Tech Talk Guest: Doreen Moriera Hardware Versus Software Firewall (An Update) Check Your Port Security Steve Balmer Sells $1 Billion in Stock Government Targets Internet Scams Profile of an Internet Security Extortion 802.11g Standard To Be Released Steganography Can Embed Messages in JPG and MP3 files Fed Go After Open Relays in fight against SPAM E-mail Filters for Windows MailBag Stratford Bachelors Degree Programs
Doreen is a culinary student and former Medical Doctor
She assisted with the Presidential Dinner last Wedneday
Hardware Versus Software Firewall (An Update)
Response to email from Jean Jalkovski
In security, it is all about risk and trade-offs.
Hardware firewalls have fewer software errors and require minimal configuration. When individuals are connecting multiple computers to the Internet and don’t have strong technical capability, the Hardware firewall is the best solutions. This is particularly true for DLS, Cable Modem, and T-1 connections that are probed 24/7 for vulnerabilities.
If a single computer is connected to the Internet with dial up, a software firewall is adequate. Zone Alarm is the best. It may however conflict with some of the XP firewall functions.
If a single computer is connected to the Internet with a high speed connection, I now recommend a hardware firewall. Windows machines, particularly those on Cable/DSL have been targeted by the hacker community. To remain safe, a user with a software firewall must download all security patches (for both the firewall and the operating system). If these precautions are made, the software firewall is OK. However, I have learned that most users don’t really pay attention to security…so I am moving more toward a hardware firewall recommendation.
ZoneAlarm is still the best personal firewall on the market. One that I do recommend…with the proviso that all security patches are kept up to date.
Check Your Port Security
Use Shields Up at?Grc.com to check your port configuration.
This is Steve Gibson?s site.
Steve is an assembly programmer who developed Spin Right, a low level formatting program.
Steve Balmer Sells $1 Billion in Stock
Steve Balmer is Microsoft?s CEO
He went to college with Bill Gates. Gates dropped out to start a software company
Balmer graduated and worked for Proctor and Gamble
He joined Microsoft in 1980, then a five year old company
Balmer stills owns 432 million shares, 4% of MS and worth $10 Billion
Government Targets Internet Scams
Dubbed Operation E-Con by Department of Justice.
John Ashcroft announced a coordinated, nationwide assault on Internet fraud
Targeting fraudulent offers of dates with Russian women to fake bank Web sites. These business are sometimes called dot cons.
Effort includes: FBI, Justice Department, FTC, Postal and Immigration Authorities, and State and Local Law Enforcement
