Hacker Attacks Against Home Computers
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October 15, 2001.
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We join with those who mourn the loss of life, the injuries, and the disruption of lives caused by the attacks against Washington, DC, and New York, N.Y. All those effected -- the brave people who helped in rescue efforts, those involved in America's response to terror and in the war with Iraq-- are in our thoughts and prayers.
Computer Knowledge, Inc.
Santa Maria, CA
http://www.cknow.com
Attacks against computers are fairly well endemic on the Internet these days. It’s important, for that reason, that you be protected by both anti-virus software and some sort of personal firewall.
I use BlackIce Defender (protects incoming only) but others are available; some free.
Let’s look at my system as just one example. I’m on the Internet via a dial-up link so the IP address changes each time I’m logged on. I’m connected various times that total maybe two hours on an average day (give or take a few minutes and assuming no major downloads or uploads).
Looking at my BlackIce logs for the period between 1 September 2000 and 30 November 2000 (three months) if find:
36 identifiable attacks divided up as follows—
19 NetBIOS probes (a well-known attack vehicle)
5 SubSeven probes (looks for SubSeven Trojan)
5 UDP probes (looking for a particular open port)
3 TCP fingerprint probes (looking for ways in)
1 IRC probe (looking for this service)
1 NetBus probe (looks for NetBus Trojan)
1 RPC probe (looking for this known service)
1 SNMP probe (looking for this service)
Remember, this is for a dial-up account that changes IP addresses and is only connected on average a couple of cumulative hours a day. If you have an “always on” broadband link of some kind (e.g., cable modem or DSL connection) you are considerably more at risk.
[Webmaster's comment: This article was originally written for the Computer Knowledge Newsletter, and was reprinted with permission in the NCMS Channel Islands Newsletter in December 2000.]