ON HACKERS _________
This is presented as true to the best recollection and is offered
for guidance with NO warranty expressed or implied.
Your mileage may vary.
The InterNet was initially designed to be used
easily, conveniently, and fluidly between
HONORABLE peers. It was NOT designed to be used as it has
grown to be used, but it's a bit late to start over.
There are a lot of DIShonorable users who seem
to obtain some satisfaction from wreaking havoc on others.
Because of this, when a system is connected to the INterNet,
then ever other system on the net can gain some sort of access
to it. This can be for good intents and purposes or for evil ones.
Those systems which are on dial-up connections for short
periods have the least need to worry;
those on DSL or other high-speed and
more-permanent and long-term connections have MORE need
to worry.
This worry can be lessened by installing GOOD blocking
processes -- either software or hardware.
Software blocking is afforded by programs known as FIREWALLs.
Hardware blocking is afforded by units known as ROUTERs
(at least by the GOOD ones) which
also accomodate connecting multiple systems together and to the
InterNet.
Anyone running a high-speed connection (e.g., DSL, Cable, etc.) should DEFINITELY
consider installing a GOOD ROUTER, even if only one PC is being connected to it.
If the urge ever arises to get a HUB,
a GOOD ROUTER should be considered instead.
There are some honorable sites which will test a system
by friendly/benign hacking attempts and report their successes/failures,
i.e., the system's vulnerabilities.
For some assistance in this matter, see at ...
https://grc.com/default.htm (( see Shields-Up and Leak Test ))
https://grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2
https://grc.com/lt/leaktest.htm
Keep Your Fire-Walls UP ! !
On_Other_Stuff