| - A port scanner searches your computer for open | | | | steal information from your computer or spy on you. |
| doors. Your computer has thousands of these doors | | | | Someone with the right knowledge could also disable |
| called ports that essentially let information flow into and | | | | your computer and essentially corrupt the OS, making |
| out of your system. While there are tens of thousands | | | | it unusable. |
| of these ports, there are only about a thousand that | | | | How can you find these open doors to your |
| are used most often. Many aren't used at all and these | | | | information and close them? You need to run a port |
| can constitute open ports, or open doors right into your | | | | scanner yourself or have someone with the |
| computer for someone with a little computer hacking | | | | knowledge to do so. But you can't just choose anyone |
| know-how. | | | | to test your computer. They'll essentially be doing |
| Sometimes it's your computer itself that leaves these | | | | computer hacking, but by permission. Still, they can take |
| doors open and vulnerable to a port scanner. A | | | | advantage of the same information you have on your |
| browser may leave ports open, some programs may | | | | computer as someone who port scans you from |
| do so and even your operating system can leave your | | | | across the Internet and decides to steal from you or |
| system vulnerable through open ports. Many of the | | | | otherwise cause problems. |
| updates you download to various software that | | | | Someone who does this type of vulnerability check for |
| contain something called patches are designed to | | | | a living would be your best bet. Or you can by port |
| close ports that it's been discovered the software | | | | scanner software and run the tests yourself. You can |
| previously left open. | | | | also find online port scans, but these pose a risk, too. If |
| Computer hacking can take advantage of any ports | | | | you're not 100% sure of the source, don't do it. |
| that are left open. They'll use these open doors to get | | | | Computer hacking sometimes takes on the guise of |
| into your computer and do all sorts of things that will | | | | helping you avoid getting hacked, because it's a sure |
| cost you money, problems and time. Port scanners are | | | | way into your system. Look into the company or |
| software applications that they use to quickly test your | | | | individual offering port scanning to help you secure |
| machine for open doors. If an open port is found and | | | | your system before you allow them to do so. It's |
| you have no firewall network security to prevent entry, | | | | best to make sure the company has a well-known |
| then the hacker can get into your system and run a | | | | name in Internet and computer security. |
| program like a virus, spyware or other software to | | | | |