How do I connect my webcam with AIM?

firewall and security settings for max security XP with webcam and wireless

• PLEASE DO NOT ANSWER THIS QUESTION UNLESS YOU HAVE RATING OF 4* or 5* and have answered at least three questions on google before I would like to make my system as secure as reasonably possible - without making my system so tight as to be unusable This posting is divided into BACKGROUND info first then the QUESTIONS I want answered next The questions are subdivided as they are too much for one post I think. I am firstly looking for an answer to questions in part 1A BACKGROUND I have a Windows XP machine attached to the internet using a UK ADSL provider I have a netgear ADSL wireless router - NETGEAR DG824M Wireless ADSL Modem Gateway - Router - DSL http://www.netgear.co.uk/html/prod_routers_adsl_dg824m.htm I appear to have three firewalls available to me: a) XP Firewall b) Firewall with ADSL router/modem c) Norton firewall software - purchased but not yet installed I use email, web, ftp upload and downloads I occasionally use instant messenger programs but mainly I turn them off through believing they are a weakspot in my system In future I would like to use a webcam to have a video connection with the person I am talking to (on the phone or via the web) at the same time For good reason, I am concerned that the other person could inadvertently or deliberately see my files or pass on a virus. I want to protect myself against that. I expect I will use Microsoft messenger combined with webcam and occasionally AIM I use IE 6 and Outlook Express mainly I use Norton Antivirus QUESTIONS Part 1A Ignoring wireless security aspects - what should my firewall settings be to ensure good security ? Do I need all three firewalls installed ? What other settings are relevant eg messenger settings , XP system settings, IE etc other applications Will I be able to securely use my webcam and instant messaging? I tend to "disable" my wireless connection - via the icon in XP - when I am away from my pc - which somewhat defeats the always on aspect of having ADSL - Am I doing myself any favours by doing that or is it a pointless exercise from a security viewpoint? Part 1B wireless aspects what should the settings be to maximise the wireless security aspects be I may post a separate question on this if you don't want to answer here PART 2 I also have a second machine running win98 which I intend to connect using Ethernet on a wired (not wireless) basis via the modem/router/hub all in one box that I have - I want to know how best to do that without making my machine exposed to the other machine. I am considering putting the webcam on the second machine if this will enhance security . I may post a separate question on this if you don't want to answer here PART 3 Can I "see into"someone else's machine if we are hooked up via webcam for a conversation ?

• Answer:

  Hello onetwothreefour, Part 1A Ignoring wireless security aspects - what should my firewall settings be to ensure good security ? ANSWER: Basically you should be blocking ALL ports except those that you need. For example, if you use port 21 for ftp, you will have to make sure that it is open. I recommend that you disable pings so that random ip scanners will not be able to find you as easily. Do I need all three firewalls installed? My personal opinion is no, I would use the Hardware Firewall with your modem, and possibly one of the software firewalls. You should use the Norton Firewall software one because it will have more options/features available for you and the default settings and in-program information will help you secure your computer properly. You really only need to have the hardware firewall, and if it is properly configured there is no reason to have a software firewall except for backup security purposes. My personal choice would be to use the hardware firewall plus an application level firewall such as Zone Alarm (Norton may have some application level features as well but Zone Alarm is extremely easy to use). Basically if an application tries to use one of the open ports to communicate, you will have final say over whether or not it should be allowed to do so. You can download ZoneAlarm free application level firewall here: http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/catalog/products/sku_list_za.jsp?lid=pdb_za1 What other settings are relevant eg messenger settings , XP system settings, IE etc other applications. ANSWER: Basically if an internet application does not work, you will need to check the help files or website to see which ports it requires to function. For example this web page has the information for Yahoo Messenger including the protocols and ports it uses: http://help.yahoo.com/help/us/mesg/twin/twin-36.html Will I be able to securely use my webcam and instant messaging? Yes, just don’t download anything that could be a Trojan to spy on you. Even if you did, your application firewall (ZoneAlarm) would still ask you for permission before allowing information to leave your computer. I think the security issue has more to do with the wireless aspect of your network. I tend to "disable" my wireless connection - via the icon in XP - when I am away from my pc - which somewhat defeats the always on aspect of having ADSL - Am I doing myself any favours by doing that or is it a pointless exercise from a security viewpoint? ANSWER: As long as you have encryption enabled, there is no reason to disable your wireless connection. Do you have 128 or 64 bit encryption enabled? If yes, the only way someone can connect to your network or unscramble your data is if they figure out what the code is that is shared between only your computers. Instead of disconnecting your computer network constantly, consider changing the encryption key every month or every two weeks. Part 1B wireless aspects what should the settings be to maximise the wireless security aspects be. ANSWER: What wireless network are you using? You should certainly have 128 or 64 bit encryption enabled as this makes it harder to get onto your network, with 128 bit encryption even more so. If you do not have encryption enabled, your network can be accessed by anyone within range which is certainly not a good idea. PART 2 I also have a second machine running win98 which I intend to connect using Ethernet on a wired (not wireless) basis via the modem/router/hub all in one box that I have - I want to know how best to do that without making my machine exposed to the other machine. I am considering putting the webcam on the second machine if this will enhance security . ANSWER: I am not sure I understand you 100% here. Are you saying that you do not want computers on the wireless part of your network to be able to access this computers files and folders? This is simple to turn off, all you need to do is ensure that you are not sharing any files or folders on this computer. Also in the Network Connection Properties, you may want to turn of File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks, but this may prevent you from accessing other computers on the network also. Your internet connection will be more secure than the wireless connection however, because anything your cable modem sends out to this computer will not be broadcast wirelessly, it will be sent through the cable to the computer only. Remember however that with 128 bit encryption enabled on your wireless network, you are already very secure. PART 3 Can I "see into" someone else's machine if we are hooked up via webcam for a conversation ? ANSWER: If you are hooked up via webcam to another machine, you will normally not be able to “see into” someone else’s machine because you only have access to the network traffic that the webcam program is sending to your computer from the other computer. If someone had changed the webcam program on your computer to send information it should not be sending, then this might be a problem, but any major webcam software released by a reputable software company can probably be trusted. I hope these are the type of answers you were expecting. Please let me know if you require any additional clarification or information and I will do my best to get back to you as soon as possible. All the best, tisme-ga