[Meteor-Scatter] Denial of Service attacks

Mon, 26 Aug 2002 19:57:54 -0400

Hi Shelby, what you say is absolutley correct, with one small exception.
Firewalls can protect you from virus attacks.  For instance the one I use,
WinProxy, you can get an antivirus subscription for.  Once you start it's AV
feature, it will not allow any virus infected email or web page to penetrate
your system.  And it automatically updates itself whenever new AV data is
available.  I consider it my first line of defense.  I also have Norton Pro
2000 AV, but since I started using WinProxy, Norton has never found a thing
on any of my 6 computers that are on the internet 24/7.  I also use it at
the office with the same results.  The Gibson tests show that my systems are
not even detectable by probers, but I have full internet connectivity.

Others may wish to check out WinProxy.  The usual disclaimer: I don't have
any interest in Ositis  software (WinProxy) except as a satisfied customer.

73, Russ K2TXB

> -----Original Message-----
> From: [email protected]
> [mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of Shelby Ennis,
> W8WN
> Sent: Monday, August 26, 2002 7:31 PM
> To: [email protected]; [email protected];
> [email protected]
> Subject: [Meteor-Scatter] Denial of Service attacks
>
>
> With the recent Denial of Service attacks on Moon-Net and other sites, it
> reminded me that any time you get on line your own computer may
> be "probed"
> by someone trying to get in.  Even tho I'm on line no more than 10-15
> hours/month, I see an average of 1 or 2 attempts per month, of others
> trying to access mine.  A little freeware program, "Tiny Personal
> Firewall," makes it appear to other computers that it doesn't exist.
>
> If you'd like to test your own computer and see how vulnerable it
> is, this
> can be done very quickly.  Go to the Gibson Research Web site
> at   http://www.grc.com  (and first read how even *they* were hit with a
> DoS attack earlier this year!).  Then go down to the Freeware Listing and
> download the (free) "LeakTest" and the "IP Agent for ShieldsUP"
> programs.  (Very small, quick).  While still on line, run each of them,
> following the directions, then read how open your computer is to
> attacks.   (There's other interesting freeware and stuff there,
> but that's
> another subject).
>
> NOTE - a firewall will not protect you against viruses, worms, etc.  You
> must still have a good virus checker, with updated definitions, and scan
> all E-mail attachments, programs, etc.  I'm getting an average of one
> E-mail message with virus/worm attached every day now from
> individuals who
> apparently who do not have up-to-date definitions.
>
> I know very little about all of this - but I've found these
> tests, etc very
> interesting.
> I'm sure a Web search would find a bunch of other good information.
>
> 73, Shelby, W8WN
>
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