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Here is my semi-expert opinion.

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Good post. I would also like to add the following. Anyone doing anything online is responsible for securing their own equipment, especially if it involves money.

IMHO, anyone playing online without a tightly locked down machine is playing with fire. You can't trust your ISP as they offer best effort service, nothing more and nothing less.

As a bare minimum, IMHO any online player should be using all of the following, either as a package or in separate apps:
- firewall
- anti-virus
- anti-spyware

In addition, you need to take appropriate steps to make sure your operating system and applications are as secure as possible. For example, if you are using a Windows-based machine, then you should download the Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer. Just go to their website and search for MBSA (or use this link: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/detai...isplayLang=en). Connect the dots to install the analyzer and it will tell you what you need to do.

The next thing is to verify that your machine is locked down. There is a free analyzer available at Gibson Research. Just do a web search for "Shields Up" and follow the links (or use this one: https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2). Then connect the dots to run a free port scan. If you get some red, then you have things to fix.

If you're more technically inclined or have the willingness to learn a little about how the internet works, then you can also install a packet sniffer (Ethereal offers a free one: http://www.ethereal.com/). With this you can literally monitor all of your incoming and outgoing traffic and search for anything unusual, like traffic going out to an unusual or unexpected location. (This gets into pretty sophisticated stuff and not for the technically faint of heart.)

As with anything, be sure to run a full back-up before installing any new software.

Nothing is foolproof. But if you aren't taking all the steps possible to secure your machine, then you may be at risk without knowing. Ignorance may be bliss, as they say. But when it comes to money, ignorance is foolishness.