Security Alert?

[PhilBy]

I have just received a 'Sercurity Alert' window informing that an attack on my computer has been blocked. I have just checked the details and got the following information:

A computer with the IP address with the IP address 81.102.83.128 attempted to connect to your computer using Default Block Black Orifice 2000 Trojan horse.

Is this as serious as it sounds and is there a way I can trace an IP address?

Many thanks.

Phil.

[oldbob]

Yes, this is real serious but you are fortunate that whatever firewall you are using detected this nasty and blocked it. The fact that this is the first message of this sort indicates your firewall is not very effective (probably the (useless) windows XP firewall) as attempted penetrations of this sort are very common. My advice to you is to download and install the firewall called ZoneAlarm (it's free and extremely effective). Don't forget to turn off the WinXP firewall to avoid conflicts.

[Mattk]

agreed.NEVER use the ms firewall as hackers spend all day and all night trying to find scurity loopholes in their software.

you can buy a firewall or download perfectly good ones for free such as Zone alarm(mentioned above) or Sygate(that I use).

[commoner]

..mmm...not a problem if your firewall is dealing with it...that is it's job..........I have Norton Personal Firewall which tracks the IP address and shows the culprit on a map with in most cases the name of the company responsible, they are usually telecom type companies in my experience...........I had a spate of these at one time from a site in Korea and I don't think they care what they send out from that part of the world......just be glad you have your firewall up...keep it that way.....commoner

[Bob A Job]

The IP address seems to be from Portsmouth, and the user is on NTL broadband.

Back Orifice and its variants are ways of controling you computer without anyone knowing. It is used by people who steal online ID. but if its been blocked you should be ok.

[PhilBy]

Many thanks for your assistance folks. Following on from Bob A Job's findings the appropriate abuse complaint form has been filled in and submitted to NTL