Re: Newspaper Article about Cable Modem security

[dwelch () uswestmail net]

On Tue, 26 October 1999, Michael Kelly wrote:

> I spend more time lurking in this list than I do contributing. However,
> I read the newspaper article located below and had to share it with all
> of you.
>
> http://www.detnews.com/1999/technology/9910/26/10260168.htm

For a network security professional like myself, the implications of a full-time network connection (or even a 
part-time one) are pretty obvious. I feel my connection is fairly secure because I have taken steps to "keep out the 
riff-raff." I have taken personal responsibility for my own network and do not expect my ISP to do anything to protect 
me. On the other hand, most consumers have no clue what they are getting themselves into with a full-time connection. 
They lack the skills and the knowledge to know they are even at risk, let alone what to do about it. ;-)

While many may believe it should be the ISP's responsibility to protect users from themselves, I disagree. I *do* think 
that all ISPs (dialup or otherwise) have a responsibility to provide some basic information about things users can do 
to protect themselves. Simple things like not running any unnecessary services, disabling (or taking steps to secure) 
File Sharing, and definately not running programs from untrusted sources.

--
Dameon D. Welch, a.k.a. PhoneBoy (dwelch () phoneboy com)
Check Point FireWall-1 FAQs at http://www.phoneboy.com/fw1/
The views expressed herein are not necessarily those of anyone else.
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