I am very confused about this. I've always thought that a cracker needs more than just an IP address to actually hack, but I've heard it both ways.
I'm basically wondering if your IP address is really super-sensitive information.
2007-06-28 13:02:51 · 5 answers · asked by Aldo N 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Security
I see this alot.
If everyone would just think of an IP address as a phone number we would all be better off.
With a good phone number (in this case IP) you can "call" a computer. Whether is answers or not is a different question. If I have your IP I can indeed CALL YOU... if you have the proper system in place you simply will not answer me!
If you have broadband and are behind a router. In most cases the ROUTER will not answer so defence1 is in place. (Make sure you do not port forward and have internet access to the router turned off).
If you dont have a router then your computer has to be setup (with a firewall) not to answer. So make sure you have a good firewall (if you are behind a router this gives you two defense mechanisms)
Now for the good news most home systems will change IP's when the modem is turned off for awhile (called dynamic IP addressing) so kill your modem when you aren't around! You will probably get a different IP the next time you turn it on.
Personnaly I leave mine on cause I know my router and its firewall will ignore everything anyway. (yes there are routers with firewalls too) My computer firewall will get anything that might somehow get through all that.
2007-06-28 13:53:36 · answer #1 · answered by Tracy L 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. IP is a great start. And a changing IP is dynamic, not static.
With an IP, one can scan the machine for open ports. Scan a machine for vulnerabilities. Connect to either of the above.
This is why a firewall and security updates are ESSENTIAL!
2007-06-28 20:29:45 · answer #2 · answered by shugh8 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Short answer, yes. Your ip is all it takes. Simple fix, turn on windows firewall in XP SP 2. Why? There are still enough computers on the net that don't have this simple protection enabled, that it keeps the amateurs away.
2007-06-28 20:08:55 · answer #3 · answered by Jag 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No bcause it could be a static ip address which means it will change
2007-06-28 20:06:31 · answer #4 · answered by charlie B 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Yes
2007-06-28 21:17:23 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