Thanks everyone, especially LL.
I understand your point about hardening windows and about people saying not to go to certain websites, etc. But this is the problem with hardening windows. Someone who is refined at hacking/ RAT placement is still doing it successfully.
One way is through spoofing an email address, sending that email to me with a RAT that auto-executes. Also, they may be picking up some kind of signal from my computer (ie: mac address, sniffing packets, etc) that is allowing them to get my real ip address. I think the latter is happening.
LL - you stated........other than that method, there is no way a RAT can modify a CD.
Are you saying that if ed snowden had the most sophisticated RAT on earth he couldn't send a RAT to me that could write to my livecd that is Not a RW cd? I am not being sarcastic LL, truly, I just want to be sure I completely understand you. Thanks.
I need to be able to use my computer and not have a RAT get on my computer. If I open an email with an auto-execute RAT in my hardened windows os, or someone sends me one via my ip or other unique indentifier, I don't see anyway that windows will block it though "possibly" a good firewall will...maybe.
So if it is "impossible" for a RAT to get on my computer when I am using a linux livecd, then I am happy to use a livecd. I don't need to save anything to the computer - I never do. So far this is the only option I see. If my host os is windows (I am guessing that with a livecd I must have a host ????) - how can I shut that off from the internet (or at least not turn it on) so that it can not be targeted instead of the livecd - even though I booted up via the livecd. I realize this may be a mute point if I booted from the livecd, but I don't really know.
Are any of the livecd's (Ubuntu, debian, etc) better than anyone else as far as protection, or is that another mute point?
So...do you think ed snowden could get a RAT on my livecd? I am totally being serious by asking this (sorry for repeating myself). I just like to understand for certain, even if there are no certainties as I'll bet someone will write here
One important thing I forgot to mention ......... besides them possibly getting on my computer via auto-execute email, and ip / mac address unique identifiers, they also know exactly what computer make model etc I use because they have gotten on before. I think they are getting through this way, quite possibly. I do updates with secunia psi and it shows no threats as I check it daily. Thanks.
Thanks LL (anyone who contributes)!!
PS: I have had RATs get on before - no doubt.