[bcab] Re: decent firewall

Hi Graham,
 
These comments may not address you original question but I think that they are 
worth consideration along with a good firewall.
 
If you are a plusnet customer, their firewall is well worth turning on.
 
I now use an 834gt wireless router and can't remember if the 834g has a mac 
filtering option but if it does this is worth putting to use.
 
Also, ensure that your wireless setup is using WPA PSK as it's connection 
method and that your wireless adapter on your machine is set to connect such 
that it doesn't allow access to other wireless adapters.  This is usually 
called an adHoc connection.  Connecting by an adHoc method wouldn't involve a 
hacker being using the internet just being close enough to you to connect 
wirelessly.
 
If you are using XP, you can turn off the remote access facility if you have no 
need of it.  You can find the appropriate check boxes to do this in the 
properties of "My computer".  Select "My computer" and press alt+enter.  
Control+tab until you get to the remote tab and then tab through the options.  
Change what you wish and ok the dialogue.
 
Regards,
 
Phil Medway
 
ICT accessibility developer
 
Deployment team
 
Core ICT
 
Oxfordshire County Council

 
Tel: 01869 347639
 
Mobile: 07980 519990
 

-----Original Message-----
From: bcab-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:bcab-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of 
Graham Page
Sent: 30 May 2007 15:12
To: bcab@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [bcab] decent firewall


Hi all.
 
After recently having an intruder who managed to get remote access to my 
desktop, I am interested in doing what I can to make my PC difficult for 
hackers to get at.  I have a couple of questions therefore.
 
Firstly, I have a Netgear DG834G Router.  and I used the firewall provided with 
this in conjunction with the firewall provided with Windows XP SP2.
 
Should I have a better software firewall than this?  I had enabled WinMX to 
send and receive packets through the router firewall by creating 
portforwarding, but left everything else as default.
 
So, should I get a better firewall I can install after reformatting the 
infected machine?  if so, it needs to be accessible but what would the best 
option be?  Are there any accessible places I can go to do checks and make sure 
my PC is as secure as it can be?
 
When the hacker got through before, I was asked if I wanted File Transfer 
Program to access the internet.  I was playing with a new FTP program at the 
time and just said yes without looking too much.  My PC then started and shut 
down a couple of times and the hacker was in.  Obviously one thing I must do is 
take more notice of my firewall too.
 
Any thoughts about an appropriate firewall and anything else I can do much 
appreciated.  In the past, I ran Nod Antivirus as well as the firewall but ran 
little else.
 
Cheers
 
Graham 
 
Graham Page
Home Phone: 0207 265 9493
Mobile: 07753 607980
Fax:  0870 706 2773
Email: gpage@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
MSN: gabriel_mcbird@xxxxxxxxxxx
Skype: gabriel_mcbird



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