A question

Hi, I'm new here, and I have a question, because I know nothing about computers. Last year in college, I was really dumb and didn't use a firewall or anything, and somehow, as a prank, this guy I knew hacked into my computer and put a bunch of crap on it. This summer, my hard drive failed, so I had to get a new one. Now I have firewall and a router with a firewall and everything, so thats all good. My question is, with the new hard drive, is there anything that guy could have done so he can still identify my computer and attack it again? He's not very nice, so I want to make sure there's nothing he could have put on my computer that isn't removed when I change the hard drive so he can still find my computer and identify me/attack me.

 

If it's a new HDD with a clean install of Windows; there is absolutely nothing he can do to hack your computer, unless he has your IP address.

 

So there's no way he could even find me on the connected college network? I'm only asking because I heard somewhere that its not that hard for people to hack firewals if they know what they are doing and who to target. I just want to make sure there's no way he can identify my computer mixed in with all the other computers in the dorm.

 

Operative phrase is "who to target". He has to have your IP to hack your computer. It's easier to get someone to install a trojan on their computer than it is to 'Hack' a firewall.

 

So I'm asking, there's nothing he could have done to my computer to allow him now to find out my ip address and identify/attack me, right?

 

There are millions of IP addresses he'd have to know which one is yours. There are only a couple of ways to do that with 100% assurance that it is the correct IP.

1. Physically obtain it from your Computer, as in sitting in front of your coputer at the keyboard.
2. Use a Trojan to gain unfettered access, and then obtain it.

If it is as you said a new HDD with a fresh install of Windows. #2 is eliminated.

 

Thanks a lot!

 

You're welcome.