Hacker question

Question

I participate in a aim chat forum. There is one guy who claims he can hack your computer through the AIM icon, or just through AIM. I even had some tell me that they was hacked. The guy claims to be able to penetrate a firewall, and format your hard-drive. Is this possible? If so, how can a person prtect themselves (besides staying out of the chatroom) a friend introduced me to the chat, and we converse in there.

He claims he can crash your computer, get your SS#.

msil217 · Answer

@alevasseur14 wrote:
I'd believe it, I have to. I was in a chat room one time and this person said they could do cool stuff with my computer so being a young kid I said "try it" and all of a sudden I had no control over my mouse, my CD drive started popping open, and random windows started opening and closing. At the very least if I were you I'd download the free version of ZoneAlarm and set that up. I use it and it works great for me. Good luck.

I already have ZA. This person claims he could bypass ZA. What I'm wanting to know is, if I should take his threats serious, even though I use ZA.

I go to AIM chats out of boredom. I am fairly new, started Dec. 2, 2003

My Aim version is 5.2.3292

alevasseur14 · Answer

I'd believe it, I have to.  I was in a chat room one time and this person said they could do cool stuff with my computer so being a young kid I said 'try it' and all of a sudden I had no control over my mouse, my CD drive started popping open, and random windows started opening and closing.  At the very least if I were you I'd download the free version of ZoneAlarm and set that up.  I use it and it works great for me.  Good luck.

INTERNET2000 · Answer

Never heard of such a thing.  Not to say that it couldn't happen.  What version of AIM do you use?   Message Edited by INTERNET2000 on 12-20-2003 04:14 PM

alevasseur14 · Answer

I don't know much about AIM or AOL in general so I can't tell you if it's possible or not to do what he is saying.  I would just recommend finding a different chat room, there are plenty of them out there.

alevasseur14 · Answer

You can't expect me to tell you what to take seriously and what not to.  It's something you're going to have to decide for yourself.  Me - I wouldn't take the chance, I'd just find another chat room.  It's not that hard.

INTERNET2000 · Answer

When somebody talks about hacking in a chat room that is when I would pretty much break off and go else where. I don't think I would take the chance and consider this a joke when it very well may not be. You just never know.

INTERNET2000

maxd · Answer

From the very little I've read chat and the opening you must allow to do it is a security minefield but no one seems to care. Businesses use it. Kids use it. But it's not a secure means of communication.

kippy50 · Answer

Not that this matters in the OP decision, but a true hacker, one that is accomplished anyway, would never discuss his abilities in a chatroom.  Thats just not how they operate.  This sounds much more like a kiddie scripter looking for some attention.  Kip

Nekkunio · Answer

I wouldn't take his threats so seriously...

But if you are really paranoid about stuff like this, try getting a router and setting it up. From what I heard, setting up a router makes your computer really secure.

JRosenfeld · Answer

If a hacker can get in, for example from a web page, it is not difficult for him to disable most firewalls from within without your knowing about it. He can then go in with whatever he wants. There are sites with info on this and even programs that you can use to test your firewall (I came across them once, but did not bookmark it; if I find it again, I'll post it).

You get some protection by ensuring that you have all the Windows and IE critical updates and have you AV set to block running of scripts (or at least ask you), or by adjusting security settings in IE, but some hackers could get through whatever you do.

simpswr · Answer

guy goes to a doctor . . says ' Doc . . it hurts when I do this' . . Dr. says ' Don't do that'

thanhvn · Answer

Nekkunio, if you leave ports/services open or visit a web site that exploits an unpatched vulnerability in IE, a hardware firewall will only give you a false sense of security.

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