Computer security experts wanted.

You run Windows?

yea I have vista

There lies your problem, it is closed source.

Setting up your router would be the safest way.

Try this link and select All Ports Then post back your results!

[link to www.grc.com (secure)]

Windows is a Bad choice for an OS especially Vista and 7. I would suggest switching to Mac or Linux if you have security concerns.

Windows can be (mostly) secured.

Your system has achieved a perfect "TruStealth" rating. Not a single packet — solicited or otherwise — was received from your system as a result of our security probing tests. Your system ignored and refused to reply to repeated Pings (ICMP Echo Requests). From the standpoint of the passing probes of any hacker, this machine does not exist on the Internet. Some questionable personal security systems expose their users by attempting to "counter-probe the prober", thus revealing themselves. But your system wisely remained silent in every way. Very nice.

Last Edited by wisc_natureboy on 08/04/2011 07:59 PM

Op tell us what you have to hide?

Linux

Oh, my Barney video collection.

This is the text version,

The other page was huge and I dont understand it all yet, still reading.

GRC Port Authority Report created on UTC: 2011-08-05 at 00:40:06

Results from scan of ports: 0-1055

0 Ports Open
3 Ports Closed
1053 Ports Stealth
---------------------
1056 Ports Tested

NO PORTS were found to be OPEN.

Ports found to be CLOSED were: 20, 21, 500

Other than what is listed above, all ports are STEALTH.

TruStealth: FAILED - NOT all tested ports were STEALTH,
- NO unsolicited packets were received,
- A PING REPLY (ICMP Echo) WAS RECEIVED.

The post above is from the op, funny it doesn't show that,

Just because your ports are stealthed or closed does not mean you are somehow magically invincible. This is the entire reason windows sucks, so many buffer overflows and things that allow a malicious entity to send a packet that overloads a segment of code that then reverts to a base level allowing the remote attacker control of your system.

If you want a computer security expert to tell you what to do I am telling you to ditch windows. Your computer will never be fully secure until then. Either that or, use windows for whatever, and setup a linux computer for your secure purposes.

just get norton internet security

ive been using it for years, no problems what so ever

Thank you for your advice. It is very appreciated!

did I mention Linux is Free? And you can boot it from a USB flash drive or a CD/DVD. Check out some common flavors of linux, my personal fav, Ubuntu, pretty decent and similar enough you'll get the hang of it.

I got tired of bluescreens, crashes and general crap from windows. 6 years ago I said, "NO MORE!!!"

I formatted all my drives and loaded Ubuntu. The most insecure Linux machine is way more secure than the most secure windoze machine.

Of course, you have to change your way of thinking, or, rather, start thinking, when you run linux and stop letting the OS do it for you.

If you're worried about anything related, security wise, then I can tell you from experience (I'm a 27 year systems security professional) you can get a windows system pretty secure, however, to be really worry free, you'll need to use linux.

Ubuntu Workstation is the easiest to load and very, very secure. I use Slackware, CentOS or Debian for servers.

But, regardless of what OS you run, the big security risk is *YOU*! Educate yourself. Not necessarily on security but on whats going on when you click that mouse and what all the [link to blah.blah.blah] means.

...and never, ever *FUCKING* *EVER* use Internet Exploder!

*NEVER*. That and any of the stock mail programs that come with a windows machine. If it wasn't for Exploder and the Microsoft e-mail programs, most of your worries could be fixed, but, as long as you use them there is nothing on this planet that can keep you safe.

Outlook Express and Internet Explorer *ARE* *NOT* *YOUR* *FRIENDS*.

See this guy and I both agree. I've run many versions of debian, centos, at home I prefer ubuntu, its pretty damn easy. You'll still have firefox (if you aren't into IE we hope). And you'll never be plagued by any of the problems that windows has, including its constant insecurity. Every few months a new flaw is discovered that affects 90% of all versions of windows. Follow bugtraq if you don't believe me.

Security = Linux.

I run a windows computer as well, in fact I am posting on it. Now lets get down to the real world. I've had to format windows computers 20-30 times in the last few years to keep them running. My linux computers are still humming along no problems to speak of. You may have driver/hardware incompatibility, this is about the only real drawback for most windows PC users. But that is why I suggest you try booting via CD/DVD or USB Flash drive, see if your system components are fully recognized. Then you can do a fresh install, or even setup a loader so you can choose to boot between windows/linux. There are many options available to you.

If you still don't want to try linux just yet, you can download boot only versions that don't write a single byte to your hardrive to "test drive" the OS. And unlike windows installers the linux installers RESPECT the windows installation. None of this "I don't what's in this partition but it's not from Redmond" type of behavior.

--------
That said...

COMODO firewall for Windows has a free version.

[link to www.comodo.com]

Yes Linux is more secure but not out of the box.Plus try explaining iptables to a linux noob.

I have been using linux for over 10 years and it is very secure, if you have it setup correctly. If you really want a secure system I would advise moving away from windows altogether. However looking at your open port you have FTP ports 20 and 21 closed and port 500 is normally a port used to access compromised systems. Below are a few programs I have used on windows systems.I would also look at purchasing a router since software firewalls can be disabled either by accident or on purpose and can also be setup incorrectly.

Spybot

[link to download.cnet.com]

ZoneAlarm

[link to download.cnet.com]

Glary Utility's

[link to download.cnet.com]

CCleaner

[link to download.cnet.com]

Hijack This

[link to download.cnet.com]

no one breaks into macs they suk ass, and are shit lmao

Thank you guys for all you valuable info.

I do use firefox, and web based email.

I will look into running a linux op.

Once again, you guys rock, thank you!

If you really want to be secure, use CentOS (linux) and a pfsense firewall between your modem and router.

If you want to keep your piece of shit microsoft software, then get zonealarm.

Or dual boot both Windows and Linux.

Software firewall are a ruse. They are companies (just like antivirus developers) that pander directly to the NSA, FBI, CIA...etc. Those companies literally give turn over as much info as they can about you regardless of how careful you are.

Your best bet is a small sonicwall appliance.

Windows does the same. They have known about holes in IE forever but will not fix them. Try running a program called wireshark and watch what the OS does in the background. Wonder what data it's sending and where???

Just a thought, but aren't you asking this "on the net"? Good luck

Friend of mine had an old XP box that he re-formatted as a linux box and installed "IP Cop"

[link to ipcop.org]

This is a Linux firewall that goes between the modem and the router. So if you have an old machine that you are not using. . .

If you can't trust a GLP'er, who can you?

DON'T BELIEVE A DAMN WORD YOU READ ON THIS SITE