Hack76.Test Your Security with Shields UP


Hack 76. Test Your Security with Shields UP!

Head to this web site for a thorough, free check of your PC's vulnerabilities.

Do you really know how secure your PC is from intruders? Probably not. But there's a free online tool that will probe your PC for online security vulnerabilities and report to you on the results.

The Shields UP! site is run by the Gibson Research Corporation, and it tests your machine, trying to make connections to a handful of the most well-known and vulnerable Internet ports on your PC. The site runs two tests, reports to you on the results, and then explains what the reports meanwhere you're vulnerable and how serious those vulnerabilities are. It also has a great deal of useful information about Internet security, as well as free and for-pay security software you can download. Visit the site at http://www.grc.com. You might have to do some clicking around to find the tests, but keep clicking Shields UP! and you'll eventually get there.

The best use for the site is to test your PC's vulnerabilities, then install a firewall[Hacks #Section 8.4 and Section 8.5] and see the results of what you've done. It'll tell you whether there are any remaining vulnerabilities you need to fix. Figure 8-5 shows the results of a probe of a PC without a firewall. It's relatively secure, but could be more secure because the site has found ports, even though they're closed. Figure 8-6 shows that the PC is operating in "stealth mode" after the installation of the firewallthe PC doesn't even appear to exist.

Figure 8-5. The security report on a PC before installing a firewall


Figure 8-6. The security report on a PC after installing a firewall




    Windows XP Hacks
    Windows XP Hacks, Second Edition
    ISBN: 0596009186
    EAN: 2147483647
    Year: 2003
    Pages: 191

    flylib.com © 2008-2017.
    If you may any questions please contact us: flylib@qtcs.net