Can hackers get into my DSL connected PC if I put it in a screen saver mode and without any applications (IE or messenger) open?
2007-03-20 02:42:48 · 8 answers · asked by Andy T 2 in Computers & Internet ➔ Security
I do penetration testing for computer networks. Most "hackers" would only come on your network randomly because your computer would be of no significant importance to them. If you put up something as simple as a hardware or software firewall, they would usually just look somewhere else--hackers are lazy, they like easy targets.
If someone was really out to get you in particular, and they knew what they were doing, then yes they can probably get into a home system with little effort, because home systems are not as well protected as computers on a corporate network. they could use a scanner like nmap to find any running services on your system, and then use metasploit to exploit those vulnerabilites and take control of your system. They could also fall onto things like social engineering, if they are someone you know, and put something on your system while you are not looking.
as for putting it in screen saver mode without applications running...that isnt exactly any type of protection.
2007-03-20 03:00:53 · answer #1 · answered by absolutroot 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No matter what you put on a computer (i.e firewall, anti-virus) someone can get into your computer. The security features only slow down a good hacker and try to make it has hard as possible to get in, in hopes that the hacker will lose interest and stop. The only safe computer is one that is not connected to the Internet and is still in the box.
2007-03-20 09:58:27 · answer #2 · answered by prod04 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes - you need good security. At the very minimum, every PC needs a firewall, anti-virus program and anti-spyware program. A good firewall will stop hackers getting in. If you don't have a firewall, you're pretty much asking for it.
2007-03-20 09:52:00 · answer #3 · answered by Wild About Harry 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there are many things you can do to make it easier for hackers to get into your PC.
1. turn off your firewall
2. turn off all security on your web browser
3. download and run various .exe files from the internet
4. get a wireless router with no protection
5. make sure you have no anti-virus software
if you follow these five simple steps, you can make it really easy for hackers to get into your computer! also be sure to store credit card numbers and social security numbers on your computer in non-encrypted documents! :)
2007-03-20 09:56:18 · answer #4 · answered by Byakuya 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hey, you chose to run the flawed OS that has all the easy holes!
There are options. Think 'outside the Microsoft box'! Pick one of the 800+ FREE and open source OSes! Immune to the "114,000 Microsoft Virus Definitions"! Runs upto 50X faster, too!
Free, contains upto 100,000 Free games, apps.:
http://pclinuxos.com
http://livecdlist.com
http://linux.org
http://distrowatch.com
2007-03-20 09:59:00 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They need open ports on your computer to make a remote
connection doesn't matter what application your running.
2007-03-20 16:04:25 · answer #6 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, if you don't have a firewall, AV, and anti-spyware programs installed and kept fully up to date
2007-03-20 09:46:14 · answer #7 · answered by Carella 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes. there are many ways to take over a pc. like having a software that you downloaded with a backdoor.
2007-03-20 09:48:05 · answer #8 · answered by arbie_pogi 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