Whats the Best Free way to stop hackers

Recently We had 2 computers Hacked and was wondering what the best free solutions for making it harder for hackers to enter our system. We have done various things for eg I have basically deleted most email accounts and Facebook and twitter on mine. The other we put peer block on one which has Vista. Contacts we deleted One is now Linux.

I have Open DNS and was wondering what the best solution would be. Open DNS has features to control what goes through router as well. Should we do from Router or individual computers with Open DNS?

What is available software wise to block or disquise IP address that is free?

TY for your Time....
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire 5315
    Memory
    2 gb
    Hard Drives
    C drive
    D Drive
    Case
    Standard Acer Aspire Case
    Cooling
    Cooling Pad and USB Desklamp/fan combo
    Keyboard
    Logitech
    Mouse
    Logitech
    Internet Speed
    DSL 20mb/s
    Other Info
    I run a 60watt speakers from my headphone jack, and I got 10port USB HUB USB Wireless adapter foer the internet
Hello Tom and welcome back to the forums :party:

Just a few questions so I can understand the situation a bit better :)

What firewall do you have on these computers?
What do you mean when you say 'hacked'? It's a very overused term nowadays and can suggest a range of things.
Are these PCs on a company network?
How do you know the PC was hacked?

Tom
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Build #1
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 3770K @4.4GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS P8Z77-V PRO
    Memory
    Corsair Vengeance 2x4GB DDR3 1600MHz Low Profile (White)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte Radeon HD 7850 (2GB GDDR5)
    Sound Card
    Integrated on motherboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    23" LG LCD/LED IPS
    Screen Resolution
    1920*1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung EVO 128GB SSD
    Seagate Barracuda 2TB 7200rpm
    2x500GB Seagate FreeAgent 5400rpm
    PSU
    Corsair TX650W V2 (80+ Bronze)
    Case
    NZXT Phantom 410
    Cooling
    Corsair H100 Water Cooler, 1x140mm and 1x120mm stock fans
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Desktop 2000 Wireless Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Desktop 2000 Wireless Mouse
    Internet Speed
    95 Mb/s Download 70 Mb/s Upload
OK We were shown from Microsoft remotely that my computer was controlling other computers..... Also 2 computers on my network were comprimised through email. 2 email accounts were sending emails from our computers with links to other websites we never sent.

