Sheehan & Company - Bulletin - Articles: Moving Up To A High-Speed Internet Connection

Over the past three or four years most of us have come to realize the benefits of having an Internet connection at home. Although it required some patience, our dial-up modems put the world at our fingertips. With the current trends in technology, communication, and Internet business, it has become a necessity to have Internet access. On a daily basis we find ourselves banking, investing, purchasing, researching and communicating over the Internet. The explosive growth of the Internet and our ever-increasing reliance on it has left us wanting something that, until recently, has not been available in most of our homes: a high-speed connection.

Today there are two high-speed Internet connection options that are becoming increasingly available throughout the country: digital subscriber lines (DSL) and cable modems. Digital subscriber lines are generally offered by telephone companies while cable modem service is provided by cable companies. Both options have advantages, disadvantages, similarities and differences.

DSL
DSL is a technology that allows high-speed Internet connections over the copper lines that already bring you telephone service. In addition to offering significantly better download and upload times than traditional modems, DSL offers the benefit of always being on - you don't have to dial up your Internet service provider every time you want to get on the Net. And unlike cable modems, DSL connections are dedicated, so you don't have to share bandwidth with other users in your neighborhood. You can use your telephone and the Internet simultaneously.

DSL has one significant downside: The farther you are from the telephone company's central office, the slower your connection is. If you live more than two miles from the nearest central office, you can't get DSL at all. According to industry trade groups, about sixty percent of United States telephone customers live within areas that could support DSL.

As for cost, many telephone companies are offering service for about $50 per month. You will need to purchase a DSL modem for $200 to $300. Installation fees will vary and are sometimes waived in exchange for a commitment.

CABLE MODEMS
Cable modems are devices that provide high-speed Internet access using cable television networks. Like DSL, cable modem service lets you get on the Net without having to dial in. Cable modems use either the traditional coaxial cable or newer fiber optic cables. So, as with DSL, you can use the Internet without tying up your telephone line or blocking incoming calls.

Cable modems also have a downside: Cable modem users must share bandwidth with everyone else on the network. The more people online at any moment, the slower your access will be. Also, cable modems are inherently less secure than DSL, because users are sharing bandwidth in the same network.

In most markets, service costs from $30 to $40 per month. Like the DSL modem, cable modems cost about $200 to $300. Some companies, such as Optimum Online, offer the cable modem for $100 in exchange for a commitment.

SECURITY ISSUES
DSL and cable modem connections will change your online experience, but they will also leave you more vulnerable. "Always-on" connections expose your computer to a number of security risks. If your computer is not protected properly, your files can be stolen or destroyed, and your private communications intercepted.

So why are "always-on" DSL and cable modem connections more vulnerable than traditional dial-up modems? Part of the problem is that, unlike dial-up modems, high-speed broadband connections use fixed IP addresses. (Your IP address is a number that identifies your computer when it connects to the Internet.) With a dial-up modem, every time you call in to connect, your Internet service provider assigns you an IP address. Under this method, even if hackers find your computer once, they might never find it again because your IP address is different each time you dial in.

Because DSL and cable modem connections are always on, they're usually assigned permanent IP addresses, so every time you use the Internet, your computer has the same IP address it had before. This makes it increasingly likely that a hacker will find your computer and access it.

FIREWALL SOFTWARE
The first line of defense against unauthorized access to your computer is firewall software. A "firewall" provides security for your computer and privacy for your personal information by blocking all unauthorized Internet connections to and from your computer. In addition, it will alert you to attempted intrusions into your computer. Firewall software can also prevent personal data from being sent to web sites without your knowledge, and block Java applets, ActiveX controls, and cookies from unfamiliar sites.

FIX SOFTWARE "SECURITY HOLES"
"Security holes" are frequently uncovered in software. Security gaps have been found in Windows 95, Windows 98, e-mail software such as Outlook Express, and the most popular Internet browsers, Microsoft's Internet Explorer and Netscape's Navigator. As these security problems are identified, software publishers develop "patches" or updates to fix the problems. It is a good practice to check frequently for software updates that fix "security holes". (Updates for Microsoft's products can be found at http://www.microsoft.com; updates for Netscape Navigator can be found at http://home.netscape.com/computing/download )

WINDOWS SETTINGS
Windows has the ability to share files. If you're not sharing files with other computers, turning off the file-sharing setting will close up plenty of security holes. To ensure file-sharing is off, right-click Network Neighborhood and select Properties. Click the button labeled "File and Print Sharing" and make certain that both boxes in the resulting dialog box are unchecked.

ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
Always use an anti-virus scanner on any file that you download, whether you trust the source or not. Hackers can gain access to your system through viruses or "Trojan horse" applications - programs that seem innocuous, but really open highways into the heart of your system. You must update the virus definitions for the best protection.

PRACTICE SAFE COMPUTING
Don't rush to open file attachments. The first reaction many people have when they see an e-mail attachment is to immediately open the file. Resist the urge to double-click until you've scanned the file for viruses. Seriously consider trashing any attachment from an unknown sender. If you open an attachment containing a Trojan horse, you might create an open door for hackers. And if you have a permanent IP address, it will be simple for malicious types to return again and again.

OTHER SAFE PRACTICES INCLUDE: