[cisb102sp04] Re: CISB102 Lesson 3 Question 6 Firewalls
- From: "Sue Brooks" <suebrooks@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <cisb102sp04@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2004 10:28:23 -0500
I followed your link to http://www.firewallguide.com and found an
interesting site
that runs security audits. I use a router here at home. I ran a basic audit
at
http://www.securityspace.com/sspace/index.html. I was curious how it would
turn out. It was free and not as complete as the audits that they run that
cost
money. Here is the report that I received:
Number of open ports found by port scan:0
While having 0 ports open is very good, you should be aware that this
does not guarantee you are secure.
You need to consider the following items:
a.. The port scan did not include UDP ports
b.. Vulnerabilities such as trojans that "phone home" cannot be
detected by a port scan
c.. You may not be protected from email viruses
I run an anti-virus program and use broadband so I don't have to worry
about the bottom 2.
I run a firewall program that screens one of my computers. It does
report UDP attempts.
I am not certain that I understand was UDP ports are. I have more
research to do.
Sue Brooks
suebrooks@xxxxxxxxxxx
----- Original Message -----
From: "Richelle McFate" <richellemcfate@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <cisb102sp04@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, February 14, 2004 3:55 PM
Subject: [cisb102sp04] CISB102 Lesson 3 Question 6 Firewalls
> With the on-set and purchase of high speed and wireless Internet
> connections, today's computer users need to consider obtaining and
> maintaining a firewall to increase the security of their personal computer
> software, hardware and files. Because of the nature of high speed and
> wireless connections and the fact that they are "always on," the security
of
> a computer connected to the Internet is always at risk, whether it's due
to
> a hacker trying to gain access to the user's bank account, a virus that
will
> erase the hard drive, or a large number of other threats.
>
> Of course, a computer will always be safest if it is not connected to the
> Internet at all and turned off. (See
> http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,3973,1522410,00.asp for an article
> discussing the benefits of turning off your computer when it is not in
use.)
> Barring having the computer off forever, a user should consider increasing
> security by installing a good firewall and there are lots to choose from.
> The Firewall Guide (http://www.firewallguide.com/) says the safest defense
> is a layered defense and describes the three layers of security as, first,
> finding an ISP that will provide security through anti-virus, anti-spam
and
> content filters. Second, a hardware router that can be used to block open
> ports should be implemented between the user's modem and computer.
Finally,
> the user should also install anti-virus (and other) software and maintain
> updates. Click on the "Best Reviews" link on the Firewall Guide's site
for
> discussions and reviews regarding tools for each of these layers.
> --
> Richelle McFate
> richellemcfate@xxxxxxxxxxx
>
> "Forgive me my nonsense as I also forgive the nonsense of those who think
> they talk sense." -- Robert Frost
>
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> `.__.-.__.'
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> `.`-'.'
> `"`
>
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