Technically Speaking

If your system is on a windows platform, your connected to the Internet by cable modem or DSL, and you haven’t installed the latest security patches, then your risk is higher. But according to Robert Vamosi, your computer is just a needle in the haystack to the average cracker.

I don’t mean to say home PCs aren’t targets. They are. Crackers keep track of IP addresses assigned by Internet service providers to dial-up, DSL, and cable-modem users. Some regularly scan those addresses, looking for PCs that are connected to the Net and that have known security vulnerabilities.

These lists of vulnerable computers are often traded or sold over the Internet, and help virus writers plant their viruses quickly. That’s why it’s important to use firewall software and keep all your applications updated with the latest patches.

My personal take on this is that the crackers are going to find some computer to exploit and if you let yours be a target then it most likely will be targeted. I don’t know much about being hacked while owning an Apple, perhaps Joy can shed some light on that subject, But I have a feeling that regardless of the OS you are running, if you let yourself be a target then you will be targeted.

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This entry was posted on Monday, October 27th, 2003 at 12:21 am and is filed under Laptop/PC. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.