Geez...

It's really a big deal this trojan stuff! I'd rather use the other kind (rubber...duh). But then again, I personally have no use for the Trojan-type programs. They're probably really nice if you get to know them...

I just think it's a tad bit silly to keep this topic alive (yeah, I see the irony that I'm keeping it alive, but I just can't stop myself). I just psted my previous reply to get a little twist to it. To make people see that it's not that big a deal.

But OK: This is soooo important. I really don't have a problem with you kids playing around on the internet...God knows I am... not a kid, but I'm definetly playing around.

But just because some of us don't want too many probles while surfin' around doesn't make us morans. The internet is all it can be, and more. People just seem to take it to serious.

Chill

[ Inappropriate post deleted ]

First off, no trojan can insert itself into your system by you simply opening a zip file. You have to execute the contents of that zip file (this means you have to run an .exe file, a .com file or a .bat file).

The porndial trojan is very easy to pick up, a number of warez sites have it set to auto-download on your system. It's annoying more than harmful, but it's ridiculously easy to get rid of - usually it just puts itself on your desktop or somewhere easy to find on your hard drive.

Also, trojans aren't just 'back door access' programs like netbus - a trojan is, by definition, a program that stays hidden. Beyond that, a trojan can have just about any purpose (usually malign) whatsoever.

If you DO have a trojan backdoor on your computer, don't panic. It doesn't do anything bad by itself, so there's a big possibility that your system is ok. All it does is leave your computer's ports open for scanning and access by people who have the correct client program. All I can say is GET YOURSELF A GOOD FIREWALL. I have no experience with ConSeal so can't say anything for or against it, but ZoneAlarm is good in that it allows YOU to control what programs can and can't access the internet from your computer. THIS IS A GOOD THING. Especially where backdoor access programs are concerned - if they can't get at your tcp/ip ports, then the threat they pose is nullified. You still need to get rid of them, tho (obviously :-) )

If you're comfortable with netbus et al and have a use for them e.g. remote access to your home system from work, good for you. Just make sure that you're the ONLY person who can log in that way!

As far as getting these files through gnutella goes, if all you do is use gnutella as a 'napster-a-like' system i.e. to search purely for .mp3 files, then you're safe. An mp3 file is basically a highly compressed .wav file - it's purely audio/video data, there are no executable components to it. It is NOT simply another kind of .zip file, the only thing you can put into .mp3s are audio and video.

So, in summary -

1. if you have a trojan, it's nothing to start getting all paranoid about. There's so many computers out there the chances are minimal that you'll be hit....

2. GET A GOOD FIREWALL!!! www.zonealarm.com (it's free...if you want to pay some cash, try that ConSeal program).

3. Just because you use Gnutella, it doesn't mean that yoou're automatically going to be getting trojans. Nevertheless, be careful.

4. Above all, USE YOUR NOGGIN (aka head). Don't do stupid things like downloading random programs without virus protection.

5. All of the above, reiterated twice for effect, impact and retention on your part.

Clap clap clap...

Very well said

J

I think the way "that is funny" put his words was hilarious. Having found such a hilarious post after just 10 minutes of browsing this forum increases my faith in this client.

I'd have to say that the stupidest thing (IMHO) any one computer owner could do is to have a computer WIRED to the net (dsl, cable, whatever) and NOT protect it in any way.

This goes for Linux and Windows boxes alike (and probably macs). Having an unprotected Linux with nothing done to hosts.allow, ipchains etc. is just gambling with your data, that's how simple it is.

Fortunately not much harm can be done through a Windows -box, which should make it less susceptible to hacking attempts. (You can't get root access on a win9x, mostly you can't telnet to it, use it as a mail relay server or anything. Only the owner can be harmed and that is just and fair, because it's ok to be punished for one's stupidity.

Just a small example: I too was stupid once. I installed a Linux -box one evening by ftp directly from a mirror site. I was tired and left it unprotected when I went to bed and in the morning it was hacked.

Another example: I found an exe-file on the net that was supposed to be able to crash IIS, Microsoft's webserver software. I downloaded the file, launched it (virus check enabled) and got a program with one input-field and one ok-button. I put the address of our IIS server into the field and ... it crashed.

So saying it takes a 13-year-old to do it is wildly exaggerated. A five year old could do it. Hacking is often far from the equivalency of being a guru master mind of computer science. Bear that in mind!

Finally, I fully concur with everything "that is funny" said about causing panic in other users by shouting out false information publicly. The person tried to help, credit belongs to him for that, but getting your facts straight before trying to help is always a good idea.

Just my thoughts...

-JJ