Port Scanning Activity on my PC

[cranch]

After installing Zone alarm, I've been receiving a TON of port scanning activity on my computer. I did run a virus scan which revealed I had the w95.hybris.worm virus on my computer. To my knowledge, It was removed through Norton AV.

The concerning thing here is that all the port scans come from several netblocks. The IP's always change a bit, but appear to be within the same netblock.

A: Is there anyway to better prevent this than running Zone Alarm?

B: Is there anyways to "TEACH them a lesson"? (Not to hack and delete files, but to show them they should know better?)

Any comments/solutions are welcome THANKS

 

[spidey07]

welcome to the internet

this kind of stuff is everywhere, you did good by installing zone alarm. remember to read every dialg it asks you and understand what program is trying to access the net

 

[cranch]

Thanks man I'm not too terribly new to the net. The reason it concerns me is the fact that there were over 200 hits from these several IP's. Whether this is a cause for concern or not is my main question.

 

[spidey07]

you could try to report the actvity to your ISP or the ISP of the sources. But most ISPs could care less unless there is real damage done.

I just always considered this kind of port scanning "background noise"

 

[kylef]

Yeah, but portscanning isn't even illegal... YET. I just read on /. the other day that a judge had ruled against a portscanner in some fashion or another...


Basically, I don't see a problem with portscanning. It's like going from door to door and knocking to see who comes to answer. No harm done unless you actually try to enter...