Hello,

I've just switched to broadband after many years on dial-up. There are some
basics I'm not clear about, can you help please ?

1) With dial-up I had to 'connect' to the internet whenever I needed access,
and I could 'disconnect' once I'd finished. With broadband I am connected
automatically as soon as I switch everything on (I think), but can I
'disconnect'. Or am I only connected whilst I'm using explorer ?

2) If I'm connected all the time, am I more vulnerable to hackers etc.?

3) Where do I look for info on how fast the link is running etc?

I'm using Orange livebox with a Vista pc

Thanks

K

"dido22" <nospam@nospam.hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:f9hm7r$nkj$1@aioe.org...
No, you`ll be connected all the time (see the connection icon in the task
bar) Unless you make other arrangements with your system to disconnect when
not required.
Yes, most certainly you are more vunerable connected to the internet than
you would be if you were not connected, but don't let that worry you too
much as I have run a server online for more than four years, without any
issues (connected 24/7 using a hardware firewall, antivirus software and a
good spyware utility).

Your Orange Livebox might have a firewall built in, which should be adequate
to keep you safe from any attempts to hack your system, I'm sure someone
else will be able to comment on the Orange Livebox, as I don't have any
experience of it.

Make sure you enable the windows firewall if you don't have any other
hardware firewall installed.

Try here to see how fast your connection is going:
http://www.giganews.com/test_connect.html (click the europe server to start
the test)
Again, I am not familiar with the live box, but I suspect its a modem/router
which will more than likely allow you to access connection stats.....

dido22 wrote:

If you have a router, yes. However a USB style broadband modem usually employs a
pseudo 'dialer' to establish the connection which you can treat like a
traditional dial-up connection and use to connect/disconnect at wiil. Not that
there's any real point in so doing.

In various ways if it bothers you.

What model is your modem/router ?

No. It has nothing to do with Internet Explorer.


Yes. You should be using a firewall. Anti-virus and probably anti-spyware too.
Just don't buy Norton or MacAfee. I use the free ZoneAlarm firewall and AVGfree
anti-virus from Grisoft. I don't consider Window's own firewall (XP on) to be
adequate.


You need to look at your router statistics.
http://www.kitz.co.uk/adsl/linestats.htm

Graham

On Fri, 10 Aug 2007 13:38:08 +0100, "dido22"
<nospam@nospam.hotmail.com> mused:

connected to the Livebox when it is turned on. You don't need to
connect\disconnect all the time.

yourself why would anyone want to get at your PC. If there is no real
reason why your PC is particularly important then you don't really
need to be super secure, just secure. Even though you are connecting
via broadband you are no less or more likely to be 'hacked' than on
dialup, you are still sat on the internet.

--
Regards,
Stuart.

dido22 wrote:

Dont forget that even if your internet connection is always on (via
broadband and router) ,theres nothing stopping you turning off your
computer when your not using it.Nothings going to mess your computer up
when its off.
me

--

"Lurch" <myrealname@sjwelectrical.co.uk> wrote in message
news4pob3p7s8op9c8gmg46f4ua3og4nu3taa@4ax.com
: : On Fri, 10 Aug 2007 13:38:08 +0100, "dido22"
: : <nospam@nospam.hotmail.com> mused:

[snip]

: : : 2) If I'm connected all the time, am I more
: : : vulnerable to hackers etc.?
: : :
: : Sort of. The Livebox does have a firewall built in but
: : you have to ask yourself why would anyone want to get
: : at your PC. If there is no real reason why your PC is
: : particularly important then you don't really need to be
: : super secure, just secure. Even though you are
: : connecting via broadband you are no less or more likely
: : to be 'hacked' than on dialup, you are still sat on the
: : internet.

Not really true. Hackers don't really care whether *you* consider your
computer to be particularly important or not either. All they're looking
for is *a* computer, they don't much care whose.

It's down to time constraints. You *are* less likely to be hacked on
dialup because you're likely to be online for less time. Not because of
whether your computer is "important" or not.

Ivor

On 10-Aug-2007, "Ivor Jones" <ivor@despammed.invalid> wrote:

If you go to
http://www.grc.com/default.htm
and scroll down you will find shields up, under Hot Spots,
click on the red title to access the test suite.
The tests will tell you whether your firewall, be it hardware
or software, is adequate, and if not pinpoint its weaknesses.

If you are paranoid, you can plug and unplug your PC from
your Livebox, presumably it's an RJ45 Ethernet connection,
this will not affect the ADSL/broadband side of things. Or
as pointed out you are not at risk when your PC is switched
off.

Don't keep sensitive stuff on your PC, like on-line banking
passwords and account details, if your PC is hacked or
nicked you would be at risk. I keep sensitive stuff, but under
strong Blowfish encryption, with a long passphrase using
UCase, LC, punctuation, and numerics in the passphrase.
Sort of starting "I'm wanting 2 .......add the rest to make
a memorable phrase"
Other than that use more than one security software
suite, and run them in rotation, about one a week for each.
That should keep you pretty safe, so long as you keep
them updated.

"Ivor Jones" <ivor@despammed.invalid> wrote in message
news:5i3ab1F3mcdf6U1@mid.individual.net...
Unless of course someone installs an autodialler without your knowledge or
consent )

By "consent" I don't mean a pop-up box which interprets as "yes" a click
anywhere within its border including the boxes marked "no" and "exit".

(kim)

On Fri, 10 Aug 2007 15:17:02 +0100, "Ivor Jones"
<ivor@despammed.invalid> mused:

writing long replies!
--
Regards,
Stuart.

Thanks for the help, I think I understand OK.

A follow-up question if I may ?

I use a laptop. If I close the lid it goes into 'sleep mode'. Is it still
'connected' to the broadband whilst asleep, and is there still a risk of
attack ?

Thanks again

K


"dido22" <nospam@nospam.hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:f9hm7r$nkj$1@aioe.org...

On Sat, 11 Aug 2007 12:07:36 +0100, "dido22"
<nospam@nospam.hotmail.com> mused:

down in this mode. You can usually alter what the power and lid
buttons do in the power properties screen, I usually set the lid to
hibernate and the power button to shutdown.
--
Regards,
Stuart.