we have microsoft firewall for the PC's but one computer is Linux... I will look later for the Linux solutions
Its on a home network.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire 5315
    Memory
    2 gb
    Hard Drives
    C drive
    D Drive
    Case
    Standard Acer Aspire Case
    Cooling
    Cooling Pad and USB Desklamp/fan combo
    Keyboard
    Logitech
    Mouse
    Logitech
    Internet Speed
    DSL 20mb/s
    Other Info
    I run a 60watt speakers from my headphone jack, and I got 10port USB HUB USB Wireless adapter foer the internet
What e-mail program are you using?
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Thinkpad T400
    CPU
    Intel Mobile Core 2 Duo P8700 @ 2.53GHz
    Motherboard
    LENOVO 64734VM
    Memory
    2.00GB Single-Channel DDR3 @ 531MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Mobile Intel 4 Series Express Chipset Family
    Sound Card
    Conexant 20561 SmartAudio HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15 inch
    Screen Resolution
    1280 x 800
    Hard Drives
    1x 180GB Intel 530 series SSD
    1 x 120GB Hitachi 5400rmp
    1 x 650GB Western Digital Elements 5400rpm
    1x 1Tb Western Digital Elements 5400rpm
    Internet Speed
    Medium for New Zealand
    Other Info
    Weakest part of my computer is the graphics chipset.
    Only ever used a laptop.
    Also use USB Freeview TV Card
    Lenovo Docking Station
    External Speakers
    Other bits a pieces as needed
hotmail and good to see you once again ilikefree. I know I should have stated the email program.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire 5315
    Memory
    2 gb
    Hard Drives
    C drive
    D Drive
    Case
    Standard Acer Aspire Case
    Cooling
    Cooling Pad and USB Desklamp/fan combo
    Keyboard
    Logitech
    Mouse
    Logitech
    Internet Speed
    DSL 20mb/s
    Other Info
    I run a 60watt speakers from my headphone jack, and I got 10port USB HUB USB Wireless adapter foer the internet
Yeah thanks mate, I will have to leave this bit for someone else as I don't use hotmail
I use G-Mail and they have a second security option that if any other computer tries to access your mail you get a code txt to your phone
Maybe hotmail has something like that you could use.
I would use the free MalwareBytes to clean your system and if you are under attack think about using a two way firewall like comodo to start with.
Sorry I am unable to offer anything more to try at the moment.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Thinkpad T400
    CPU
    Intel Mobile Core 2 Duo P8700 @ 2.53GHz
    Motherboard
    LENOVO 64734VM
    Memory
    2.00GB Single-Channel DDR3 @ 531MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Mobile Intel 4 Series Express Chipset Family
    Sound Card
    Conexant 20561 SmartAudio HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15 inch
    Screen Resolution
    1280 x 800
    Hard Drives
    1x 180GB Intel 530 series SSD
    1 x 120GB Hitachi 5400rmp
    1 x 650GB Western Digital Elements 5400rpm
    1x 1Tb Western Digital Elements 5400rpm
    Internet Speed
    Medium for New Zealand
    Other Info
    Weakest part of my computer is the graphics chipset.
    Only ever used a laptop.
    Also use USB Freeview TV Card
    Lenovo Docking Station
    External Speakers
    Other bits a pieces as needed
np mate. I also have gmail now. I will look into comodo. I think its for linux too. Im not so worried about my machine for now cause its better protected, but others on network are more at risk. I know when I build my computer soon.. it will be better protected. and locked up tight...
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire 5315
    Memory
    2 gb
    Hard Drives
    C drive
    D Drive
    Case
    Standard Acer Aspire Case
    Cooling
    Cooling Pad and USB Desklamp/fan combo
    Keyboard
    Logitech
    Mouse
    Logitech
    Internet Speed
    DSL 20mb/s
    Other Info
    I run a 60watt speakers from my headphone jack, and I got 10port USB HUB USB Wireless adapter foer the internet
Okay, again, you weren't hacked. You were infected/comprimised by poor websurfing or bad luck.

Being "Hacked" means someone specifically targeted your computers and went through processes that got you.

MOST IMPORTANTLY..........

Who from microsoft told you? I'm alittle worried you just fell for the MS phone scam going on, where someone calls you, pertending to be MS, and tells you garbage, has you let themn in remotely, then ****s you in the ass.

If you were/are really infected it came from poor surfing/bad luck. This is were you click a link on a website, email or msger. It then steals your email info, fb info and starts spaming everyone.

Your *nix computers fine, while there are virus/infections for *nix, no one uses them.

Please please for all things holy, you didnt fall for the scam.
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    Dual L5639 // i7 950 @ 4.0Ghz
    Motherboard
    Evga SR-2 // Gigabyte x58a-ud3r
    Memory
    12Gig Corsair XMS3 // 6Gig OCZ Gold
    Graphics Card(s)
    gtx 560 ti // gtx 260-216
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dual 22" // Headless
    Hard Drives
    OCZ aGILITY 3, 120Gig + Seagate 500Gig x 2
    PSU
    Silverstone da700 // Corsair 520hx
    Case
    Rosewill BlackHawk Ultra // Antec 900v1
    Cooling
    Twin CM Hyper 212+ // Noctua NH-u12
    Other Info
    Acer 8930 laptop with x9100...
Paton We called Microsoft about the hotmail issue,,, I looked on microsoft website and got the number. It wasnt a SCAM I fell for. They are the ones who showed us, they showed me the multiple crss what evers .exe and I googled about it. I never go to unreputable sites. MICROSOFT DIDN'T CALL ME. I am not that DUMB. IN FACT I AM VERY WARY OF SCAMS LIKE THAT.

