Question from a tech illiterate

[laylah]

How does one check to see who may have accessed my computer? Another poster stated s/he could tell the DOD had accessed their a few times. I would like to know how it it is done.

Thanks in advance,
Jenn

[KitchenWitch]

1. Do you have a software firewall?

You can check the logs on your firewall.

[laylah]

2. I don't know...I think

so (Firefox). How do I check the logs? Thanks for your help.

Jenn

[blogslut]

4. a firewall is a software program

such as the most excellent ZONE ALARM free edition:

http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/freeDownload.jsp?dc=12bms&ctry=US&lang=en&lid=staticcomp_za

[KitchenWitch]

7. Firefox is a browser

Here is a list of several firewalls

Zone Alarm
Sygate
Kerio
Norton Internet Security (not the antivirus)
AVG + Firewall
McAfee Firewall

Do you have any of the above?

If not, I suggest you get one of the above. I know both Sygate and Zone Alarm have free versions. Kerio is phasing out of the firewall business.

[laylah]

14. Thanks!

I cannot download Zone Alarm because of Firefox so will try other solutions.

[KitchenWitch]

15. Why can't you download Zone Alarm?

I just tried to DL Zone Alarm from Firefox with no problem.

[Cerridwen]

3. If you have something like ZoneAlarm installed,

it has logs of IP addresses that have "communicated" with your pc.

The IP address can then be looked up to see to whom it belongs.

edited to add: if you don't have something like that installed, it's a good idea to do so. ZoneAlarm is free for personal use. Please know, it can be a bit of a pain at first especially if you're not tech literate, you have to allow each piece of software you use to access the internet that access. It's just one click but be aware that you will be asked the first time Firefox, any video player, Adobe and other software you use on the internet tries to access the internet. It's only the first access after you install, though so it's relatively easy.

[Dissent Is Patriotic]

5. How do you look up the IP address?

I have ZoneAlarm, I've got the IP addresses, now how do I find out who they belong to ? Thanks in advance.

[blogslut]

6. here's one way

go to www.whois.sc

type or paste the ip number and click the submit button

[Dissent Is Patriotic]

8. Thank you so much! I will try it right now.

[blogslut]

9. you're welcome

I'm feeling generous this morning :)

[Dissent Is Patriotic]

10. Yes it works. First IP is from Hebei, China.

[blogslut]

12. well,

as long as your firewall blocks it, you should be fine.

[Dissent Is Patriotic]

11. Second one also from China. Is

there something I should know about, is it normal for all of them to be in China?

[blogslut]

13. lotta hackers from that area

n/t

[Dissent Is Patriotic]

16. OK, so far the following seem to be the most common spies

Chinese Companies, the nation of Korea, the Social Security Administration in the UK, Halliburton and the Department of Defense. I feel like I need to take a shower.