[clue-talk] Computer Security

[Angelo Bertolli]

Timothy Klein wrote:

>
> On 4 Feb 2005, at 10:39 PM, Angelo Bertolli wrote:
>
>> For a windows machine which isn't protected by at least a proxy to 
>> the internet, you should download a firewall (like ZoneAlarm) BEFORE 
>> installing windows, and install it before you ever connect to the 
>> Internet.
>
>
> That of course raises the question, if all you have is one Windows 
> machine, that you just brought home from the store, how the hell do 
> you get to the internet to get the firewall and security patches?  I 
> sure hope Windows machines that people buy today come with a firewall 
> enabled by default, or most people will never have a chance.  On 
> broadband networks, Windows is compromised in a matter of minutes if 
> it is plugged in unprotected.  So are just-home-from Wal*Mart Windows 
> PCs secure?  I haven't bought a machine that had windows since '96.
>
You're too kind.  I was once in a situation as you describe on dialup, 
and I got something within about 5 seconds.  But it was a cheapo dialup 
company completely infected.  I had just installed Windows and connected 
to the internet to download the firewall.  After I got the firewall, I 
noticed it blocking outgoing attempts of an RPC exploit... so I saved 
the firewall download to another partition and had to reinstall Windows.