[justacivilian]

When I first read the article's summary, I wanted to see for myself. At the time, I wasn't aware of a tracking ability.

What does someone who isn't cyber-smart do to protect from these potential hackers or their viruses? Does it matter that I didn't register?

Thanks

[oc-flyfish]

You can view the website using www.anonymizer.com. This site will prevent the website from recording your address.

[Audit_Jesse]

Get your hands on a copy of BlackIce. It's configurable and pretty user-friendly. While running it will tell you if someone scans your system, what they are scanning for, and their i.p. address (unless, if they have any sense at all, they are using anonymous proxies to mask themselves). You can log the info and send it to their ISP, who can then terminate their internet service. You can set the program to block attempts at penetrating your system as well.

One thing though, this is a software solution, you're much better off buying a hardware firewall, much harder to get around. Hope that helps and I'm sure a more knowledgeable Freeper will come along and assist where I have failed to.