| Consumers Online Face Wide Choices in | | | | the IDS detects a suspicious pattern, it |
| Security Products | | | | sends an alert (and creates a record) that an |
| | | | intruder may be trying to break in to your |
| With new threats to computer security and | | | | computer. Some IDS alerts - but not all - |
| data integrity a regular feature of the | | | | show a pop-up message on your screen. An IDS |
| evening news, a panoply of products that | | | | alone cannot prevent an unauthorized entry |
| promise to detect, protect, and dis-infect | | | | into your computer; only a firewall can do |
| are being marketed to consumers. Intrusion | | | | that. |
| detection systems, firewalls and anti-virus | | | | |
| software are critical to online security, but | | | | Protection Firewalls block hackers' access to |
| the Federal Trade Commission, the nation's | | | | your computer by creating a barrier - like a |
| consumer protection agency, says computer | | | | wall - between your ports and the Internet |
| users - from grade school kids to | | | | that allows you to control the data that |
| grandparents - need to know exactly why they | | | | comes and goes through your ports. Your |
| need online security products and what | | | | firewall protects your ports even if you |
| they're buying. | | | | don't have an IDS. Sometimes a firewall is |
| | | | bundled with an IDS. If not, and if you want |
| Why the Need Computers "talk" to each other | | | | an IDS, be sure it's compatible with your |
| over the Internet by sending data through | | | | firewall. |
| their communications ports. If a port is | | | | |
| open, it "listens" for communications from | | | | Dis-infection Anti-virus software detects and |
| the Internet. A computer has thousands of | | | | deletes viruses that are in your computer. |
| ports: which ones are open depends on the | | | | Viruses often attach themselves to your |
| software the computer is running. Hackers can | | | | computer through email attachments and floppy |
| "eavesdrop" or scan the ports to determine | | | | disks. That means a firewall can't catch |
| which are open and vulnerable to unauthorized | | | | them. Similarly, an IDS won't alert you when |
| access. | | | | a virus is attacking your computer. Look for |
| | | | anti-virus software that recognizes current |
| Detection An intrusion detection system (IDS) | | | | viruses, as well as older ones; that can |
| monitors incoming Internet traffic, much like | | | | effectively reverse the damage; and that |
| a security camera "watches" your front door | | | | updates automatically. |
| to see who might be trying to come in. When | | | | |