What do I need to ensure my computer is safe from skilled hackers? I was hacked before and prefer it not to happen again. I have a firewall, but is that good enough? I have a virus scanner and remover, is that good enough?

I wanna know what I should get to fully protect my new laptop. I just got it today, and the money I shelled out for it.... I wanna make sure I get the use out of this computer, that makes spending so much not a concern.

Any suggestions? Please name specific products if you know any I might be able to use. Thanks for any help I can get.

If you have service pack 2, a third party firewall, a well configured router firewall, and keep malware definitions up to date, you're as safe as you'll ever be. It all comes down to what you’re doing with the computer though, stay away from certain IRC channels, and just use it smartly.
You should also back up your stuff; create an image of your hard drive so you can simply ghost it, just in case anything happens.
Spyware cleaners are always good, and it wouldn't hurt to tighten your Active X security settings.

1. Don't visit questionable sites.
2. Don't download programs from said sites.
3. Don't leave your computer on/connected when not around... (standby will not kill you...)
4. Firewall
5. Update
6. Use FireFox and have a LARGE hosts file...
7. Don't use IRC
8. Don't use Bittorrent...
9. Clear %TEMP% and IE browser Cache often.
10. If you do have to go against something I mentioned, do it in moderation or play it smart.

I've had events happen to me from all these sources... so I'm not making stuff up.

Well, Edited the above quote with what I had to add to this. The bolded parts are what I had to add.

1. fine
2. fine
3. I unplug the ethernet cable from the modem every time I get up from the computer for more than 3 minutes. Is that ok, or can my modem be harmed from a hacker?
4. I have a firewall that came with this computer. Its called EZ Firewall. I put the security as high as I could.
5. I already started updating, and set it to inform me of new updates and update automatically after notifying me.
6. Firefox? Hosts files? I dunno this language you speak of.
7. I dunno what IRC is.
8. I don't use that, but I do use Limewire. Rarely of course.
9. Clear temp files... you mean delete all cookies, temp internet files, but online and off frequently? How often? I would prefer once a week, but I dunno how often is wise.

The reason I am being so protective, is this computer was $3,000, and I paid in cash. As well, my internet service bill I must dish out for each month.

I was hacked before. When I would be in a chatroom, he would force text on me, or type text in my window and send to chat or IMs I had. It was like he was using my own keyboard.

Next, he sent, or installed a chat box in my computer that overridded everything. It was Matrix theme scrool chat box. Basically he said he was gonna fry the comp. He accually decided not to after talking to me, but when he put on the chat, he removed all my administrative abilities, and since I needed task manager open at all times due to spyware issues, and I couldn't do anything, the computer was useless.

He left me alone, but he had said he was watching me for awhile. I assume by watching he installed a trojan on my computer that showed him everything I've ever done since it was put on.

Well, the reason he attacked me, was some stupid girl told him I was a pedophile, some old man. Yeah, the Lycan.. an old man. Go figure. So he attacked me because of that. But yeah... I don't care if he has decided to never bother me again or not, I want this computer protected from all hackers. Not him only, all of them, so this doesn't happen again.

Thanks for help you guys.

3> Yeah thats good. I doubt a hacker can really do much to a modem, but what ever they do, better the modem than the computer.
4> EZ is 'ok' but there are better ones, such as Zonealarm or Sygate Personal Firewall
6> http://www.getfirefox.com/ as for the hosts thing, I posted about it a while back...
7> Then nevermind
8> Good.
9> Yes, browser cache/temp files, but theres another place, open my computer. Make sure you can see the address bar. Type in exactly: %temp% and hit enter. Do an edit/select all and press [shift]+[delete], now some of the files might not be deleteable. All you have to do is then manually select everything else. Alot of viruses and ad displaying programs stick stuff in temp.

And if you find someone screwing with your computer, pull the plug on your connection. Its also a good idea to reboot your modem (unplug, wait, plug back in) so that it might give you a new IP.

Thanks. I'll get a better firewall, a better anti virus, and I'll check that temp thing often.

I'm gonna get firefox now.Yahoo browser always has problems anyways. Even on this new computer, is still encounters problems and needs to close. Stupid yahoo. They are lucky I like Messenger so much. :P

Thanks again.

I don't see how you can be hacked, I've done EVERY single thing HaTcH's list says NOT to do...frankly I want to be hacked...not severly...but just to see the experience..I've been using computers for years and I've never gotten hacked...oh sure I've gotten a viruses...but all have been deleted and I've never sufferred inrepairable damage/data loss....

