Getting Cable
 

Any words of advice?
first time with it
Ihave McAffee Office with Firewall and the like already
I am going to have it set up so i can unplug it at will.
I am not to keen on the permenant connection :(

I also want to home network my laptop to it also to use in another room. Should I go cabled, or wireless??

thanks

AVG free antivirus software... and update it regularly, it is the only thing we have found that really works on all viruses.

http://www.grisoft.com

I use a Linksys BEFSR41 wired 4 port router for my 3 pc's and laptop. These are fairly inexpensinve, easy to set up and have a built in firewall. I also have cable and have no worries about the always on connection.

I have a linksys router. I am playing online poker, online radio station, surfing OSO, and Laura is playing online poker on the laptop all off my cable at the same time.. I never turn my connection off and have never had a problem

MN Comp US has the Linksys wireless kit on sale right now. 100 bucks for the old style and I think 100 more for the G routers (faster). They have fire walls built in and work VERY well.

Jon

My home system is on cable and always oneline.
Be sure you have a real good firewall. I get 10-20 attacks every night when I'm working on the computer.
Don't know how good McAfee's firewall is but I have Sygate's Personal Firewall Pro. Cost me 49.95 with one years worth of updates.

Broadband cable access:

- Do NOT hook up unprotected. They'll use a high bandwidth connection like yours to store music, videos, cracked software, whathaveyou.

- Turn off TCP/IP filesharing, Netbios over TCP/IP. They will access your drives if you do.

- A software firewall like Zonealarm, McAffee etc. is a good first start. Zonealarm is free.

- A hardware router like Linksys, Zygate etc. is highly recommended. It also allows you to use several computers on one cable connection.

- Note: A firewall, whether software or hardware is only as good as its rules. Out of the box, the firewall will only provide rudimentary protection. It needs to be set up.

- When buying a router, IMMEDIATELY password the configuration screens and disable access to modification screens from the cable network. They'll hijack your router before you know it if you don't.

How important is having a firewall on a home computer? We do not have any important stuff saved on there unless the hackers can somehow get into my bank or brokerage acct online. Should I get one? Doesn't it affect messageboard access and not allow you on some websites?

A firewall does not limit access to websites, unless you close port 80 (www) Then you won't be able to access any websites.

Having a firewall (hardware or at least software) is mandatory if your computer sits on a broadband network. Even if you dan't have anything that is sensitive.

- Robots sift for open machines and use your computer for free storage. They'll dump videos and MP3s onto your machine to trade. Illegal stuff usually, and you are in trouble.

- They use your computer as a host for attacks on other machines. The FBI knocks on your door, and you have a lot of explaininmg to do.

- They steal the software on your computer and you are in trouble because someone mass produces a piece of software you have registered.

- They use the material found on your computer for identity theft. Very easy.

This message is being sent through a firewall ...

What is the best free firewall? How do i set one up?

That's beyond the scope of this board.

How do you know that someone got in or has tried to get in??? Otto

ZoneAlarm has a free version and a version you can pay for. The set up is very simple, just follow the instal directions.

I use the free version of ZoneAlarm and it has performed flawlessly.

My Sygate Personal Firewall Pro did'nt need setting up.
It's almost "plug and play".
Once it's loaded, the first few days you'll get a notice every time a program is trying to access the internet. It's asking permission for that progam to do so. If you say "OK" and by check the "remember my choice" it will always allow that program to go out. If the remember option isn't checked it will always ask permission. If you say no, it'll never be allowed to go out unless you change it's status. The status of any program that accesses the net can be changed easily.
If there are websites that automatically install programs or data retrieval software they can be blocked just as easily. Any individual site that tries to access your system can be blocked.
You can block all outside access to your system too, but that also stops you from getting out until you change it back to normal operation.
All known forms of attacks and hacking software are automatically blocked. If it does occur, you'll get a message or indication that it's happening and you can view what it was in the security logs as well as backtracing who the person is. You can save these secruity logs for forwarding to your ISP provider for investigation.
Program is self updating. No need to do it manually.
You can go in and change the operating rules and all sorts of advanced functions but it works beautilfully as is.

Sygate has a free trial version you can download.
I did that before bying. The first week I had their "trial version" which was a prototype and not a released version, it stopped a major attack on my system. This attack lasted three days. Everytime I powered up the computer, there it was. I couldn't do anythnig on the net. My ISP provider said they found where this hacker was hitting over 500 systems simultaneously.
I figured if their "prototype" was that good the released version must be good.
I was instantly sold and haven't regretted it.

BTW Sygate and Black Ice are the top two firewalls on the market. I liked what Sygate had to offer for the price.