In anycase, I would like to get hold of free anti hack and anti malware spyware, or a good security suite that will be good for a home network. We have Vista windows 7 and Linux. I would like to find it for the other 2 computers.

I know that my Linux system isnt infected and is fine. I installed it after the infection on my system :) But we just had to restore the laptop to factory settings yesterday. So I was wanting to find out what the best security suite that is free..
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire 5315
    Memory
    2 gb
    Hard Drives
    C drive
    D Drive
    Case
    Standard Acer Aspire Case
    Cooling
    Cooling Pad and USB Desklamp/fan combo
    Keyboard
    Logitech
    Mouse
    Logitech
    Internet Speed
    DSL 20mb/s
    Other Info
    I run a 60watt speakers from my headphone jack, and I got 10port USB HUB USB Wireless adapter foer the internet
You don't have to go to unrepitable sites... Any site can be infected by malware, Even Amazon has been hit like this.

There are no 'Anti-Hack" programs. Hacking is an activity.

Just get MSE, or AVGfree, or Avast. Despite what you think, someone got your system infected by visiting a infected site, could have been any site comprimised by hackers. Any real-time scanner can help stop this, to a certain extent.

The biggest thing is that hotmail sent out things not your computer. Your email and password was stolen, and no firewall or program can stop that. Switching out your password is pretty much only solution.

As for your "controlling" computer, without knowing what you are infected with, Or what else got put in once access was gained via a drive by/bad click, just wipe it out and re install. Once you have a quality AV and Malware detector, Windefender type thing, its just smart surfing... It'll stop 99% of issues. the 1% comes from hacked legit sites that get yha.

As for a individual computer firewall, other than the simple MS one, I used zonealarm loing time back, it was both great and a royal pain.

Linux really doesn't have anything.. With under 4% of market shares, nobody cares about them enough to put forth the effort.

There are no real ways to hide your ip, evenb the so called changer/hiders don't really do it. You could surf through a TOR connection, but that won't stop drive bys. Though It might be a good idea to call your ISP and have them switch up your ip, if in fact you were zombied.

In my opinion, you are over blowing the situation. Get an ip change, clean your systems, and find out who clicked a bad link and educate them.
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    Dual L5639 // i7 950 @ 4.0Ghz
    Motherboard
    Evga SR-2 // Gigabyte x58a-ud3r
    Memory
    12Gig Corsair XMS3 // 6Gig OCZ Gold
    Graphics Card(s)
    gtx 560 ti // gtx 260-216
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dual 22" // Headless
    Hard Drives
    OCZ aGILITY 3, 120Gig + Seagate 500Gig x 2
    PSU
    Silverstone da700 // Corsair 520hx
    Case
    Rosewill BlackHawk Ultra // Antec 900v1
    Cooling
    Twin CM Hyper 212+ // Noctua NH-u12
    Other Info
    Acer 8930 laptop with x9100...
I think AOL is a pretty safe Email service. I have never heard of anybody using AOL having this kind of problem and my wife and I use it since many years. And we get a LOT of daily mail - more than 100 per day for each of us.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell
    CPU
    Q6600
    Memory
    4GB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP w2207h
    Hard Drives
    2x250GB HDDs
    1x60GB OCZ SSD
    6 external disks 60 to 640GBs
    Other Info
    Also 1xHP desktop, 1xHP laptop, 1xGateway laptop
I'm not a network expert. But this may be a better question for Networking and Sharing forum. In the old days it was common to take an older machine and put Linux on it to run it as a router. I'm wondering if there isn't some related scheme to only have direct internet access through one machine running Linux and have superior security on it. Maybe it runs its own mail server that the clients use to get the mail.

