on 5/1/04 10:09 PM, John A. Lind at jlind@xxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
> I've received a spate of worm laden emails recently containing several of
> the recent NetSky and Bagle (aka Beagle) variants. One surprising one was
> a BugBear too! Nearly all of them come from high speed (cable/DSL)
> accounts which have permanent IP addresses (versus dial-up's dynamically
> assigned ones). IMHO several technologies have converged to wreak the more
> recent worm havoc:
> (a) Rampant growth of high speed cable/DSL for "home" use which means the
> vast, vast majority of these users are totally clueless about high-speed
> connections (routers, etc.), permanent IP addresses and how to better
> secure a permanent connection . . . especially if left *on* 24/7 (which
> many do).
Got a question for the network wizards on our list, sorry about the OT
followup...
I've recently upgraded to DSL (which is great, after years of 'dialing
in'...) and my Pacbell SBC-Yahoo kit included a wireless-B router/DSL modem.
If I understand the fairly limited beginner-grade installation instructions
the hardware includes a firewall. This wireless router/modem is always on,
but I only have the computer on when I am actively using it.
I use both the Mac, running OS-9.2.2 and a laptop running Win-XP-Pro. I have
the Windows firewall enabled on that connection, and also use Zone Alarm
(the free version). The laptop is also only on when I'm actively using it.
When I get another wireless card (probably a USB wireless dongle or such) I
have a desktop PC which will also be running Win-XP-Pro, firewall enabled
and Zone Alarm too. (note to Microsoft -- these are -two- separate licensed
versions. Bill Gates gets a new wing on his house from the profit on the
XP-Pros on these boxes...).
I did enable the WEP code-number to keep my wireless private, I'm just
piggish enough not to want to serve the whole neighborhood from my
connection...
So my question -- can my always-on wireless router be hijacked and turned to
serve spam without a PC being on and hijacked along with it? If necessary
I'll figure out a way to shut it off when not actively using it...
--
Jim Brokaw
OM-'s of all sorts, and no OM-oney...
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