Hackers

Hacker is a misused term used to describe different types of computer experts. The media and the general population typically misuse the term to describe a "computer criminal"; however, in many computer circles it simply describes a good programmer, with no association with illegal computer security circumvention. Sometimes "good hackers" are referred to as "White Hat Hackers" or "Ethical Hackers".

The more proper term "Cracker (a.k.a. Black-Hat Hacker)," is used to describe those who trespass computer security without authorization or those who have been accused of using technology, usually a computer or the internet, for terrorism, vandalism, credit card fraud, identity theft, intellectual property theft, and many other forms of crime.

Why?

Crackers are malicious and hackers are just computer experts. Hackers have the tools and the knowledge but use it for good. Crackers use their knowledge for evil and personal gain.

Some large companies hire well known hackers to attempt to break their defense and find a way in to their network and weaknesses of their software. This is an example of a good hacker or White Hat Hacker.

Protection

The number one best defense against crackers is a a good software or hardware firewall. A firewall is any type of hardware and/or software that prevents forbidden activity on a computer or network.

Windows XP and Vista ship with a firewall but anything below Service Pack 2 on XP will have it disabled by default. Anything above SP2, and the firewall is turned on unless a third party firewall is installed. Please see the Windows XP Security Center, only in SP2 and above, for info on the status of your firewall. All other operating systems read on. To get Service Pack 2 Click Here.

Routers by design usually have a type of hardware firewall built in called a NAT firewall. In short, with debatable effectiveness, no one or nothing outside the firewall can directly address any single computer past the router unless of course a computer behind the firewall has the backdoor open or has been turned into a "zombie computer" explained in the virus section on this site.

Software firewalls monitor the programs that are communicating on the internet and look to make sure all incoming data started because you or a program asked for that communication and really good firewalls, deny the confirmation that a computer even exists.

The way a software firewall, knows a program is not a Trojan is mostly up to you and hopefully an anti-virus program. When you set up ZoneAlarm the first time, things like Internet Explorer, MSN Messenger, and so on, try to access the internet and you give it permission. If you see a program that you are not sure about it "can" be a Trojan. DO NOT BLOCK EVERY PROGRAM THAT POPS UP!!! You may mess with your ability to get on the internet.

You may think, "Well, I have no personal info on my computer. I don't need a Firewall." Think what it would cost you to get your computer fixed if one of those evil script kiddies decides he wants to format your hard drive.

It isn't a hard decision. Get a Firewall. You ask, "how much does it costs?" Well, some cost a lot of money. But the best option is a free option! Zone Alarm has been around for ages and is the leading firewall today. If you go to their site, you can download a free version, a trial version, or buy a full featured version. I would go with the free version to start. See if you like it. Then buy the full version when you start understanding the interface. Frankly, the full version is full of useless functions you'll never use as the average internet user or some features that are not compatible with your ISP. It's nice to just have the protection running in the background. I hardly ever even open it from my system tray.

The second best defense is an anti-virus. Most anti-virus programs incorporate protection from Trojan Horses and backdoor programs. See Virus Section next. Also see the Top 10 Programs to have on your Computer section in Downloads section of this site. This small list is just what the title says, a list of ten programs that you should not be on the internet without.

To continue this Guide, please click NEXT below.

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