Has Your PC Been Hacked Lately?
While this is possible, it is unlikely. Unless if you have a static IP address, you are too elusive on the Web. Every time you log on with your ISP, you are assigned with a new IP address that was randomly selected from a large pool of addresses. The probability of getting the same IP address next time is rather small and a possible hacker who was busy trying to get into your PC, has lost you. He will have a hard time to find you again.
Condensed to a small scale, you get two kinds of hackers on the net. One is the ankle biter who has nothing better to do. He is the villain who will delete your data files just for the hell of it. If he is smart enough, he’ll install a script on your hard drive to delete your system files next time you start your machine. He found you by accident, he’ll do his thing and scoot off without even wondering who you are. A pain in the a**, but nothing that cannot be overcome by keeping a proper backup.
The other one is more dangerous. I call him the cyber spy. He wants information and normally he wants large volumes of it. Unless if you have very important data on your machine or something specific that he (or his client) may be interested in, he will not find your machine attractive.
What is the danger then? Because this is the scoundrel who will hack the Gmail, Yahoo, or Facebook servers. Those servers have large volumes of personal information (about you too) that can be sold to mailing companies. Or scammers will use the information to scam you and your contacts with the information they gained by reading your emails. They will not advertise their presence on the server, as they want to come back for more info later. A tip here is never to leave any information on the mail server. Use a mail client like Outlook Express or Thunderbird to download your emails to your PC and keep all your contacts on your PC. Leave nothing personal on the mail servers.
And CS? Will they be hacked? I suppose it is possible that some have tried, we won’t know and they won’t tell us. However, CS keeps preciously little useful personal information about us and data collectors won’t find it lucrative to spend the time hacking it. If your personal profile was hacked, you will probably find the security breach closer to home. Keep your passwords safe and secret.
Most hackers gain access to your PC via a user account that does not have a password. Make sure that every user account on your PC is password protected. You cannot prevent hackers from gaining access to your PC. It is like protecting your house against burglars. If they want to get in, they will. You can only make it difficult for them. A hacker needs time to hack a PC. Don’t give him that time. Don’t stay online while you go to the supermarket.
As a consolation, your PC is a low priority target. It will only attract the ankle biters. There is nothing to gain by hacking it. It is the fat web servers, hosting large databases that are at risk. Thieves won’t break into houses where they don’t expect to steal something valuable. Even Robin Hood robbed the rich. There was nothing noble about that; the poor had nothing worth stealing.
Have a great weekend.
Comments (33)
You are warned.
he's the Count, he likes to count
I love it when you talk nerdy to me
Was that nerdy? Gosh! I must change my image.
I was hacked once and the hacker stole 100 e mails from my mammy asking if I was eating well
Good to see you around again. I have nothing worth hacking but as a rule I leave nothing around. This laptop is used exclusively for internet access. It contains no personal data. My real laptop only access the internet to download my email. My Gmail account is EMPTY. I delete everything once downloaded.
I did once get a message from Gmail that somebody in the Far East tried to log into my account but whether they were successful or not, I don't know. There was nothing for them to read.
Nerdy!.....
I'M NOT A NERD!!!
Still in Chicago?
A new Taco Bell is opening in Chicago that serves alcohol. I hope you don't drink. Please stay away from that place!
Yep, that is a good description. A minefield.
Taco Bell? Is that a fast food chain?
Yes Taco Bell is a very large fastfood chain. I am apalled that they would do this. They are a family chain like Mc Donalds!
Yes, I think about hackers also when I see them hack into large corporations and some of our govt agencies. If your ID gets stolen by a hacker, your life will be very miserable for a long time!
I don't mind if someone hacks into my account and do some cleaning up.
I have an internet provider and I'm also very careful in not opening any spam mail cause those could contain a virus too.
It's just use common sense when logging on the world wide Web.
I googled it and found an entry confirming that Chicago branch will be serving beer and wine.
hackers are a gift and a curse to the world of information Technology,
the are forcing transparency of government and shining light on many dubious business deals in our world.
Support your local hacker. Do you agree
Just hope it does not happen. They will not tidy up your inbox. Their only objective will be stealing.
That is only true when you have a permanent connection. Broadband connections via speedstick (most popular) are essentially dial-up connections. They have to log on every time they start the computer. This is often done automatically. IP addresses are in short supply and ISPs have many more subscribers that what IP addresses are allocated to them. The IP addresses are being shared. If all subscribers should decide to log on at once, some will not be able to log on.
Ok but only until he uses your info to obtain credit fraudulently. Then it becomes personal.
"CREDIT" I wish
11 minutes ago
Hi CC
That is only true when you have a permanent connection. Broadband connections via speedstick (most popular) are essentially dial-up connections. They have to log on every time they start the computer. This is often done automatically. IP addresses are in short supply and ISPs have many more subscribers that what IP addresses are allocated to them. The IP addresses are being shared. If all subscribers should decide to log on at once, some will not be able to log on.
I may not have used the word permanent but I meant the same thing catfoot.
Nowadays some people obviously use different computer terms then what I was used to hearing back in the 80's.
I get funny and strange looks when I use the word Tower when speaking of my computer.
Are you telling me that you are immune to them.
This is the gadget I'm talking about.
It can easily be mistaken it for a USB memory stick. It is a broadband modem and one can log on and off at will.
So the were not satisfied to get your name and email address. They had to get hold of the prices as well.
My Gmail inbox used to cluttered with junk mail until I learned to leave any site the moment they ask for my email address. I think the server block some as well.
Hmm. Ok
but we're not talking malware here. Malware was not hacked onto our computers. In most cases it arrives at your computer as a Trojan horse. Either via email or as part of a 'free' software package. So in fact, installed by the owner of the computer.