Are you saying that a person who puts their Windows Platform computer on the Internet with no anti-virus or firewalls from the beginning - their computer isn't already hackable? By this time, a Backdoor or Trojan Horse is already set-up and there is no looking back. Also, the hacker may have already installed a keylogger so what the hell is password protecting going to safeguard you from?


Ok, I'm starting to see your point.


But, let's say you have a box that has run for a year w/o updates, a firewall, AV, or spyware cleans. First off, I would run 3 different virus scanners in safe mode. (Were talking windows here). Then I would install NIS and NAV, because I am familiar and they have served me well. After this, I would run Ad aware and spybot in Safe mode. I would run Hijack this To make sure there are no other keyloggers or viruses or hijacks that boot up. So any viruses that make it past the AV, wouldn't make it past HiThis. After that, a Windows Update. Then I would change all my passwords, and be confident in using that computer myself.
Edit- I'd throw the cleaner in there as well.
Edit- and Fport.
Edit- and Ethereal.

Bare with this tired chic please. The cost your talking about with purchasing software is not worth it to spend. Formatting a hard drive and installing from CD-ROM is quicker and faster. Remember, we're talking about people who have no Windows or Security knowledge. The secret behind malicious activity is to embed/stegnograph "FILES" and many of these files are the personal files on your hard drive that most users want to install back on their systems. Trojan cleaners are worthless in my books. Ran a system with 17 Trojans on it and the Cleaner didn't find one damn one of them. Ask me something else, this is beyond your comprehension.

BTW- I just set up a quickie website for listing ports and their assignments. It's at:
www.geocities.com/tracker_1box

Trackit