Windows XP Hacks [Electronic resources] نسخه متنی

Hack 43 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 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 may have
to do some clicking around to find the tests, but keep clicking on
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[Hack #46] and [Hack #48] and see the results of what
you've done. It'll tell you whether
there are any remaining vulnerabilities you need to fix. Figure 5-5 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 5-6 shows
that the PC is operating in "stealth
mode" after the installation of the
firewallthe PC doesn't even appear to exist.

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

Figure 5-6. The security report on a PC after installing a firewall