Last updated: 2/17/2000
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Computers, the Internet, and Society
Agenda for Class 4
2/17/2000

1. Quiz 1, one hour
2. Announcements
   1. Do sign-in.
   2. What happens to late assignments
   3. Handouts to bring every week
      1. Windows Common Elements
      2. Internet
      3. Word Processing
      4. Forms of Computer Information
      5. Excel
      6. Creating your own Web Page
3. Internet News Stories
   1. Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks
   2. Protecting yourself. An article in the New York Times' "Circuits" section today (2/17/2000, Pg D1) gave suggestions about how to protect your home computer from Internet-based attacks, or being coopted in a DDoS attack.
      1. A free Internet site, www.grc.com, called ShieldsUP! will scan your home computer for Internet vulnerabilities in the way that a hacker would, and tell you about them. The site also has a tutorial on Internet security.
      2. Internet vulnerabilities can be exploited to place computer files on your computer. The first line of defense, according to the article, is a good antivirus program with "Shield" capability and up-to-date virus defintion files.
      3. The article lists several programs that you can run on your computer to set up a firewall that inspects all Internet traffic coming into your computer, and blocks unauthorized packets. More of these programs are expected on the market soon, but here are some available now:
         1. BlackIce Defender, $40 from Network Ice at www.networkice.com
         2. Norton Internet Security 2000, $55 from Symantec at www.symantec.com
         3. (Recommended by reviewer) ZoneAlaram 2.0, free download from www.zonelabs.com. Pops up an alarm if your system is being scanned for vulnerabilities. Also monitors your running programs to see which ones - legitimately or otherwise - are trying to send information back out to the Internet.
4. Handouts
   1. Making your own web page
   2. Excel
   3. Windows Common elements
   4. Internet