Firewall Net tests, installation & configuration
FireWall.net - Guide to install and configure a PC FireWall
 
" Nukes " And I ? -->
 

WHo's concerned ? Which operating system(s) ?

*In fact everybody is concerned.

If Windows 9x, Me and Windows NT 4, 2000 are the most vulnerable but not the only ones.

 

>How to know if I am protected ?

 

*First of all, check the Winsock release that was installed with Windows. To do this easily use the Winsock Version Checker (only 126k) and look the table below or the last release of Winsock Version Checker 0.6 (wsver.exe 126k 13/10/99)!

System name
Winsock file name
File size
Date
Windows 95 without patch  Winsock.dll  42 080  7 nov. 95 
Windows 95 incl. MsDun 1.2 and Wsockupd  Winsock.dll  42 480  24 jun 97 
Windows 95 OSR2  Winsock.dll  42 368  24 aug 96 
Windows 95 with Winsock 2.2  Ws2_32.dll 114 688  6 jun 1997 
Windows NT 4.0 already includes Winsock 2.0 but must be patched (SP6)
Windows 98 includes Winsock 2.0 and doesn't need patch others than for IGMP
 

>Is this enough ?

 

*Suppose that your are already with a brand new Winsock. In this case your operating system won't freeze or go into BSOD. But some of your network softwares (ICQ, IRC, eg) can be attacked (ping flood deconnections , eg). THis won't lead you into a reboot but it's annoying.

Against those problems , only one protection : install and configure a good firewall (if not already done).