Cactus TurboNet Newsletter 1/24/04         

 

Practice Safe Computing:  Firewall                                                                      

 

   In the good old days (a year ago) I didn’t see any reason for a dial-up Internet customer to have a firewall.  Now it’s a really, really good idea.  Windows XP’s built in firewall can be enabled by going to Start, Control Panel, Classic View, Network Connections, Local Area Connection, Advanced(tab) and clicking the “Protect my computer” box.

 

Virus checker

 

   Make sure your virus checker is up to date.  And runs.  If not, uninstall it (in the control panel, under Add/Remove Programs) and get another.  A good one can be found at http://www.GRIsoft.com in the Download section.  It’s free to individuals – companies pay.

 

Spyware

 

   If you’ve installed any free programs from the Internet lately, you may have gotten more than you bargained for.  Many of these programs are accompanied by spyware – programs which report back to their originators on your Internet habits.  They may also change your home page, spawn popups, inactivate your antivirus program and other inconvenient things.  These programs use your Internet connection, slowing it down.  If you have lots of them, your connection can grind to a halt.  To get rid of them, go to http://www.Ad-Aware.com and get the Ad-Aware program.  You might also want Spybot Search and Destroy from http://www.safer-networking.org.  Be careful running them – read and follow their advice.

 

KaZaa or other P2P programs

 

   Beginning in early January, some enterprising bad guys are using the KaZaa network to install spyware and spamming programs onto unsuspecting computers.  We saw one which was spawning new programs faster than we could remove them.  Be safe.  Use KazaaBegone from www.spychecker.com/program/kazaagone.html or go to the control panel, to Add/Remove programs, and remove Kazaa or any other Peer-to-peer programs you might have. 

 

Did I get them all???

 

   To check to see how clean your computer is, check your “sent” packets while you’re not doing anything on the Internet.  In Windows XP, go to Start, Control Panel, Switch to Classic View, Network Connections, Local Area Connection.  Look at the Packets Sent.  Is the number increasing more than about 15 packets per second?  If so, then your computer has a problem – maybe one of the above, or maybe something else.

 

   Something else?  Yes, but it gets pretty complicated.  You can reformat your hard drive and start over (be sure to back up your data first).  Or you can try bringing up the task manager and checking the processes on your computer.  If you have a packet sniffer like Ethereal you can check the packets as they go across the line.  These are some of the tools our Service Department uses to identify and kill rogue programs.  Or you can bring in the computer – that’s what I’d do.  There is a charge for virus and rogue program removal.