Ann,

I'll give you the short version. For all practical purposes protecting your
computer with Zone Alarm will keep out all intruders. You can prove it to
yourself by getting a intrusion monitor (Black Ice or other). Before Zone
Alarm is installed the typical computer user will get many attempts by
hackers to penetrate the user's computer (of which some my succeed).  After
Zone alarm is installed Black Ice will report no attempts. Zone Alarm is
iron clad protection (if set up properly). Of course a router (hardware)
can provide the same or slightly better protection at a cost.

RoboForm is also a great program. It's information handling protects your
passwords and other critical information from prying eyes. No need to do
all that you are doing. Read the information on protection of your personal
data on the RoboForm web site.

As far as getting stuff off your computer goes, if someone extremely
talented has targeted your computer and is willing to devote considerable
effort to the task, then yes it is possible - but not probable!

So don't worry too much any more. It is far more dangerous to put credit
card receipts or personal information in the trash without shredding.

Good luck with your security.

J. Dent


At 01:02 PM 5/19/2004, you wrote:
>Help!  You knowlegeable, generous gurus out there!  I read and read and I
>still have a failure in comprehension about the safety of files and
>current memory on my computer..
>
>I very rarely get any spam any longer (IHateSpam and OE configured
>rules).  I have a Linksys Router that I use as a hardware firewall.  I
>also run the free version of ZoneAlarm  (I run SpyBot, Ad-Aware, and
>SpyBlaster too).  I went to a site (that I can no longer find) that
>checked my PC out and said my ports were "stealthed" - but I don't know
>whether they are stealthed by ZoneAlarm or the hardware firewall.  And I
>don't know if that is enough - or exactly what that may NOT protect me against.
>
>I use RoboForm and I'm concerned that while I have it open (the only way
>it is of any use to me is to keep it open) that "crackers" could read or
>websites could suck down my passwords and credit card numbers,
>etc.   because the files are accessible without further password entry
>whenever roboform is "open" (i.e. usable)
>
>I don't know how this all works.  I'm driving myself crazy with long
>horrible passwords to RoboForm and to a data file that I keep on my
>computer, both of which I access many times a day.   I also encrypt all of
>the records I scan in and I password my Quicken data file.  Everything
>that I encrypt, I also encrypt it's backup.  My backups are on a second
>hard drive.  Can someone breaking into my computer also "see" that second
>hard drive?  What about the CD-Rom drive?
>
>Am I driving myself crazy for nothing?  Would I be in danger of someone
>getting my critical information if I didn't password all my files so
>strongly?  What exactly do my firewalls do (and NOT do) and are there
>other ways (perhaps from websites) that information could be stolen from
>my PC if I don't wrap it up so tight that its a bummer to try to use
>it?  What about data in the clipboard or temporary internet files or
>cookies (I don't ask sites to "remember" my passwords since I got
>Roboform?   I also "hid" my Roboform data files in an abnormal place, but
>I noticed that if you bring up Roboform (can't hide the program), the
>"Options" say flat out where this folder is.
>
>What can someone do on my computer?  Can they use "search"?  Can they use
>it the same way I do?  If I am using the computer, can I see what is
>happening?  Does it help that I turn off the computer at night, when I'm
>not using it?  I don't reallly KNOW EXACTLY what CAN be done by "crackers"
>or websites and HOW?  I'm very confused.
>
>Can I safely assume that my firewalls are keeping thieves out of my
>computer and not worry about passwording every file that contains anything
>important?   If not, do passwords REALLY need to be 14 alpha-numeric
>characters with upper and lower case and special characters?  It gets
>exhausting.
>
>Thank you so much for being so generous with your time to help dumbbells
>like me.
>
>-Ann Fennell
>
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