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More on Security for Computers with Cable or DSL Online Access

Last Fall, this column discussed security for computers using high-speed DSL and cable access. As you know, an important characteristic of these high-speed access choices is their always-on feature. That is, if your computer is on, your access to the Internet is enabled. With no dialup and never a busy signal, you can just sit down at the keyboard, use a browser to view sites, then check and send e-mail immediately.

Always-on online access has great advantages for e-mail communication and carrying out fast online research. Trouble is, always-on access brings with it one critical problem: hackers are much more likely to access the computer with always-on online access than the computer with dialup access. This vulnerability to hackers is due to the fact that a computer with always-on access has a static IP address. That is, the computer has its own internet address, and the computer can be found by hackers cruising the Web.

We certainly don't want strangers roaming around in the computer containing our tax records, our business records, our intellectual property, or our personal correspondence. We must protect our computers with DSL or cable access from nosy or malicious intruders.

Protect by Disconnect

A disconnected computer is unhackable. Be sure to disconnect the computer from the Internet any time the computer will be inactive for any length of time. The simplest disconnect may be shutting down the computer. An alternative to shutting down the computer for those with cable modems is disconnecting the modem. Since the cable modem and the computer are connected with a cord similar to a telephone cord, we can unplug that cord to instantly disconnect from the Internet.

Protect Connected Computer with Software

But the whole point of having always-on access is to utilize the efficiency of always-on, fast connections. We don't want to connect to send an e-mail, then immediately disconnect. We much prefer to have our online connection active while we are using the computer, so we need software to protect us, firewall software. When we have DSL or cable online access, we need a firewall.

Just as most SPAWN members are not interested in calling an expensive technician to install a $2,000 firewall, I am also vitally interested in an inexpensive, simple solution. Last Fall I suggested NetBuster, free downloadable software created to prevent one common type of unwelcome visitation on our computers. When I first installed NetBuster on my computer with cable modem, the software blocked many unwelcome visits—sometimes several per day, always several per week.

In recent months, the frequency of visits blocked on my computer by NetBuster has declined to 0, yet the number of sites describing how to attack computers has increased dramatically. It was obvious that hackers were using new methods of attack, and it was time for a new solution, and I chose BlackICE Defender. BlackICE defends against the type of attack blocked by NetBuster, plus hundreds of other types of attacks.

BlackICE also provides us with the computer IP address of each person attempting to get into our computers. Generally we won't do anything with this information, but if we find that a certain address is coming up day after day, the IP address gives a technician the key to tracking down the perpetrator.

BlackICE is inexpensive, and the publisher claims that BlackICE can detect and block over 99% of all attacks even while we are using our computers. You can purchase BlackICE Defender online for $39.95 at http://www.networkice.com/sales/home_office_sales.html. After you purchase the software online, you can download and install to protect your computer immediately.

If you prefer purchasing the CDs, BlackICE Defender has been at Costco, and it is available at Fry's. After installing, I suggest that you select the BlackICE Tools Menu and the Edit BlackICE Settings option to set the level of protection you prefer. The Paranoid level may be too limiting for you to continue to do what you want online, but choose the Nervous level to get both freedom to work online and maintain a reasonable level of protection. Go to the Tools Menu Preferences option to set an audible alarm to sound every time someone tries to attack your computer. You will hear the alarm, and you can decide whether to block the visit or to trust the visitor.

Do protect your computer and your information as soon as possible.

~ Virginia Lawrence, Ph.D., SPAWN's Webmaster and Technology Editor, is an Information Architect who publishes both in print and online. Contact her at virginia@spawn.org or visit her Web site at http://www.cognitext.com

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