Can I be hacked?

Been doing a little investigating and from what I can discover, a pipe lock is something that relates solely to a particular router rather than anything that is done from the server end of things. I've looked my router over... a Linksys Wireless G (WRT54G) and apparently there is no pipe lock button on it. So, I'm assuming I cannot lock down our broadband connection short of physically disconnecting the cable. Am I right?

Here's another question for you: When you turn "off" your computer at night (if you do) is there anyway you can be hacked or is your physical connection severed?

 

When your computer is turned off, no it cannot be accessed or hacked or anything; so off is good.

Not sure what you mean by pipe lock. You should enable WPA (Wireless Protected Access) and require a strong password to access / use your wireless network.

 

Pipe lock is evidentally a button on some routers that when pressed with severe all connection to the internet via cable or dsl. Apparently my router does not have this feature whereas my son's router does. But let's go further with the idea of a firewall and being hacked.

I'm wondering exactly "how" a firewall works. Does it physically prevent anything from outside entering one's computer OR does it simply render the computer invisible? If it sort of gives my computer a (Star Trek-like) cloak of invisibility, would it be possible for someone (although highly improbable) to penetrate to my computer? Currently my little network (two computers) sits behind a Linksys router as indicated before and both computers have software firewalls. So... is it a physical impossibility to penetrate to my computer or are we simply hidden from the internet community and our being hacked is remote at best?

If it "is" possible to penetrate through to my computer network, what is the best advice in terms of being "away" from the computer for several hours? Do you actually turn if "off" or just log off and let it be? And come to think of it, since just logging off really does nothing, since you're still connected (cable connection here) what would be the point of even doing that?

Thanks for any insight here.

 

A skilled person is able to access any PC. You can take steps to make their task harder.

Always On, Always Vulnerable: Securing Broadband Connections

Home Network Security

 

US CERT understanding firewalls

PDF article from PCSUpport advisor.


It makes it harder, not impossible. Just like turning off your car and removing the keys makes it harder to steal it. Locking the doors further improves security. Putting on a steering wheel lock further improves it, as does installing an alarm with a kill switch. Of course having a door lock, keys with a wireless sensor , alarm with remote, and steering wheel lock do no good if you leave the keys on your front porch.

 

I've spoken with the good folks from Charter (my ISP) and they've suggested that simply turning "off" my computer at night will severe all connection with the internet. In turn the NAT feature of the router combined with the software firewall I employ should be adequate protection (along with exercising reasonable caution in terms of what I download and keeping my spyware programs updated). I "think" I'm okay.

 

Great place to test your port's 'availability' to outside sources.

https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2

Click the proceed button, then All Service Ports.