Is your PC open to attack ?

[Nick VR4]

http://grc.com/dcom/

Hi all you might want to look at this web site and down load the dcom .exe
Its a small applet that checks to see if you have any open ports including the DCOM venerability with Microsoft at port 135

Even using a firewall you can still have ports open to others :INSERT INTO post VALUES (

My PC at home was letting in TCP packets even though Firewall was running, through a high numbered port

Laptop and PC are now fully stealth-ed :D

[Brind]

Thanks Nick.

I passed both tests. :cool:

[Roadrunner]

This System's DCOM / RPC
TCP Port 135 is Closed!

Congratulations are in order

DCOM is shut down and disabled on this system:

It doesn't get any better than this. Not only is this system's DCOM facility shut down and disabled, but the "port of entry" for all TCP DCOM exploits is closed and will reject any local or remote attempts at connection and exploitation. Congratulations.

:)

[Spirit]

Passed both tests aswell ;)

[Kieran]

Passed!

GRC is a good site to check every now and again. I've got a lot of time for Steve Gibson:)

[Brind]

What firewall are you guys using?

I'm using Norton Internet Security 2003 with Virus and System Works 2003.
Never had a virus or any other problem using them.

I often get attacks from Backdoor/SubSeven Trojan horses all of the time but I'm told that my ISP is to blame and it isn't actually the Trojans stated above, very annoying though!

[Nick VR4]

To be honest most Firewalls are good but not that good
Also Zone Alarm has a few issues with lately too

I use McAfee firewall v4 and Total Virus Defence 4.51
I get pinged etc on the firewall loads of times but can't get through :D

[Brind]

Originally posted by Nick VR4
I get pinged etc on the firewall loads of times but can't get through :D
So it isn't just me then so that's good news. :)

Ages ago now, I had an email from a friend using Hotmail which is meant to be protected by McAfee he managed to have a virus on his pc and it was the virus that sent to the mail, McAfee just let it straight in luckily I had Noton which grabbed it instantly.
That probably has no bearing on McAfee in general, perhaps the Hotmail version wasn't updated or something.

[Spirit]

Same as you Mark, Norton Internet Security 2003 - I am a bit of a stickler and check for updates at least twice a week. I get regularly "attacked/pinged" too, sometimes three for four times a night but Norton has been brilliant

[SGHOM]

all this computer talk goes straight over my head !!!:Cry1: I must get mine sorted though, it 'freezes ' constantly. cant open any attachments, every attachment you put on here, I have to open in another window !! I aint got a firewall !!:Cry1: :Cry1: & I think iv'e got more viruses than a hypochondriac !!!::INSERT INTO post VALUES ( :INSERT INTO post VALUES ( .............cant even get your other smilies ??? it just freezes ??:Ponder:

[Brind]

I'm always updating too.
Had to reinstall the other day because my yearly subscription was up! what a cheek! :D reinstalled and now another years subscription all free. ;) :cool:

For some odd reason though, after reistalling the Norton it looks different?? to before and doesn't intergrate as it did before?
Anyone know why? perhaps I did something before to intergrate them but now I don't know how I did it...


Interlec, if you are connecting via a dialup phone line connection I wouldn't worry too much about a firewall.
If you are connected all the time with ntl, BT, AOL Broadband for example then it is very advisable!!! a must if your pc is online for long periods at a time!

A virus program is a MUST! though as you can get a virus very easily.

[SGHOM]

OH S**T !!! yes I am on broadband, & club VR4 is my home page & it's on ALL the time. :nono: :nono: me thinks I need to get a man in to sort it !!! & dont tell me its easy !! do it yourself ..:D :D

[landy]

I am waiting for Norton Internet Security 2004. My local PC shop will have it in on Tuesday. I have 2001 at the mo, but Windows XP that I'm using doesn't support the internet security bit, although the anti virus bit still works.

Interlec, it's well worth buying software like this. I get about 2 or 3 viruses on email each week INSERT INTO post VALUES (I would have to click on the attached program for it to activate though)

[Spirit]

Originally posted by landy
I get about 2 or 3 viruses on email each week

Nice friends, or too many porn site visits ? :D :D :D only kidding mate !

[Brind]

You didn't hear this from Brind, this members profile has been hacked and I'm writing this from erm.. somewhere far away.. download Norton using KaZaA!
I'm a friendly hacker so I'll give you the download location of KaZaA: http://www.kazaalite.tk/

Friendly hacker signing off.

[landy]

LOL spirtit. Mabey in my bacholour years but not anymore. Honest !!:D :rolleyes:

[Spirit]

We believe you......honest :D

[Nick VR4]

Win XP has its own Firewall built in you could use that until you get something better

[Roadrunner]

I use CyberArmor Personal Firewall and Norton AntiVirus INSERT INTO post VALUES (update requested daily).

[Spader]

I'm using a Netgear hardware firewall that sits between my DSL router and switch for my internal network. Yes I am a geek.
I have used Nortons, McAffee, Zone Alarm, Sygate, tiny etc and have found alot of them to be good, but I found Nortons way too unstable, and McAffee....well I never liked McAffee after their antivirus didnt pick up something in an email and it fried my data, so I was a little biased.

Personally I wont go back from a hardware firewall. Frees up heaps of resources on your PC and it stops the traffic before it even gets to your network.

My current philosophy is stop the bad stuff before it gets to your PC. I mean once its there all it needs to do is kill a process and its away.

Oh and you might find this interesting http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;244407 turns on the ability to push tab and complete folder or file names in dos just like *nix