As most of the regs know, i'm a complete techno-muppet, but at least i know how to minimise the chances of my PC getting broadsided by some wannabe script kiddy using a program he / she got from the net after 30 seconds of Google activity.

If you're wondering how secure your PC is in terms of what the rest of the net can 'see', then you might want to click on this link here and then decide.

The results i got from both test my shields and probe my ports were that my PC was in stealth mode and that initial attempts to get at my NetBIOS failed (whatever that means).


If the results you get when you take the test are anything less than encouraging, then you need to download your own personal firewall to stop all the nasties from getting at your ‘puter.

If you don’t have Zonealarm (probably the best FREE bit of techno – firewall security out there), then you’d be well advised to visit the zonelabs site here and get your mitts on zonealarm quick smart!

Zonealarm isn't some piece of spyware or general i will screw up your PC bit of stuff. For all those who haven' t got a personal firewall (Norton etc) with their PC already, its the best you can have without forking over some cash (and even then its pretty good).

We’ve had instances of ‘friends’ using the accounts of other members in the past and although us Mods have nothing else better to do than clean up spam , it would be nice if our members were protected from some 12 year old the other side of the globe getting hold of their member details and using them to cause trouble.

If you’re worried about giving a site permission to test your shields and scan your ports, then I’d bear in mind that anybody with an internet connection could already be doing this without your permission!. Don’t worry, there’s only a few million people out there who know how

Test yourself and get secure if you’re not already.

If a decent hacker wants into your PC and you’re on the net, then they will get into your PC – there is no 100% security.

If you want to stop all the people who don’t really know what they’re doing and are just fishing for what’s left open to them, then click on the above links and do something to stop them.

Save yourself and APi future problems by making sure you’re as secure as you can be.

Thanks

[SIZE=2]Howdy Steve....
Let me be the first to say I tried the two tests... And I am in stealth mode as well.
It said my PC refused it answer it! :lol: I ain't got a clue what a NetBIOS is either

Worf h34r:" class="inlineimg" /> [/SIZE]

this is what i got on the first test


Your Internet port 139 does not appear to exist!
One or more ports on this system are operating in FULL STEALTH MODE! Standard Internet behavior requires port connection attempts to be answered with a success or refusal response. Therefore, only an attempt to connect to a nonexistent computer results in no response of either kind. But YOUR computer has DELIBERATELY CHOSEN NOT TO RESPOND (that's very cool!) which represents advanced computer and port stealthing capabilities. A machine configured in this fashion is well hardened to Internet NetBIOS attack and intrusion.
Unable to connect with NetBIOS to your computer.
All attempts to get any information from your computer have FAILED. (This is very uncommon for a Windows networking-based PC.) Relative to vulnerabilities from Windows networking, this computer appears to be VERY SECURE since it is NOT exposing ANY of its internal NetBIOS networking protocol over the Internet.

I did download the ZoneAlarm, but I was not able to test my system. I need to find a encryption pack for Windows ME Millennium Edition. Anybody know where I can download one? I have tried the Windows site but no luck. I am running Internet Explorer Version 5.5.

Please help, I am stupid.

Thanks for the info I am now safe.

[SIZE=2]<span style="font-family:arial">Yes,the Shields Up site is a great spot for testing just how (in)secure your computer actually is-I've seen it several times on TechTV,the channel devoted to computers/internet/technology found here in North America.The hosts of the various shows it's been shown on know their stuff and give this full recommendation.

As for ZoneAlarm,I've mentioned this bit of software a couple of times before-a very easily run bit of firewall software and there is no argueing the price! If you are on a cable/DSL connection get this now!!!Dial up users may not need it (your IP address changes each time) but it does make an extra bit of security for those times you are online.

Rex,if you mean the encryption pack for IE 5.01 or earlier then head here. IE6 has high-level encryption built in,though,as well as a couple of other small tweaks that may make it worth using.(Actually I'm surprised anyone is still using ME at all,it was buggier than 98 ever hoped to be )</span>[/SIZE]

I am using IE 5.5 not 5.01, sorry. I have found every encryption pack for every IE expect 5.5. I did find some info that the IE 5.5 encryption pack may not be available for download.

What do I do? I don't know if I can upgrade to IE 6.0 since it was my ISP that I got 5.5 from and I seem to remember that Sympatico will not work with 6.0.

thats a pretty cool sight it tested my conection and passed as secure.