[AT] OT : ! puter question for dsl

[Mike Sloane]

I guess everyone's experience is different. In my case, the installation 
and operation went without a problem. (Verizon DSL in NJ). The only 
confusion was that I got an Email from Verizon saying that that my 
service was ready three days earlier than promised, which was incorrect 
- it was available on the promised date.

I ran  ZoneAlarm for a while, but it interfered so much with almost 
everything I did and slowed down the system so much that I deleted it. I 
find that either my LinkSys or NetGear routers block everything just 
fine (using the NetShield test). Now, I see that Verizon provides a 
combined wired/wireless router that includes the DSL modem as part of 
their package. Very smart idea on their part.

Be aware that the router only blocks attempts at "hacking" your machine 
by invasions from the outside through open ports. It does nothing to 
stop virus attacks that come from opening infected Emails or stop 
malware/adware that come down when surfing. You still need to run virus 
protection and spyware/adware tools like Spybot, Ad-Aware, 
SpywareBlaster, the new MS spyware beta, etc. I get lots of spyware 
daily, unfortunately, and it takes all of the above applications to get 
rid of all of them. I have been scanning my systems daily using AVG 
virus protection, and have not had one virus found.

Someone mentioned using wireless links and the potential for problems if 
you don't enable encryption. The lack of security with wireless systems 
is greatly exaggerated. Actually, the likelihood of anyone "sniffing" 
your wireless signal is extremely low, as it takes somewhat 
sophisticated equipment to make any sense out of the bit stream. Second, 
if you are out in the country, a hacker would have to have his car 
parked in your front yard to gain access to your signal - they only 
travel a very short distance under the best conditions. (I can't 
communicate between machines in my house and barn - about 150'.) The 
biggest risk is that you might have a neighbor, if you live in an 
apartment house, who uses your ISP access for free to surf the net and 
slow your access down. If you live in a city, I would recommend 
encryption, but not in rural or suburban areas.

Mike

pga2 at hot1.net wrote:
> Just getting the DSL connection installed and working was a
> real PITA for my S-I-L. Took over 3 months to finally get
> everything connected and working, including replacing the
> original DSL modem. I certainly hope you have better luck.
> 
> Phil


-- 
Mike Sloane
Allamuchy NJ
mikesloane at verizon.net
Images: <www.fotki.com/mikesloane>

He that is the author of a war lets loose the whole contagion of hell 
and opens a vein that bleeds a nation to death. -Thomas Paine, 
philosopher and writer (1737-1809)


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