Originally posted by sonar732
Cable internet connections are even more prone to hacking than DSL. You need to be careful with them. As stated, if you aren't that computer literate, download the free edition of Zone Alarm and run it. It will warn you for each process that's trying to use the internet and warn you on incoming traffic also. I finally shut off the pop up for incoming traffic because it was amazing how many people tried to access the computer.
Careful. Do not assume someone is trying to access your computer intentionally. Whenever Windows starts (from Windows 95 and up), it broadcasts itself over the Internet connection.
Everyone on your local node, that happens to be on the same subnet will get that broadcast, and if it is not blocked, they will respond as well.
So, when you see a 'hit' on ZA, do not assume it is intentional. It simply may be someone booting their computer, or shutting it down, as Windows does a final broadcast when it powers down as well.
Another broadcast occurs whenever DHCP runs, but it is slightly different and I hope ZA does not announce that as a hit too.
People who know little about networking get ultra paranoid about these innocent hits when there is no need to.