Security

[sepht]

I bought a cheap ip routing service and set up peer blocker as well as a manual firewall that can block incoming and outgoing traffic because win7 doesn't block outgoing traffic for some reason.

Now I think I'm safe from rogue hackers but will this IP routing service see my bank account passwords when I type them in? I'm not sure if i should trust them.

http://www.anonymox.net/en

[Lanny]

Originally Posted by sepht

I bought a cheap ip routing service and set up peer blocker as well as a manual firewall that can block incoming and outgoing traffic because win7 doesn't block outgoing traffic for some reason.

Now I think I'm safe from rogue hackers but will this IP routing service see my bank account passwords when I type them in? I'm not sure if i should trust them.

http://www.anonymox.net/en

Assuming your bank conforms to (what I assume to be legal) standards, your data should be encrypted end to end and interception shouldn't be an issue.

[sepht]

Originally Posted by Lanny

Assuming your bank conforms to (what I assume to be legal) standards, your data should be encrypted end to end and interception shouldn't be an issue.

i hang with mother fucking Wells Fargo and their theft protection is tight as an SS officer

still you can never be too careful in this age of information

[crazzyass]

Originally Posted by sepht

i hang with mother fucking Wells Fargo and their theft protection is tight as an SS officer

still you can never be too careful in this age of information

Lanny should be right and Wells Fargo should be clear.


But as you indicated, what should be and what is rarely matches, especially when it comes to tech. You could always send an e-mail asking Wells Fargo that every question and about their encryption. I wouldn't expect specifics, but they should be happy to oblige considering they hold your money.

[NSFW]

op what is the firewall you use? Or can somebody just recommend me on, not trying to start a new thread

[Lanny]

Originally Posted by NSFW

op what is the firewall you use? Or can somebody just recommend me on, not trying to start a new thread

A firewall is kind of a misunderstood concept IMO. It's not like your computer ships with "open ports"(lol) that can somehow magically give up all your files and whatever. What a firewall does is suppress _all_ traffic in and out of your computer, legitimate or not, unless you specifically exempt something. What that gets you is a pain in the ass whenever you want to use a new application that needs network access and relatively little protection form external threats. I mean I guess it will keep a few trojans/rats/whathaveyous from transmitting harvested data, but that's nothing an AV wouldn't stop anyway.

Maybe there's some benefit I'm missing, but I've never really seen the point.

[&Zenith]

A firewall is necessary. If you are running genuine or Windows that functions as genuine, download Microsoft Security Essentials. Provided by Microsoft and completely free in addition to being more effective than some paid-for countermeasures. If you are looking for something with a premium, this is without a doubt the best malware countermeasure known to man: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ESET

Originally Posted by Lanny

Maybe there's some benefit I'm missing, but I've never really seen the point.

Give me your IP.

Originally Posted by sepht

I bought a cheap ip routing service and set up peer blocker as well as a manual firewall that can block incoming and outgoing traffic because win7 doesn't block outgoing traffic for some reason.

Now I think I'm safe from rogue hackers but will this IP routing service see my bank account passwords when I type them in? I'm not sure if i should trust them.

http://www.anonymox.net/en

IP routing service? So in other words, a proxy or a VPN. If you know nothing about them, then why do you entrust all unencrypted traffic with them in addition to your real IP? Also, encryption is not infallible especially if it does not even need to be circumvented, i.e. malware on your PC which could be downloaded through- say- an "IP routing service's" GUI.

[&Zenith]

I'm disappointed everyone else in this thread decided to get a life and drop dead. R.I.P.

[Lanny]

Originally Posted by &Zenith

A firewall is necessary.

I disagree, but I invite you to tell me why I'm wrong.

Give me your IP.

76.230.46.161

[vovka351]

May as well go ahead and add some encryption to your HDD and configure your browser to delete tracking cookies and the like.

[LSA King]

Originally Posted by Lanny

I disagree, but I invite you to tell me why I'm wrong.



76.230.46.161

If you're behind a router it wouldn't matter anyways, it has a built in firewall that blocks out all the bad shit that was a major issue 10 years ago when people were plugging directly into there Cable/DSL modem since routing gear was expensive. Even if you do connect directly into a Cable/DSL modem, these days a lot of the newer ones include extra measures that weren't once available to stop outside attacks, given I'm sure millions still do this it seems to not be nearly as big of a problem as it once was, although it's still a dumb idea.

