| Consumers Online Face Wide Choices in
| |
| | suspicious pattern, it sends an alert
|
| Security Products
| |
| | (and creates a record) that an intruder
|
| With new threats to computer security and
| |
| | may be trying to break in to your
|
| data integrity a regular feature of the
| |
| | computer. Some IDS alerts - but not all -
|
| evening news, a panoply of products that
| |
| | show a pop-up message on your screen. An
|
| promise to detect, protect, and
| |
| | IDS alone cannot prevent an unauthorized
|
| dis-infect are being marketed to
| |
| | entry into your computer; only a firewall
|
| consumers. Intrusion detection systems,
| |
| | can do that.
|
| firewalls and anti-virus software are
| |
| | Protection Firewalls block hackers'
|
| critical to online security, but the
| |
| | access to your computer by creating a
|
| Federal Trade Commission, the nation's
| |
| | barrier - like a wall - between your
|
| consumer protection agency, says computer
| |
| | ports and the Internet that allows you to
|
| users - from grade school kids to
| |
| | control the data that comes and goes
|
| grandparents - need to know exactly why
| |
| | through your ports. Your firewall
|
| they need online security products and
| |
| | protects your ports even if you don't
|
| what they're buying.
| |
| | have an IDS. Sometimes a firewall is
|
| Why the Need Computers "talk" to each
| |
| | bundled with an IDS. If not, and if you
|
| other over the Internet by sending data
| |
| | want an IDS, be sure it's compatible with
|
| through their communications ports. If a
| |
| | your firewall.
|
| port is open, it "listens" for
| |
| | Dis-infection Anti-virus software detects
|
| communications from the Internet. A
| |
| | and deletes viruses that are in your
|
| computer has thousands of ports: which
| |
| | computer. Viruses often attach themselves
|
| ones are open depends on the software the
| |
| | to your computer through email
|
| computer is running. Hackers can
| |
| | attachments and floppy disks. That means
|
| "eavesdrop" or scan the ports to
| |
| | a firewall can't catch them. Similarly,
|
| determine which are open and vulnerable
| |
| | an IDS won't alert you when a virus is
|
| to unauthorized access.
| |
| | attacking your computer. Look for
|
| Detection An intrusion detection system
| |
| | anti-virus software that recognizes
|
| (IDS) monitors incoming Internet traffic,
| |
| | current viruses, as well as older ones;
|
| much like a security camera "watches"
| |
| | that can effectively reverse the damage;
|
| your front door to see who might be
| |
| | and that updates automatically.
|
| trying to come in. When the IDS detects a
| |
| |
|
