Am I the only woman foolhardy enough to attempt this???

["Cpl. J. V. Utterback" <oltroopr gdinet com>]

Hello everyone,

Just kidding with that subject line.  Or at least I hope I am.  I just
got my RedHat package last week and of course installing it is not going
as smoothly as I had hoped.   I am not what you would call even close to
computer literate so I did purchase the tech support package thank the
powers that be for that bit of foresight!

I decided to go with Linux because I pissed off some very computer savy
people I met over the internet and found out that they were into some
very immoral and illegal activities.  I'm not sure it pays to wear a
white hat but I have a tendency to drag mine out when provoked enough so
I blew the whistle and since last November I have been the target of
repeated and escalating attacks on my PC.  I have a big mouth and a bad
temper when scuzzballs mess with me and nary a clue that there was any
possibility they could do what they have done via remote access.   The
Orwellian implications of these attacks is incredible.  I.E. I have been
infected at least twice with a Back Orifice program and possibly NetBus.

Upon discovering that Windows was as leaky as a sieve and darn near
impossible to plug up, I came to the conclusion with some help from some
internet buddies that Linux and specifically RedHat was my best route
towards getting the security I need.  But first I have to learn how to
install programs to plug the Linux holes.  Hence my presence in your
midst!  :^)

Unfortunately my attackers appear to still be present in my system
despite a complete wipe out of  the windows program on my hard drives (I
have 2) and fresh installation of RedHat with the help of a friendly
Technician on the RedHat help lines.  Yesterday, I watched as my
computer literally turned itself on and dialed itself into the internet
half an hour after I had brought the machine completely down.  Don't ask
me how that could happen...  I don't have a clue but it sure as hell is
spooky.  Plus they had somehow managed to change my passwords on a
bulletin board I help administer before I got them stopped again with
some help from my friends at RedHat who helped me plug up the most
obvious holes.

Unfortunately I believe these jerks are incredibly good and very
determined hackers/crackers and they are very interested in keeping me
and another party who has the goods on them seperated as much as
possible not to mention trying to scare the hell out of me.  Too bad, so
sad, I don't scare easy--these attacks are just pissing me off all the
more and I intend to see the lot of them rot in jail for a few years if
I can possibly accomplish that.  And yes, the police are involved and a
tap has been put on both of my telephone lines.

So you see, I need to learn a lot in a very short time and following the
manuals is not getting me where I need to go the most by the fastest
route possible which is downloading and  installing security programs.
As I said, I am barely computer literate but given a little coaching,
explicit instructions that assume I know nothing and that you are
speaking a foreign language when you speak computerese, and a huge
amount of patience, I am confident I can learn faster than they can
destroy.

I am actually logged into my SO's account which is why I have the weird
handle (for an aging female hippie) in the address.  You can call me
MInc which stands for Metamorphosis Farm Inc. I'm a freelance writer and
I raise Monarch butterflies, miniature goats, rabbits and chickens on 10
acres in southern Wisconsin with my SO.  We also have a furniture making
business and I'm the office manager and computer expert of the team.
I started personal computing 3 1/2 years ago when I got a cobbled
together system my son and his buddies in his computer club at college
built me for my 45th birthday.

Any help will be appreciated.  And thanks in advance.

MInc