It's probably not as difficult as it sounds. Maybe a site where the Linux SysOp Guru types hang out would have some ideas. Windows has traditionally used "undocumented" functions to give those who knew them the edge over those who didn't. Chances are hackers know the undocumented functions you aren't aware of.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion m9515y
    CPU
    Phenom X4 9850
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Some Radeon Cheapie with 512 MB Ram
    Monitor(s) Displays
    CRT
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    750 GB SATA 3G
    2 SIIG Superspeed docks w/WD Caviar Black Sata II or III
The only sure-fire way of avoiding hacking is to disconnect from the network and keep your system physically secure.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 8.1 Industry Pro x64
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavillion Elite HPE-250f
    CPU
    Intel i7 860 Quad core 2.8 ghz
    Memory
    8 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD 5770 1 gb ram
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Alienware 25 AW2521HF
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080 &1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    1 TB x2
    Other Info
    https://www.cnet.com/products/hp-pavilion-elite-hpe-250f/
  • Operating System
    Windows 2012 R2 Data center/Linux Mint
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Poweredge T140
    CPU
    i3 9100 3.6GHz, 8M cache, 4C/4T
    Memory
    8GB 2666MT/s DDR4 ECC UDIMM
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    1 TB & 360 GB x2
    Other Info
    https://www.dell.com/en-us/work/shop/productdetailstxn/poweredge-t140?~ck=bt
I'm not a network expert. But this may be a better question for Networking and Sharing forum. In the old days it was common to take an older machine and put Linux on it to run it as a router. I'm wondering if there isn't some related scheme to only have direct internet access through one machine running Linux and have superior security on it. Maybe it runs its own mail server that the clients use to get the mail.

It's probably not as difficult as it sounds. Maybe a site where the Linux SysOp Guru types hang out would have some ideas. Windows has traditionally used "undocumented" functions to give those who knew them the edge over those who didn't. Chances are hackers know the undocumented functions you aren't aware of.

ActuaLLY, this is what most residential routers are now a days, my old wrt4gL, L stood for linux.

A maIL server is just that, it sends and recieves email using its own @ name.

However, for a hacker to hack through even just a properly setup router, i.e. no unnessesary open ports, is pretty difficult, can be done, but difgficult.

Its no easy thing to hack a computer straight up, even in the Def Com security comferences, its internet vulnerability that takes out systems in exploiting drive bys.

So securing your system is easy, not getting hit in a drive by is another.
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    Dual L5639 // i7 950 @ 4.0Ghz
    Motherboard
    Evga SR-2 // Gigabyte x58a-ud3r
    Memory
    12Gig Corsair XMS3 // 6Gig OCZ Gold
    Graphics Card(s)
    gtx 560 ti // gtx 260-216
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dual 22" // Headless
    Hard Drives
    OCZ aGILITY 3, 120Gig + Seagate 500Gig x 2
    PSU
    Silverstone da700 // Corsair 520hx
    Case
    Rosewill BlackHawk Ultra // Antec 900v1
    Cooling
    Twin CM Hyper 212+ // Noctua NH-u12
    Other Info
    Acer 8930 laptop with x9100...
The point is the Linux dudes are probably ahead of the curve since they have an open source system. There's no way Joe Sixpack customer can compete with the hackers on a closed system. They have info he never will.

Likewise the routers made from Linux servers are likely now replaced with something more sophisticated. What it may be I don't know. But it's likely someone in the Linux community does. It may have filters for all those little mail client exploitation hooks that run in Windows machines.

