[IamHD]

Wow! I've never had that happen and I've got McAffee. Do you have a firewall? That ought to stop those pesky critters. :)

[Soaring Feather]

Was your Pass Port Valid???

[dixiechick2000]

Port probed? That sounds painful...

[Flyer]

You ever shop online at RadioShack?

[Flyer]

http://64.29.223.109/

[timestax]

I don't know about reporting it.., but I was probed by Naval Intellegence a year ago because I responded to the TWA800 Shootdown-Cover-Up threads.It was firewalled by BlackICE . I hit the PRINT button and I have a copy of it for proof that I will Fax or E-mail to anybody who is interested!

[blackbart.223]

"I've Just Been Port Probed!"

Not by aliens I hope.

On a serious note, you should install a firewall. I use Norton Internet Security wich I update on a regular basis. If you have high speed internet access you should also consider hardware firewall options.

[cibco]

Vaseline helps....

[Billthedrill]

Yeah, yeah, the usual vulgar references to aliens and such...what, no anal probe jokes yet? Then let me be the first...

This isn't necessarily a problem and you have one of the tools necessary to deal with it. ZoneAlarm is a similar, and very effective product. But if you really want security get a little switch - mine is made by LinkSys and Belden makes a good one too - that does IP address switching and allows you to turn ports on and off manually as well as have them automatically blocked by a software product such as the ones mentioned.

There's a very great deal of this going around - sometimes it's just a random ping, sometimes (especially if you start seeing it repeatedly from the same source) it's actually a breakin attempt. If your ISP uses DHCP to give you a different IP address every time you connect (most do) then you're only vulnerable for that session at that address.

If you're running a home network you might consider assigning your own addresses within it using "non-routable" addresses, and switching addys at the switch or router level. If you already know about this stuff forgive me for patronizing...if not, FReemail me.

[Spangler]

LOL! Sorry to be amused, but I had a friend come over in a panic asking help for several script kiddie level probes of his system. I figured out that he had drew their attention when he had gone to several sites in search of cracks and other illegal activities, including ripping movies.

After staying offline a couple of weeks and ceasing the activity that invited illegal activity in return, his problem stopped.

I am not saying this is true for you, as you are obviously new enough at this game to include personal stuff in your header better left on the firewall's report of the probe of your system.

[dighton]

Really I should be ashamed . . . .

[Jean S]

Your computer has been probed before but you're now aware of it because of your firewall. Don't worry too much about this.

[Jeff Chandler]

Okay, don't panic. First, step away from the computer. Now, IMMEDIATELY run to the building's switchbox and turn the main power OFF. Then move to another state far away and change your identity.

If the CFR tries to contact you, deny ever having posted on Freerepublic.

[PatriotGames]

In MOST cases port probes are conducted on a regular basis by commercial companies just trying to snoop around about potential customers.

As long as you know your firewall is working, and of course, you know it is then don't worry about it. You are stopping the intrusions. That's what firewalls are for.

I once was able to trace the exact computer within a remote network that attempted access to my machine.

I sent a VERY nasty email to the person only to find out that the company had been attacked and that computer was only being used by some external hacker. Boy, was I ever embarrassed.

[Nick Danger]

OK, a serious answer:

Get over it. Now that you have a firewall, you're going to find out that you get "port probed" all the time... several times a day at least. Everybody does.

That's because (a) there are kids out there running scripts that port-probe all IP addresses in sequence, looking for fools who have unprotected machines with vulnerabilities, and (b) there are self-replicating worms out there trying IP addresses at random, hoping to find a new machine to infect.

Yeah, right now you'll feel a need to "report" these to somebody. Wait'll you've had your firewall for a month. Unless you're ready to quit your day job and become a full-time port-probe reporter, you'll eventually just give up on it.

Port probes are the Internet's "cosmic background radiation." They're always there, bombarding you with moron particles. That's because the world is full of morons who think that hosing up other people's machines -- people they don't even know -- is "fun."

[jlogajan]

Umm, you'll get probed several times per day, if not per hour. You can try tracking them down, but after a while (a day or two) you will find you have better things to do with your time. Just let your firewall block them and forget about it.

[glorgau]

Did it feel good? :-) Or did you get squeemish?

[Free ThinkerNY]

I suggest making an appointment with a proctologist as soon as possible.

[Redcloak]

What do you think of this one...

It's ~$30.