A question about security

[Tangerine]

Disclaimer - Please don't laugh! I am pretty naive about this stuff.

I have a question for all you smart guys and women about internet security. I would like some straight information whether someone can really see inside your computer, view or copy your files etc... And just how they might do this. Is having someone's IP address enough? Can you be compromised by visiting a web page? I know better than to execute a file when I don't know where it came from, and I don't use outlook for my email. I have Zone Alarm, the free one installed and use dial up.

I know this all sounds pretty paranoid, but another board I visit is all in an uproar about this, and it's creeping me out.

 

[GtPrOjEcTX]

If you have zone alarm installed, and confirgured good, alongside a virus scanner you should be alright.

But yes, an IP address is sufficient to do lots of crap to your computer, if you let them in (no firewall...they come in. firewall, they knock first)
as for the web page, a site can get your IP address if you visit it, log it, and do the above. They can also have other things such as activex components that can screw around with your files.

Note to the wise, always have a virus scanner running.

 

[notfred]

Other people can only connect to your computer if you let them. For example, if you have Windows file sharing running, then you're allowing people access your files. Of course, you're only letting them access the files you want. When you get careless with the way you set up your network, or if you don't know what you're doing, you may accidentally allow people to access more than you expected. Also, if you run other software that's constantly taking connections from the internet (such as a web server) it's possible that a bug in that software could allow someone to connect and gain access to files they're not supposed to see.

However, on dial-up, these risks are lowered because 1) Your computer isn't constantly connected to the internet. 2) You get a new IP address every time you log on.

Don't worry about it, the chances of anyone screwing with your files is very small.

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: GtPrOjEcTX
But yes, an IP address is sufficient to do lots of crap to your computer

12.246.225.179

Go ahead and tell me what "lots of crap" is (other than DDoS) that you can do to my computer.

 

[Tangerine]

Thanks guys

I have a network, using crossover cables and AnalogX proxy between 2 computers, but only for sharing an internet connection. I don't do any file sharing when I'm online, so I think I'm alright there. I do have to shut off Zone Alarm to use the proxy though.

 

[GtPrOjEcTX]

Originally posted by: notfred

Originally posted by: GtPrOjEcTX
But yes, an IP address is sufficient to do lots of crap to your computer

12.246.225.179

Go ahead and tell me what "lots of crap" is (other than DDoS) that you can do to my computer.

In Fall 2001 I watched a presentation from a someone for a class where he used an IP of an computer to manipulate files, take screen shots, shut down the computer, print, ect...

I can't recall the name of the individual nor the program he used. Sorry for the lack of info.

 

[guyver01]

Originally posted by: notfred

Originally posted by: GtPrOjEcTX
But yes, an IP address is sufficient to do lots of crap to your computer

12.246.225.179

Go ahead and tell me what "lots of crap" is (other than DDoS) that you can do to my computer.

I can tell ya you're running
ftp, http, sunrpc
and using FTP server (Version wu-2.6.1-18)

but that's all *I* can do