You never know.
That's a little wizdom we have heard over the years, and it couldn't be truer when it comes to computers and all the periferals.
You never know whether you are secure or for that matter why some software works and other software fails.
Obviously it's a part 15 issue not simply because we need computers to post here at part15(dot)us, but because every card and device attached to computers displays a part 15 label placing the usual rule all-down-the-line: cannot cause interference, must accept interference.
I just spent 24-hours combing through our router and looking for security fixes, but after all that here's the result:
I do not know if we were insecure to start with, or whether any changes improved security; and there are many compartments within the router that I cannot understand and are not well explained by the manual.
And now we're hooked on computers we don't understand. When our wives run away with the meter man we thank our stars that the computer still works.
Humanity may have lost something we never had.
If you follow some simple rules, you're probably more secure than you think. And certainly a lot more secure than those who proclaim they are 'security experts' and shout malware is causing the sky to fall from the rooftops.
1. Use some form of anti-virus software. Many of the free ones (such as AVG) are just fine.
2. Use a router. Their default settings block almost every incoming port (except for those required by standard software such as browsers and e-mail. If you don't use a router, then you're essentially exposing your entire computer to the rest of the world.
3. Don't open ANY executable attachments within e-mails, even from friends. And beware of internet links as well, which can take you to dangerous web sites (if you're unsure, check the URL in the link by hovering your mouse cursor over the link - it should display in the status bar of your browser).
4. Make sure you're up to date with ALL updates on your operating system and any programs that you use (even seemingly innocuous programs such as Adobe PDF reader can cause problems, particularly prior to Version 9).
And that's about it. That should protect you from 99%+ from all the bad stuff out there.
If you want to be even more secure, periodically run anti-virus scans on your entire computer, and get an anti-malware program such as MalwareBytes - the free version is fine - and run periodic scans of it.
If you're running a streaming server, you have to take a few more precautions. Ensure that you don't have any unpassworded 'guest' accounts and the like. All your passwords, particularly the administrator, should be very strong. Check your system logs frquently for unusual activity (such as multiple failed login attempts). And it's even more important to keep up to date with software updates.
In short, use common sense, and you should be OK. Your web site doesn't get the same public exposure as, say, the U.S. government, to draw hackers.
P.S. There are tons of 'robots' running 'out there' on the Internet, looking for open ports on either your router or your computer. I used to use FTP to get program contributors to send stuff, but that required that I open up port 21. When I kept that port open for any period of time, I used to get some of those robots attempting to break into my system, slowing it down considerably (I was VERY concerned about this until I found out that apparently there are some that use other computers for storage of who knows what). Sometimes multiple times in a day. It got to the point where I closed off that port, and only opened it up when a contributor e-mailed me that they were ready to send something. Problem solved.
Everything suggested by Artisan is more or less the way I've been running the system here at Worldround Radio, and other than my periodic dabbling under the hood, there seems to be no real sign of a security breach.
It just seems wise to me to occasionally do a security patrol of everything within reach to look for signs and symbols of trouble.
"I don't have any pain, doctor, but the question is, why not?"
Another day spent inside the clock-works of the computer updating and checking and fiddling and discovering that now my streams might be dead-ending and not getting out.
So I went all emotional and decided to give up and stop all activity and not even eat.
This lasted for 20-seconds when I thought of things to try, and they didn't work, so I ate something.
Then I got bold and started turning off whole systems and ZING the streams were o.k. afterall, the problem was only local.
Now highly elated, I'm heading into the office to chat up Flotilla the volunteer who is doing some online shopping.
So, Windows Firewall only blocks incoming digits, but outgoing digits can pass right to the internet unchecked.
After a detailed search of free firewalls, it appears that right now there's only one designed for XP, that being Comodo.
Downloaded, installed, and it said "You need to Restart the Car."
Signing off my radio streams I hit the Restart button, putting it into a "Restarting" cycle that went on for all eternity.
Taking manual control we got into the XP window which promptly locked up like a suspect taken down by the police prior to being cleared by a grand jury.
There it sat, a dead boulder taking up valuable desk space, the former control center for KDX Worldround Radio.
Restarting again I was able to jump into the Comodo Panel and tell it to STOP DAMN IT, upon which Microsoft sent a message saying that because of so many changes they would shut me down in three days unless I contacted Bill Gates and renewed my permission to exist on this planet.
The lesson learned: If you fix something that's not broken it will break.
I don't recommend Commodo unless you're stuck, because it's almost impossible to uninstall it (the free version, at any rate).
The only real purpose of a software firewall (if you have a hardware one such as a router) is to inform you if 'uninvited' programs are attempting to access the Internet from your computer. The Windows XP firewall will do that - in fact, it will block such programs unless you specifically let them through.
Just getting Comodo to stop is as sticky as bear honey leaking from the ceiling and getting into the entire computer and even getting the operator all gummed up.
Although I was able to "Disable" it as a firewall, components of it kept giving me alerts all the time with a super loud beep that I can't figure out how to turn off.
I have the capacity to get very unhappy and stay that way for a long time and Comodo is making it happen.
I wish I'd checked with Artisan sooner... now I've got to uninstall it and have avoided cursing over 20 times in this posting.
Maybe I'll spit or kick something.
Could you repeat that again?
Alright, John WDCX.
STAND BACK!
The Uninstall provided for Comodo doesn't take everything away. Bits and pieces stay around, much like malware (at least, they did on the version I used). You may have to do a web search to find out how to get rid of the stuff left behind - I solved the problem (and others that I had at the time) by reinstalling the operating system, but that's obviously only recommended as a last resort.
I am giving in to the tempation to fiddle some more with Comodo to stretch my ability to learn new dog tricks.
When hopelessly stuck with wheels in the mud I'll come crawling back and say those special words, "Artisan told me, I should have listened."
Carl got so frustrated he set the firewall software on fire.
Everyday's routine includes dowloading radio programs as mp3 files.
But within two weeks SOME downloads fail to complete and all I get is half of a program.
Last Moday the daily Buzz Burbank News program refused to download properly, yet the shows for the rest of the week were normal.
On Friday I tried again to download last Monday's show, but it persistently failed.
Now this morning's Buzz Burbank won't download properly.
Last night's "Ask An Atheist" won't download properly.
Yet many other programs download correctly.
Using a different browser doesn't help.
If this trouble persists I will pack up my radio station in a shoe box and get a different hobby.
Probably building bird houses.
Determined to solve the download problem, I undid history and reset one thing at a time until I returned to DISABLE Anomaly Detection in the router.
Everything works fine now and I can go on living until some new problem finds me.