Usually if you do things right, you won't get hacked...or viruses...get a hardware firewall...they offer a great source of protection no matter what (except hardware related failures) but you don't need to deal with software problems...viruses can damage your firewall...but hardware firewalls are considerbily more difficult..hmm maybe that's why I've never get hacked...I got my router with a firewall when I got broadband...but even before then I never did get hacked...

IRC: Internet Relay Chat

I got hacked because some stupid little girl wanted to piss me off... Simple as that. I didn't ask for it.

And....

Did your IQ drop a good degree? Yeah, you keep hoping and maybe it will happen, and once you've spent a great many hours trying desperatly to get all your files and crap off your computer on data disks and waited 3 hours to restore the computer, only to find out it won't even turn on anymore.... You'll think differently.

My hacker could obviously see I use this site, and thus, he could read that, and just grant your wish. So, I suggest you not be so open to the "experience". Yeah, it was interesting watching him operate and alter my computer as though he was sitting next to me. Its an experience I will always remember. But non the less, I didn't wish for it, nor welcome it, nor wish for it to ever happen again.

Don't say such foolish things on the net, it may happen. I'm sure you don't want to lose any stuff you may have on your computer.

Did you know, someone could hack you, and type stuff on this forum to get you IP banned, and you would never know, nor could you get back on ZE? Its one thing if someone did that for no reason, and the admins would unban your account, but if you ask for a hack, and that happens, I doubt the admins will unban your account if it happens when you yourself are asking for it.

Wise up.

If you are ever hacked, contact me by any means. I can provide some support.

I've never dealt with a hacked machine, but sites, forums, etc. that were hacked I have helped restore... when someone talks about being hacked, I listen up.

Generally, if you use Firefox, there should be no worries. My brother has used it for years and never encountered a problem with it. However, when he had IE, his comp would crash at least once a month. Same for me. NEVER use IE.

I have never tried using Bittorrent, but I HAVE used P2P. I suffered problems from it. Also, I'm almost on LimeWire 24/7, there shouldn't be problem with it. My pal Jim uses it all the time, and he has never experienced anything either.

But, perhaps you could download AdAware SE? I use that as well. I scan at least once every 1-2 weeks.

oh lycan stop being so serious.....I was joking...a bit...wow a little girl hacked your computer just for kicks?...that reminds me...how's your business going? ^_^

@Storm the Chao you can't be serious about staying on limewire 24/7...you must be out of your mind...that's one of the things on my no way list..I actually use limewire very rarely..just for songs and when I'm done I close it...which is like maybe a few minuetes..limewire is a NETWORK..and that's one of the reasons I don't like it very much...bittorrent is similiar but frankly its safer because its network-less..on limewire anybody can find out your IP address, its easy...while the same is on bittorrent only the people downloading the torrent can view it...no torrent file and they'll have no idea of knowing you're there (there are some get arounds however...) but on limewire you're connected to a huge network with many many users able to access your IP address with the click of a button...both programs carry security risks but limewire's it larger...

While getting one's IP address CAN be dangerous, for me it is not. I have access to several computers.

For example, my IP is 68.96.178.121. Do I care if someone else has it? Not really. Not much they can do except find my ISP. Not that I care, I have access to at least 7 more computers.

Ooooh Hatch visited questionable sites :P

Uhm, if I do leave it on but am not connected to anything except Windows Messenger, does that still put me at risk? I have DSL so I don't bother about stand-bying it :\

^you can still be attacked without running a single internet program, if you have the standard ports open...besides you can get someone's ip though msn messenger..I leave my comp on anyway though...

@Storm the Chao *shakes head* that however is not the point I'm trying to make..

What have you been looking at HaTcH?

Hmm...Norton Anti-Virus any good, then, to block hackers?

Sorry, I was acting like an *** there, I wasnt in a good mood. :P But yeah, follow their advice, however, you can take mine into consideration aswell.

Very little...but the most recent version comes with a watered down version of their product firewall...but much better than windows firewall...be warned though norton antivirus as good as their antivirus protection is, has weak antispywarre protection..or at least my version 2005..I have 06..I'm going to install it soon...

I suggest you get their NIS...Norton Internet Security suit..I don't know about the anti-spyware version...I'm going to research that a bit...

Hackers come though the internet, norton antivirus is more of a local thing...

Then again, most hackers need to drop something onto your computer for them to be able to do stuff to it, like sending you a file which opens up ports and what not.. A good AV software will scan for these types of files in real time and can often stop a threat before it becomes serious.