Back in the day when networking gear was beyond need for home users, too complicated, didn't work properly, or just wasn't available mainly due to cost, a software firewall on the physical machine was really your only method for defense. Since hardware got the face-lift you can see how companies like ZoneAlarms that was an industry leader for PC firewalls, completely tanked and now you can get really decent software firewalls for cheap or free. Even Windows built-in firewall does the job just fine, so long as you can figure out how to configure the damn thing and do it properly.

In 2012 your first line of defense is your Cable/DSL modem, and that's often as preventive as holding up your hand and someone slapping it away. If you're behind a router/switch (managed or "Smart") that is really your first line of defense, and they do a damn good job when it comes to home users. Lastly is your software firewall, if you so choose to have one, and that's more or less your last line of defense. However, the primary purpose of a software firewall these days isn't to stop attacks coming in, but to stop attacks going out since a hardware firewall in most homes is only capable of monitoring incoming traffic not outgoing.

Back in the day shit like ZoneAlarms was your first, last, and only line of defense. Firewalls are still a key component these days, they just are as noticeable to most users whether they know it or not. All that means is they're doing there job right.

[&Zenith]

Originally Posted by Lanny

76.230.46.161

Are you certain this is yours before we proceed?

[Lanny]

Originally Posted by LSA King

If you're behind a router it wouldn't matter anyways, it has a built in firewall that blocks out all the bad shit that was a major issue 10 years ago when people were plugging directly into there Cable/DSL modem since routing gear was expensive. Even if you do connect directly into a Cable/DSL modem, these days a lot of the newer ones include extra measures that weren't once available to stop outside attacks, given I'm sure millions still do this it seems to not be nearly as big of a problem as it once was, although it's still a dumb idea.

Back in the day when networking gear was beyond need for home users, too complicated, didn't work properly, or just wasn't available mainly due to cost, a software firewall on the physical machine was really your only method for defense. Since hardware got the face-lift you can see how companies like ZoneAlarms that was an industry leader for PC firewalls, completely tanked and now you can get really decent software firewalls for cheap or free. Even Windows built-in firewall does the job just fine, so long as you can figure out how to configure the damn thing and do it properly.

In 2012 your first line of defense is your Cable/DSL modem, and that's often as preventive as holding up your hand and someone slapping it away. If you're behind a router/switch (managed or "Smart") that is really your first line of defense, and they do a damn good job when it comes to home users. Lastly is your software firewall, if you so choose to have one, and that's more or less your last line of defense. However, the primary purpose of a software firewall these days isn't to stop attacks coming in, but to stop attacks going out since a hardware firewall in most homes is only capable of monitoring incoming traffic not outgoing.

Back in the day shit like ZoneAlarms was your first, last, and only line of defense. Firewalls are still a key component these days, they just are as noticeable to most users whether they know it or not. All that means is they're doing there job right.

But even with no firewall what-so-ever, you still need a compromised service running for remote attack, no? I mean if you aren't running any network services it's not like you have any attack surface, a firewall is unneeded.

[LSA King]

Originally Posted by Lanny

But even with no firewall what-so-ever, you still need a compromised service running for remote attack, no? I mean if you aren't running any network services it's not like you have any attack surface, a firewall is unneeded.

In theory, but without a firewall you can gain a lot of information about a host and you effectively make yourself a target open to the entire Internet. Effectively if you have a router and you're behind it, you have one built-in, whether you think it is doing anything or not. Try probing someone from behind a firewall, it's much harder to do across the Internet unless the person is on your local network.

It isn't something you have to do, a lot of things have been addressed by Windows/Linux and the TCP/IP stack in the last 10-15 years that things aren't like they used to be, but out of good habit it's smart to be behind a router than connect directly to your always on connection.

I mean I could go into all the benefits, at least from the hardware firewall standpoint, but I can't find many negatives other than port forwarding which can be a PITA. I wouldn't recommend someone a software firewall in this day and age unless they're using it more as a last ditch effort locally or to block out-going connections. A router is a much better investment.

*NOTE* most of what I'm referencing is directed toward a Router Firewall as I don't use a software one myself on the local machine. There really isn't much need. Actually that's false, I use Windows to block outgoing connections for piracy related issues