Links: Volcanoes

About Firewalls
Firewalls have long been a fixture at large companies, which must secure their networks against determined attackers. But the dangerous surge in e-mail- and Web-borne threats--including viruses, worms, hijacks, and increasingly aggressive spyware--means that home PCs require this protection as well. Don't believe me? Consider this. According to the Internet Storm Center, a typical unprotected PC will come under attack within 20 minutes of being connected to the Internet. That is not a misprint. In less time than it takes most people to shower and get dressed in the morning, your PC will probably attract some form of unwelcome advance. Johannes Ullrich, chief technology officer at the Internet Storm Center, says the situation is so bad that a newly connected PC won't have time to download all the Windows patches needed to make it secure before malicious software has found and infected it. The time to attack is even shorter for PCs on high-speed university networks and cable or DSL services. Hackers specifically target these addresses--much the way car thieves target Honda Accords--for their high bandwidth and always-on nature. It's a digital catch-22. The better your connection, the bigger your risk.