Comp25: Week 5 Homework: Computing - Networking and Security

Learning Objectives

1. To understand how your computer is connected to the internet
2. To be aware of your own anti-virus, anti-spyware, and firewall systems.
3. Notes for Mac OS x, users are highlighted in blue  Article: Do Mac Users need Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware software  Dec 2008

Steps to Take

Type the answers to each of the following questions in a Word document and upload it to Blackboard. (You can copy/paste the questions to Word if you want)

Be sure to number your answers to match the questions, and leave a blank space between answers for easier reading. Note that some questions require a screen capture to be pasted as part of your answer.  Paste your screen shots into your Word document using ALT+Print Screen command.

Questions to Answer

For the following questions, you are encouraged to use your home PC.  If you do not have a PC at home, or sufficient access, then use a computer from the Pacific Library's lab.

Do your best with this assignment.  It is not a "right or wrong" assignment, but rather an exercise in increasing awareness of your own security products.  If you are unable to answer a question, simply indicate why and skip it. 

1. What operating system is the computer running?  Include a screen shot of the System Properties window that details the operating system, CPU and RAM information.
   1. Mac users click on Apple icon, About this Mac
2. Describe how the computer connects to the Internet.   Do you have DSL or cable, or are you connected to a LAN?  Is it a wireless or Ethernet connection?
3. Connect to the internet if you are not already online.  What is your IP4 address?  What is the host name of your computer? 
   1. On a Windows machine, launch the command prompt by choosing Start and Run, then enter "command". 
   2. Then, type "ipconfig /all" from the prompt.  Type "exit" to close the prompt.
   3. For Mac OS x, Open system preferences. Under internet and network, click 'network'.
4. Go to www.whatismyipaddress.com .  What is the IP address that returns in from this site?  Is it the same as the IP address you determined from ipconfig in #2?  If not, why do you suppose they are not the same?
5. Look around for the anti-virus software.  Normally you can find an icon in the lower-right corner of the screen, near the clock.  What anti-virus software is installed?  Are the virus definitions up to date? 
   1. If you do not have anti-virus installed, login to insidePacific and click the Administrative tab.  Find the link to Anti-Virus software and download a free anti-virus product and run a scan.  Did it discover anything?  Take a screen capture of your anti-virus software showing its status. 
   2. Mac users may or may not have anti-virus installed.  Look under Applications | Utilities.  Pacific has Mac Anti Virus for download under the Administrative tab in insidePacific.
6. What anti-spyware program is installed? Many current security products already include anti-spyware.  If you have Norton, AVG or McAfee, you may already have anti-spyware software running.  Also look for Window Defender in your list of programs.  This Microsoft's anti-spyware.
   1.  Is it up to date?  Run a spyware scan.
   2. If you do not have one installed, download either Windows Defender or Ad-Aware Free and run a spyware scan.  
   3. Was anything detected?  If so, take a screen capture of what was found and then use the software to remove it. 
      1. Adware and spyware are not currently something for Mac users to worry about.
7. Do you have a firewall installed?  Is it hardware or software?  What brand?  If it is software-based, like the software that comes with Windows, check your settings in the Control Panel. Take a screen capture of your firewall settings. 
   1. For Mac OS x, Open system preferences | Security | Firewall to see your firewall settings
8. Do you have to enter a password to log on to the computer?  If so, do you feel that your password could be easily guessed by others?  What could happen if someone were able to log on your computer and snoop around? 

Confirm that you have attached three screen captures as image files along with your answers before submitting your assignment.

Useful Links

• Operating Systems Lecture
• Networking and Security Lecture
• How to Perform a Screen Capture
• Microsoft Defender Anti-Spyware
• AVG Free Anti Virus and Anti Spyware Products

Grading Guidelines

This assignment will be graded using the following guidelines: