Somebody's scanning my pc

[Foto John]

Just been told by my Firewall that's somebody's scanning my computer !

Firstly, why would somebody want to do this?
Secondly, is any harm being done to my pc or information stored?
Thirdly, what should I do about it, if anything?

Here's their details.............I think !

% This is the RIPE Whois server.
% The objects are in RPSL format.
%
% Rights restricted by copyright.
% See http://www.ripe.net/ripencc/pub-services/db/copyright.html

inetnum: 81.174.248.0 - 81.174.251.255
netname: PLUSNET-DIAL-ADSL
descr: Dial-up and ADSL pool
descr: PlusNet Technologies Ltd
country: GB
admin-c: PLUS1-RIPE
tech-c: PNET2-RIPE
status: ASSIGNED PA
notify: [email protected]
mnt-by: MAINT-AS6871
changed: [email protected] 20031020
source: RIPE

route: 81.174.128.0/17
descr: Plusnet Technologies Ltd
origin: AS6871
mnt-by: MAINT-AS6871
changed: [email protected] 20030909
source: RIPE

role: Plusnet Hostmaster
address: PlusNet Technologies Ltd
address: Technology Building
address: Terry Street
address: Sheffield
address: S9 2BU
address: UK
phone: +44 114 2200084
e-mail: [email protected]
trouble: [email protected]
remarks: ------------------------------------------------
remarks: Please do NOT e-mail abuse to the contacts given
remarks: here, e-mail them to [email protected] instead.
remarks: All email sent to other listed addresses will
remarks: be deleted!
remarks: ------------------------------------------------
remarks: Network Status and Information Page:
remarks: http://status.plus.net
remarks: http://monitor.plus.net
remarks: http://support.plus.net
remarks: ------------------------------------------------
remarks: Support 24*7 Phone: (UK) 0845 140 0200
remarks: ------------------------------------------------
admin-c: AW570-RIPE
tech-c: RB156-RIPE
tech-c: BO184-RIPE
tech-c: SB195-RIPE
tech-c: ML146-RIPE
nic-hdl: PNET2-RIPE
notify: [email protected]
mnt-by: MAINT-AS6871
changed: [email protected] 20030117
changed: [email protected] 20030514
source: RIPE

person: PlusNet Ripe Admin
address: Plusnet Technologies Ltd
address: Technology Building
address: Terry Street
address: Sheffield
address: S9 2BU
address: GB
phone: +44 114 22 00000
fax-no: +44 114 22 00088
e-mail: [email protected]
nic-hdl: PLUS1-RIPE
mnt-by: MAINT-AS6871
notify: [email protected]
changed: [email protected] 20030514
changed: [email protected] 20030807
source: RIPE


Thanks in advance !

 

[mpriestley]

as you appear to have the scanner's address and telephone number why not simply ring and ask?

 

[Steve]

Who's your ISP? If it's Plus Net then you've got no problems. It's probably just a routine network scan.

 

[Cheesy Mike]

Simple answer: Don't worry about it. It happens. That's why you have a firewall.

More complex answer: So you have the miscreant's IP address and you have correctly identified the ISP who is scanning your PC. You could take the trouble to send an abuse report to the ISP concerned making sure you include bot the IP address and the time of the incident. They may take action against the person but generally they ignore this kind of thing unless they get multiple reports about the same person. Of course, if people don't take the trouble to report it then.... well you know what I mean. Of course this will to zilch to dissuade a determined hacker who will just sign up with another ISP.

Mike

 

[Foto John]

Who's your ISP? If it's Plus Net then you've got no problems. It's probably just a routine network scan.

I'm actually with Telenet in Belgium !

Thanks for all of the repies though !

 

[Foto John]

as you appear to have the scanner's address and telephone number why not simply ring and ask?

Costs too much from Belgium...........though I wasn't sure whether that was the 'Haker's' address or their network provider???

I'm a computer numpty !

 

[Fanum]

As Mike said John, don't worry about it.......most Broadband linked pc's get scanned hundreds of times a day...the scanning programmes take batches of IP addresses and work through thousands of them in minutes, sometimes looking for ways in..if they find an oen port the programme will report it to the person running the scan and they might look closer at it.

With a firewall you should be ok, but I'd recommend you try THIS site regularly and scan yourself........then you can make sure everything's hidden away nicely.

 

[Foto John]

With a firewall you should be ok, but I'd recommend you try THIS site regularly and scan yourself........then you can make sure everything's hidden away nicely.

Thanks for the link Bill, I actually have the Sygate firewall, though I've never used the Trojan scan, luckily everything seems ok .