Stopping outside sources from accessing my phone lines and hardware

[Robert Lanagan]

I am concerned when I am on the internet that "outsiders"
can access my phone lines and download files to my PC to
do such things as dialing using my phone lines, etc. I
see horror stories on television and just wonder if I am
being paranoid or is there something I should/could do to
avoid any problems?
I recently got a pop-up and when I clicked the cancel
button on the pop-up, a window came up saying something
would be downloaded to my PC. I quickly disconnected from
the internet and powered off my PC to avoid any problem
but have been concerned about it happening.

 

[John Thomas Smith]

1-install AND UPDATE WEEKLY a good anti-virus program
many opinions on this... I use Symantec/Norton
2-install a personal firewall
I use http://smb.sygate.com/products/spf/spf_ov.htm

I am concerned when I am on the internet that "outsiders"
can access my phone lines and download files to my PC to
do such things as dialing using my phone lines, etc. I
see horror stories on television and just wonder if I am
being paranoid or is there something I should/could do to
avoid any problems?
I recently got a pop-up and when I clicked the cancel
button on the pop-up, a window came up saying something
would be downloaded to my PC. I quickly disconnected from
the internet and powered off my PC to avoid any problem
but have been concerned about it happening.

John Thomas Smith
http://www.direct2usales.com
http://www.pacifier.com/~jtsmith