Personal Firewall

[Prospero]

Earlier tonight, I found someone logged into my computer remotely, by trying to reboot and it telling me a user was logged in. I'm on a cable modem, but no other network. After talking to @home support, they agreed someone hacked my sytem. What I am wondering, is what software packages anyone is familiar with that can prevent this. My computer stays on 24/7 running RC5, and I have a static IP so I do need something. Thanks everyone. Kind of anoying that I have to do this but I guess some people out there just can't keep their hands of things that don't belong to them.

Jason

[800XL]

Remove Microsoft File and Printer sharing under Network properties. (Right click network neighborhood and click properties or open network in control panel.) With sharing disabled it becomes much harder for the casual hacker to get into your system.

If you want to 'catch' someone doing this, run netwatcher. (netwatch.exe found in the windows directory, you may have to add it if it is not there. Control panel, add/remove software, windows setup tab) It should give you a username and machine name of the offender. @home uses unique machine names as part of their stock config, so they should be able to nail them with that info.

[Mntsnow]

you might also concider running actual firewall software. take a look at Sygate's stuff very inexpensive but works great! www.sygate.com the one you will be mainly interested in is called SyShield.

Be safe.

Mntsnow

[ANTONIO E GUERRA]

If you have an old 486 with a very small amount of ram, you can use it as a firewall with Linux. Linux machines are excellent firewalls. It will guarantee that no intruder will get into your network.

[800XL]

Linux is a great solution, but still not as easy as it could be to setup. Also, there are no guarantees. Even Linux can be broken into, it is just not as easily cracked.