He won't know if he doesn't look. I wouldn't sit around waiting for Email from MS esp. when it's my email that's being hacked.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion m9515y
    CPU
    Phenom X4 9850
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Some Radeon Cheapie with 512 MB Ram
    Monitor(s) Displays
    CRT
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    750 GB SATA 3G
    2 SIIG Superspeed docks w/WD Caviar Black Sata II or III
IMO more so than not hackers attack big buisnesses. Sure they spam your email, plant rogueware, send out viruses, etc. in hopes of getting a few bucks from the average Joe and they get lucky every now and then but I'm sure that any of them would say that the big bucks is going up against big businesses and the government. They spend hundreds of thousands to even millions developing, maintaining, and protecting their infrastructure. It's a bigger challenge (as well as a larger payout) going up against those that are paid to protect their employer rather than Joe. It's a much more complicated set up than most people realize or appreciate and internet facing systems of all kinds are very well protected against such attacks. As for personal computing most people don't have to worry as long as they practice safe browsing and have their computer well protected with antimalware. However there is still a constant threat and if you are really paranoid disconnect from the net.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 8.1 Industry Pro x64
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavillion Elite HPE-250f
    CPU
    Intel i7 860 Quad core 2.8 ghz
    Memory
    8 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD 5770 1 gb ram
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Alienware 25 AW2521HF
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080 &1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    1 TB x2
    Other Info
    https://www.cnet.com/products/hp-pavilion-elite-hpe-250f/
  • Operating System
    Windows 2012 R2 Data center/Linux Mint
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Poweredge T140
    CPU
    i3 9100 3.6GHz, 8M cache, 4C/4T
    Memory
    8GB 2666MT/s DDR4 ECC UDIMM
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    1 TB & 360 GB x2
    Other Info
    https://www.dell.com/en-us/work/shop/productdetailstxn/poweredge-t140?~ck=bt
Google contacted me and told me attempts to access my g-mail had been made from Israel and Ireland. I took up their option of the txt code and any attempt to access my g-mail from any computer but mine (even me) a code is sent to my phone that has to be entered before access is granted. Costs nothing and keeps my mind at ease.
I think people are right and after cleaning your system you should be alright.
It is easier to hack a website than a personal computer, and that's hard to do.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Thinkpad T400
    CPU
    Intel Mobile Core 2 Duo P8700 @ 2.53GHz
    Motherboard
    LENOVO 64734VM
    Memory
    2.00GB Single-Channel DDR3 @ 531MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Mobile Intel 4 Series Express Chipset Family
    Sound Card
    Conexant 20561 SmartAudio HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15 inch
    Screen Resolution
    1280 x 800
    Hard Drives
    1x 180GB Intel 530 series SSD
    1 x 120GB Hitachi 5400rmp
    1 x 650GB Western Digital Elements 5400rpm
    1x 1Tb Western Digital Elements 5400rpm
    Internet Speed
    Medium for New Zealand
    Other Info
    Weakest part of my computer is the graphics chipset.
    Only ever used a laptop.
    Also use USB Freeview TV Card
    Lenovo Docking Station
    External Speakers
    Other bits a pieces as needed
IMO more so than not hackers attack big buisnesses. Sure they spam your email, plant rogueware, send out viruses, etc. in hopes of getting a few bucks from the average Joe and they get lucky every now and then but I'm sure that any of them would say that the big bucks is going up against big businesses and the government. They spend hundreds of thousands to even millions developing, maintaining, and protecting their infrastructure. It's a bigger challenge (as well as a larger payout) going up against those that are paid to protect their employer rather than Joe. It's a much more complicated set up than most people realize or appreciate and internet facing systems of all kinds are very well protected against such attacks. As for personal computing most people don't have to worry as long as they practice safe browsing and have their computer well protected with antimalware. However there is still a constant threat and if you are really paranoid disconnect from the net.

I wouldn't go to that extreme. Sure anything connected is vulnerable. But we all want to be connected. That's why we are here. Many people use programs who don't know really how they work. Likewise there are likely some punks out there using scripts that attack email clients, that don't really understand the script. They must download 'em from somewhere. Just like an av can scan for known malware there may be security that scans for signatures of known hacker scripts or email header tricks(if there is such a thing.) All I'm saying is see what is out there. Many Windows utilities use Linux boot CDs. It's silly to have an "us vs them" mentality. It's all PC'in afaic.

There's plenty of knowledge out there. I see no reason to try to keep people on the pablum gravy train. (Likely because I an't gettin' a piece of the action. Money blurs all judgement.) :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion m9515y
    CPU
    Phenom X4 9850
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Some Radeon Cheapie with 512 MB Ram
    Monitor(s) Displays
    CRT
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    750 GB SATA 3G
    2 SIIG Superspeed docks w/WD Caviar Black Sata II or III
Back
Top