site that makes AD-Aware available: www.lavasoft.de/ has a link(pretty sure on that) someplace to a site with a large, frequently updated database of programs containing spyware. You can search for a program, and see if it's safe or not.You could also run the System Checker program that is part of Windows, to see if you have altered registry files. Even this is not enough, however. I replaced altered .dll files using my windows disc, only to find them altered again on rebooting. Amazing. Scary. There is a great forum that adresses security issues at: http://www.morelerbe.com/cgi-bin/ubb-cgi/ultimatebb.cgi
There are a lot of really helpful folks at this site, who seem to live to help protect people's privacy online. You can find lots of data on firewalls, and removal instructions for the spyware I have mentioned. What little I know about online security I have learned mostly from reading posts and asking questions there.[This message was edited by Geoff Brown on 07 July 2001 at 07:47 PM.]

Bill Llewellyn · Post by **Bill Llewellyn** » 7 Jul 2001 9:07 pm

You guys are all talking PC-speak. Does anyone know how applicable these issues are to Mac users? Where are the protection applications for the Mac?

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Bill (steel player impersonator) | MSA Classic U12 | Email | My music | Steeler birthdays | Over 50?

Geoff Brown · Post by **Geoff Brown** » 7 Jul 2001 10:18 pm

Bill, I did a quick search. You might start here:
http://www.sans.org/infosecFAQ/mac/mac_sec.htm

This site seems to offer an overview of security issues relating to Mac users.There are some links at the bottom of the page. I wouldn't stop there tho. If you do a search, you'll probably come up with many more sites that deal with Macs and security issues.

Chip Fossa · Post by **Chip Fossa** » 10 Jul 2001 2:25 am

Steve,
What is the name of your cable provider
for $30/mnth? I'm presently with AT&T Roadrunner, and they scammed me. They had a promo offer going a while back: Free installation; modem box inluded; $25/mnth for the 1st 3 months, then only $39.95/mnth
thereafter. I don't think I even payed the 1st $40/mnth regular rate, when they notified me that the there would be a rate increase to about, now, $45/mnth........That's getting a bit steep for my liking.....and Outlook Express blanks out quite often, then, the only way to get to it, is to reboot. Another pain.

Do you have to purchase a cable modem box with the cable provider you now are with? If so, how much did that cost?

BTW, Where did you finally re-locate to in
Massachusetts?

Thanks for any help.

Chip

Steve Feldman · Post by **Steve Feldman** » 12 Jul 2001 12:10 pm

Chip - I'll have to get back to you on this. I'm actually overseas right now and won't get in until this weekend sometime. I think I pay $30.00 per month plus $10.00 modem rental. I could buy the modem outright for ~$200.00, which I may do sometime soon. So far, it's been a pretty good thing.

I don't think you have a choice in providers if you want cablemodem. You could always go with any number of dial-up Internet Service Providers in your area, however.

I'll holler at you when I get back.

Chip Fossa · Post by **Chip Fossa** » 12 Jul 2001 9:18 pm

Thanks Steve-O-Reno,
See ya Sunday in Lee, MA. I hope.

chipsahoy

David Pennybaker · Post by **David Pennybaker** » 13 Jul 2001 6:44 am

The new URL is
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/

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The Unofficial Photographer of The Wilkinsons