[Ham-Computers] DSL Security questions, THANKS ALL!

[N9RSU]

Hello all, 

To answer you 1st question:

I have been building my own computers for about 12 to 14 years & a good
router is very important.  I have even heard of a few who run back to back
routers to create a double hardware firewall.  I'm not sure how effective it
is, but it sounds good.  

Now to answer your 2nd question: 

I have several computers that I have built & several laptops that I have
bought. All computers are running Windows XP Pro SP2 except for 1 laptop. 
All Desktops are using ABit AI-7 motherboards with built in netcards, 6.1
surround sound card, Firewire & USB1 & USB2. These Motherboards can handle
up to 4 gigs of DDR memory.   

#1: (My personal computer)
Abit AI-7 motherboard, Intel P4 3.4 GHz Extreme CPU, 3.5 gig of DDR 400mhz
RAM, 2 - Western Digital ATA 100 7200 rpm 120 gig hard-drives with 8 meg
cache, 2 - DVD RWs, ATI Radeon 9700 Pro All-In-Wonder 8X AGP 128 meg video
card & ViewSonic VX-900 v.2 19" LCD Monitor using the DVI connections.  
#2: (My personal laptop) 
Alienware Area-51m laptop with P4 3.06 GHz CPU 1 gig of RAM 60 gig
hard-drive with DVD RW & etc. This laptop was custom ordered & there are
more features, but I wanted to keep it short. 
#3: (Wife's computer) 
Abit AI-7 motherboard, Intel P4 3.2 GHz Prescott CPU, 2 gig of DDR 400mhz
RAM, 1 - Western Digital ATA 100 7200 rpm 80 gig hard-drive with 8 meg
cache, 1 - DVD player, 1 - CD RW, Radeon 9600 Pro 8X AGP 128 meg video card
& ViewSonic VX-710  17" LCD Monitor. 
#4: (Wife's Laptop) 
Compaq 2710US 1.13 GHz laptop. 
#5 (Oldest Daughter's Desktop) 
Abit AI-7 motherboard, Intel P4 3.2 GHz Prescott CPU, 1.5 gig of DDR 400mhz
RAM, 1 - Western Digital ATA 100 7200 rpm 80 gig hard-drive with 8 meg
cache, 1 - DVD player, 1 - CD RW, Radeon 9600 Pro 8X AGP 128 meg video card
& Sampo 15" CRT Monitor. 
#6 (Oldest Daughter's laptop) 
Compaq 12XL510A 800 MHz laptop, this is the 1 that still has Windows ME on
it.  
#7: (Youngest Daughter's Desktop)
Abit AI-7 motherboard, Intel P4 3.2 GHz Prescott CPU, 1.5 gig of DDR 400mhz
RAM, 1 - Western Digital ATA 100 7200 rpm 80 gig hard-drive with 8 meg
cache, 1 - DVD player, 1 - CD RW, Radeon 9600 Pro 8X AGP 128 meg video card
& Sampo 15" CRT Monitor.
#8: (Extra Computer) 
Abit AI-7 motherboard, Intel P4 3.2 GHz Prescott CPU, 2 gig of DDR 400mhz
RAM, 1 - Western Digital ATA 100 7200 rpm 80 gig hard-drive with 8 meg
cache, 1 - DVD player, 1 - CD RW, Radeon 9600 Pro 8X AGP 128 meg video card
& Westinghouse LCM-17v2 SL 17" LCD Monitor.  

I have my whole house wired for networking using CAT5E cable.  There are
network jacks in every room in the house.  All cables come to my office
where the 16 port switch & router are.  Every room has atleast 2 jacks in
them so you can plug into my network anywhere in the house.  

I have also built a few other computers for my dad, my oldest girl's
boyfriend & a few other people.  I do from time to time build custom
computers for people when asked. 

As far as I know the only real difference between XP Pro & XP Home has to do
with networking.  I prefer using XP Pro.  I 1st started out with XP Home,
but kept having problems with the networking features; hence I switched to
XP Pro & only use it now. 

I hope the above info help anyone.  

73s for now, 

Leroy A. Dick, Sr. N9RSU 
n9rsu at n9rsu.com   


-----Original Message-----
From: Duane Fischer, W8DBF [mailto:dfischer at usol.com] 
Sent: Saturday, September 17, 2005 22:12
To: n9rsu at n9rsu.com; Computers (or other) used for amateur radio,
communications, or experimenting
Subject: Re: [Ham-Computers] DSL Security questions, THANKS ALL!

Hello Leroy, 	
	
Sounds like a very effective setup! 	
	
Question: In your opinion, how critical is that hardware router in keeping
port
invaders out? )I have been told it is the key to security.)	
	
Question #2: What is the configuration of your computer system: processor
speed,
RAM, hard drive size etc.	
	
One thing that should be pointed out here, is that Phil is using a 600 MHZ
clockspeed with XP Pro, not XP Home Edition. The intrinsic differences
between
these two operating systems presents a different set of issues. Hence based
on
those who are familiar with the quirks of XP HE and XP Pro, perhaps you can
make
suggestions that may be needed when using XP Pro, but not needed as much, if
at
all, for XP HE?	
	
Thanks to all - 	
	
Duane Fischer, W8DBF	
dfischer at usol.com  	

----------
From: N9RSU <n9rsu at n9rsu.com>
To: 'Computers (or other) used for amateur radio, communications,  or
experimenting' <ham-computers at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: RE: [Ham-Computers] DSL Security questions, THANKS ALL!
Date: Saturday, September 17, 2005 10:56 PM

Hi all:  
Just my 2 cents: 

I use to use Zone Alarm until a few years ago.  The version new version they
came out with that year had a problem with the McAfee that I was using.  
They use to run good together until that newer version was release & then
they would NOT work together because they were both trying to the same file.
I think it was some .DLL file, but I don't remember.  They both knew about
the problem, but they were arguing about who was going to fix it.  
After that I switched to Norton Internet Security 2003 with the Norton
Anti-Virus.  
FYI:  I use a DSL modem hooked to a Netgear Router using the router
Firewall, then hooked to a 16 port Netgear Switch with has all my computers
networked together.  Each computer is using Norton setup the same way.  
I also use Spybot Search& Destroy v. 1.4,  Spyware Blaster v. 3.4  and
Microsoft AntiSpyware v. 1.0.615 (beta) (it will not work on 95 or 98). 
I also keep everything updated all the time.  You can never let your guard
down these days.  

Hope this helps everyone that is interested.  

73s
Leroy A. Dick, Sr. N9RSU  
n9rsu at n9rsu.com  


-----Original Message-----
From: jeff [mailto:jeffv at op.net] 
Sent: Saturday, September 17, 2005 21:14
To: Computers (or other) used for amateur radio, communications, or
experimenting
Subject: Re: [Ham-Computers] DSL Security questions, THANKS ALL!

On Sun, 2005-09-18 at 00:20 +0000, Philip Atchley wrote:
> Apparently so long as I'm running the Zone alarm with it's security 
> cranked as tight as it'll go, I'll be OK. 
I disagree, but it's your choice.
> (for some 
> reason the free basic version wouldn't let me network my two computers 
> together).

What is it telling you?
I've never had a problem.

Make sure that when you open up ZA, you add the other computer as a
TRUSTED system or IP address.