What computer software can I buy to make sure hackers cannot get into my computer at all?

Question

I am a freshmen in college and up until no I have been the only one hooking my laptop up to my school's network using my ethernet cord. My roommate is somewhat of a hacker and he is about to get his laptop and I know he may be able to access my computer since we share the same room and the ethernet jacks are right next to each other. What computer software can I buy besides Spysweeper (which I already have) to make sure everything on my laptop is completely secure and private? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

I recommend you purchase a security suite combo (antivirus, firewall, antispyware,etc... the whole shabang) from a RELIABLE vendor (like a McAfee, Norton, etc)... and properly configure it and ensure it is setup to automatically download and install the vital virus deinfition updates. I also suggest taking the time to learn how to operate the program such as how to respond when presented with an alert.

You can certainly use your own seperate spysweeper if that's your choice but I usually find that the top vendors updates come faster and programs made by the same vendor tend to play better with themselves than they do with others.

I also recommend making sure that your system is properly hardened, that window updates are automatically downloading and installing security updates, and the same for any programs you use on a regular basis.

If you are using wireless... make sure it is properly secured with strong admin password TO the router as well as with strong encryption. If you are giving him access to it it won't much matter, this is assuming he will not have access to you same network.

Make sure you harden your system... for instance, go into the Services (start, run, type services.msc, enter or get their via adminstrative tools on the programs / start menu) and make sure things like telnet and temrinal services are disabled.
Right-click My Computer > Properties > Remote tab >> uncheck remote assistance and remote desktop

Put a BIOS password on your computer. Create your own unique login ID and use a STRONG password to get into windows and also disable the default adminstrator account. By strong password I mean at LEAST 8 characters in length and using a combination of ALL of the following:
UPPERcase, lowercase, numb3rs, & sp3ci@l char@cter$

Note: the average windows password contains 1 uppercase and 1 number and can be cracked in less than 3.2 seconds.

You will also want to enable your windows screensaver to go off after about 5 minutes and make sure that resume on password is enabled... in fact, I would turn off the computer under most circumstances when you are done if he/she is such a hacker... and I would lock the computer if taking a peepee break :)

If you are using a regular tower you will want to check that no hardware keylogger has been placed on the keyboard cable end where it plugs into the computer.. and you may want to even get some locks for the USB and other ports (or disable them).

I would also suggest investing in the program PGP (pretty good privacy) which amongst other things has the ability to do file encryption, whole disk encryption, secure file deletion, etc...

There are also some sites that will do a free security scan of your computer (like symantec.. and by security i mean look for vulnerabilities not antivirus scanning). I would recommend that to make sure you are completely patched..

Also, go into your network settings and make sure that file sharing and netbios are disabled.

Good Luck!

Answer 2

What you describe sounds like a bad phone line. My suggestion is get DSL. Verizon is the best deal where you can get it. However, you may not be able to get DSL at all. The bad line (assuming that is your problem) may be internal. Have a friend run new wire from the terminal box (where your line connects to the phone company's line) to your house jack(s). If that doesn't do the trick, the phone company needs to service their line. I recently had an intermittent that kept disconnecting me form the phone line. It took them 42 service calls to finally locate the bad spot. It would be bad, I'd call, when they got there it would be OK. Very nerve racking. If they have to repair your lines (after the box) they charge US$85 (in my area).

Answer 3

So long as you don't leave your computer logged on while your away from it, you shouldn't have a problem.

The ethernet jacks being right next to each other does not matter.

You can install a firewall, if you wish, but I do not think you'll need one.

Answer 4

it depends how knowledgeable is your roommate about computers, if he is really a geek it will be really hard to keep him out, but if he is just a script kiddy, get yourself a good anti-virus, and a firewall, there is a free security suite that just do that, the name is "blink" and I wrote a post about this software on my blog. that should be enough to keep him out. please check my blog on the source link, and search for "blink" hope it helps

Blink is free for personal use

Answer 5

spybot search and destroy-can download at downloads.com, norton antivirus, windows defender-download at microsoft downloads.com, windows live one care can buy at best buy. i reccomend getting all of these, your computer will definitely be safe. i have all of these and my computer hasn't been hacked or had a pop up since. window live one care is that only that u have to buy and is expensive:50.00 dollars.

Answer 6

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Answer 7

the only thing you can do is get firewall program

Answer 8

YOU NEED FIREWALL ONLY
go to http://www.zonelabs.com and download ZONE ALARM
FREE download - that is all you need

Answer 9

http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/