As for questionable sites... I'll leave your imagination to that one. coughtextfiles.comcough

hackers don't need to nessarily drop files, they can take advantage of software vunerabilities remotely or unpatched systems...though you do have a point...it'd probably make their job easier...they can DoS servers without putting a file on the server...but they'd probably zombinetize computers for that...

ahhh so many textfiles! it burns! *runs away*

No... Some girl got pissed at me and decided to screw with me by telling people in a chatroom of which I was in, I was a male pedophile. This guy I guess read that, talked to her, and then attacked me because he thought she was telling the truth. However, he realised she was lying, and he fried her computer.

He didn't really try to destroy my computer, its just when he disabled the task manager, the only way for me to stop the pop ups quickly, ect, it filled the comp with spyware or whatever else and it fueled the fire that ate away at my computer.

But, he was acting on thinking I was a bad person, some hackers are just jerks. They are not so sparing. Like the geeks who hack and hold power over you by welding the ability to destroy your computer since in real life they get picked on more than anything. I'm not much impressed by such skills with a computer. Hacks into accounts and change fundings to benifit yourself. Standard Federal has a nation wide network one could hack. I don't understand why no one does.

I'm surprised it's not been mentioned yet. If you're REALLY serious about not being hacked or getting a virus or whatnot and you don't play games just uninstall Windows and install Linux. Even if you DO play games you can dual boot between Linux (for most everything) and Windows (for games)

Also, don't assume that just because you can't start your computer it's dead. More then likely your Master Boot Record was just corrupted and could have been fixed with a hard drive format and reinstall of Windows (or Linux :D). Sure, you'd still lose all your stuff, but you wouldn't have had to pay all the money for a new computer. Or, you could have bought a new hard drive, installed Windows/Linux on that, and if it really was just the MBR that was corrupted you should still have been able to see the stuff on your old hard drive.

Man, Storm, that's just insane. Are all 7 of the computer yours? In my house there are three (mine, a four year old Dell Dimension 4500 with some upgrades made to it; my sister's brand new $300 Dell Dimension 2400 stock; and my Grandpa's ancient Compaq something which he got from one of my Aunts, who knows what all has been done to it *pokes it, reels back from cigarette stench*) though we previously had two which I tore apart for fun. No other real use for them since they were so old, besides perhaps a Linux hardware firewall, however I haven't used a firewall ever and have yet for anything serious to happen to me (well, after I actually thought about security, that is)

However, it’s even more insane that that IP address really is real :blink:

Accually.... When I tried restarting, it did some flashing, burning, smoking, fire, and the monitor got overheated... So, I'm willing to bet if a virus, or whatever did not kill the computer, the flames within destroyed every IC chip as they are very fragile to heat.... :D

Nothing the old soldering iron couldn't fix :D

The computer must have overloaded, probably from a crap power supply. The fried PSU probably messed up the electrical line it was plugged into which is probably why the monitor also fried.

Out of curiosity, what do you have now? For $3000 I'd expect it to be damn good. You DID get an Athlon and not a Pentium, right? If you don't play games but do a lot of media encoding, on the other hand, a Pentium would be fine and even better then an Athlon (at least a single core Athlon)

lol, if your monitor fries, I can guarantee 99.99% that its hardware failure, not a malicious attack on it. Hell, enough dust or anything can short it out and kill it.

The computer was a year old, perfect condition, plugged to a proper powe supply, with surge protection. It was fine till he screwed with it, then declined to said destructed fate within 3 days, hardly enough time to collect more dust, or for the computer to have issues. :D

^well he couldn't have messed with the monitor...except for the hertz rate really..and it wouldn't be THAT bad...he could've somehow corrupted/edited your BIOS though unlikely...I don't see how he damaged your computer hardware-wise...unless he played with the software side that controls it...

The monitor was just acting weird. It didn't burst into a ball of flames or anything.

All a person needs is the proper protection against such things. My laptop, which isn't hooked up to the internet because certain people refuse to let me get it hooked up, has both Linux and Windows on it, along with a good firewall and some other goodies I have. But Lycan, just ignore people like those. They have no brains or the ones they have are so pathetic that a small un-educated child could outsmart them. And get some good protection on that computer of yours.

*attacks and hugs* :D

Thanks for the advise. :D

Norton has released Internet Protection Packages that include the 06 version and Spyware Protection & Internet Security.

That's right, but you asked about Norton Anti-virus which is a different product that is intergrated with their suite.

Isn't it interesting how they have antivirus for the symian phones? and palms and window pocketpcs? Last I checked out the palm OS antivirus and installed the trial on my palm it contained 3 definitions...lol what a waste...

PCmag's review of norton internet security spyware edtition
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1813556,00.asp

Doesn't seem that great...I don't have their anti-spyware edition...I think I'll go get it..it might not help much but..meh..