Asking general questions about 'computing' matters.

Question

Hello
I'm new to the Mac world - I posted my first question on the forums today!
I have reviewed the discussions site - everything seems very specific to apple products. Where, if anywhere, could I post a general question - like this one:-
I have a notion that when one connects to a server directly (Usenet newsgroups for example) one makes a deliberate 'hole' in one's firewall, be it software or simply because one is using a NAT router. Sending messages to and receiving posts from Usenet is far quicker than using email, so I'm fairly confident that this is so.
I am well aware that any URL one visits can instantly determine much information about the connecting machine. (see http://www.browserreport.com/ as an example).
Anti-malware programs can only detect known viruses and spyware - I see no reason at all why, once one has granted a direct connection facility, between a group on a private server to
one's own machine, malware could not relatively simply be injected onto one's computer.
If the malware was currently unknown, how would one ever know?
Thanks in anticipation of a helpful response
David B

Answer 1

HunterBD wrote:
I'm new to the Mac world - I posted my first question on the forums today!
Excellent!
I have reviewed the discussions site - everything seems very specific to apple products. Where, if anywhere, could I post a general question - like this one:-
Unfortunately, not in this forum. This forum is specifically about the discussion forum itself. It is kind of like a meta-forum. Hopefully, the moderators will just move your post somewhere more appropriate. (As indeed they just did!)
I have a notion that when one connects to a server directly (Usenet newsgroups for example) one makes a deliberate 'hole' in one's firewall, be it software or simply because one is using a NAT router.
Kind of and kind of not. Firewalls are greatly misunderstood. But essentially, yes, any internet connection you establish has some risk involved. However, the risk of making an outgoing connection is infinitesimally smaller than setting up a server to let hackers bang on 24x7.
Sending messages to and receiving posts from Usenet is far quicker than using email, so I'm fairly confident that this is so.
Really? I don't think so.
I am well aware that any URL one visits can instantly determine much information about the connecting machine. (see http://www.browserreport.com/ as an example).
Not really. It depends on what you are doing. You always give away your IP address, unless you are behind a proxy. In that case, you give away the proxy's IP address. But the proxy still knows who you really are.
If the protocol in question supports such information, then it can be determined. A web browser does send some information about you, but you can easily change it and masquerade as some other browser. With other protocols, it isn't so easy to tell what kind of OS or software is being used.
Anti-malware programs can only detect known viruses and spyware - I see no reason at all why, once one has granted a direct connection facility, between a group on a private server to
one's own machine, malware could not relatively simply be injected onto one's computer.
If the malware was currently unknown, how would one ever know?
You wouldn't
Don't grant anyone direct connection to your machine.