The reality of e-business is that if you have an Internet connection of any kind, you are vulnerable to hackers.
While high-profile hacks who steal credit card or vital company information are extremely rare, you may be vulnerable to the “recreational” hacker. These are people who, with software utilities downloaded off the Internet, can break into your system and gain access to your files.
“They can do any number of things once they have access,” says Tom Powledge, senior product manager of Norton Internet Security 2000, a software security package. “They can capture your key strokes, delete files, copy files or add files.”
A hacker could also use your computer system as a “base” for launching attacks on other systems.
If your Internet connection is of the always-on variety — DSL or cable, for instance — your chances of being hacked are greater than your chances with a traditional dial-up connection.
“There are automated hacking tools that allow hackers to rattle hundreds of door knobs at once, so you need to make sure your door appears locked when the hacker comes by,” says Powledge.
With the always-on connection, you have a permanent IP address, making it easier for the hacker to target you. With the dial-up connection, the IP address is changed every time you connect, making it difficult to target a specific company.
The hacker targeting dial-up connections will typically scan a range of 150 IP addresses. Of these, about 70 may be dialed in, with 30 having printer sharing turned on, allowing the hacker access. Of those 30, a high percentage will have no password protection. In a matter of seconds, the hacker can map your entire hard drive.
Norton Internet Security is a complete suite of tools to help prevent security breaches. The product ships with protection against most common threats. Once it’s installed, there’s not a lot of configuration involved.
The firewall — the software portion that blocks outside users from accessing your computer — protection level can be adjusted to alert you to every possible threat, or be designated to run in the background without bothering you.
“There are more and more people online, giving hackers more opportunities” says Powledge. “If you don’t have your system set up right, you can potentially be a more attractive target. It’s hard to get into the huge corporations now, especially after everything that’s been going on. The small business that comes online with DSL, who’s not real focused on security, can become an easy target.”
The two keys to security are:
Good passwords. Use at least six characters. Don’t use words and include at least one number. Hackers have password-busting programs that will try every word in the dictionary as a password.
Firewall. This keeps people from accessing your computer from the outside. How to reach: Symantec, www.symantec.com
Todd Shryock ([email protected]) is SBN’s special reports editor.
