Tapping of phones, listening to someone's confidential conversation, & the reading of other people's e-mail messages seems like something that only happens in the movies, right? '' WRONG !'' Quick Thought : Have you ever wondered why the government's of so many nation's would want to have spy's? Since the internet has evolved, there's really no need for the ''traveling'' spy. Everything they need to know is available to them via the internet. If a highschool hacker can break code's into classified government document's. Would'nt you think that some of the most intelligently trained spy's in the world could do even more?
Anyway, you probably don't realize how much information about yourself has really been transmitted across the Internet every time you go online.
Your computer connect 's to the Internet by way of "ports". A "port" is a path through which information can pass back and forth between your computer and the Internet.
Depending on the kind of connection you have (dial up, LAN, cable, DSL ), you may have several path's for potential hackers, malicious code or viruses to enter.
Computers that have dedicated connections are most at risk. If someone or something gets into one of these ports and into your computer, they can potentially spy on everything you do and see all the data you enter, including social security numbers and credit card information.
The easiest way that I have found to solve this problem is to install a firewall. Firewalls , are simple and inexpensive software available at virtually any computer store, it will block the most common ports hackers would use to enter your computer.
A firewall also helps you detect and block unauthorized transmission of information from your computer to the Internet. This adds some protection if you get infectedwith a Trojan Horse virus that tries to "phone home" to the hacker with your personal information.
If you want to test your connection for vulnerability to attack, log on to Symantec Security Check and run the various diagnostics. I would advise anyone connected to the Internet through DSL or cable to use a firewall to protect against unauthorized access.
________________________________________ About the author : Dave Crepps is a Custom Graphics Artist, Marketer, Truck Driver,and Old Fashion Family Man.
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