Dial UP INternet

frierc · Jul 22, 2008

all hail the mighty geeks!!!

question:

my mom still has dial up internet.
I'm just wondering if she is more or less vulnerable to webattacks?

:major:banghead

LauraR · Jul 22, 2008

Vulnerability is a function of the user and the protection they have on their computer.

As long as she isn't going onto suspicious/dangerous sites or clicking things she shouldn't be clicking on, she should be ok..... as long as she has a proper firewall, antivirus program, antimalware program.

Your mom is probably not physically online with dial up as much as someone with cable who is essentially constantly online.

Methos · Jul 22, 2008

Just my two cents! There is a little advantage to dial-up over hi-speed as far as the speed at which spyware,virus etc. is downloaded or loaded into your browser or computer. Since dial-up is slower it does give you a little extra time to unplug from the phone line or close the page or disconnect or whatever you have to do before you get infected or at least fully infected.

Colemanguy · Jul 22, 2008

Thats not really true, as an infection usually takes place with in seconds of being at a site, or is attached to the normal file your trying to download, so really you can't unplug before an infection. But being as most dial up users aren't continuously connected, it may offer a small advantage over broad band, but with proper tools and software protect as we have recommended in our other threads, its not really an issue, and the benifits of high speed far out weigh the small protection offered by not continously being online with broadband.

plodr · Jul 23, 2008

A friend, female and senior citizen, was browsing at a few sites like Coldwater Creek one Sunday afternoon. She doesn't go to risky places and on this Sunday afternoon, she managed to get over 300 nasty items on her computer. She is on dialup and far from being a user who clicks on everything. Nasties can be downloaded without you being aware of it, if your protection software is not up to date. Bottom line: no matter how you get on the internet use protection and keep it up to date!

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Dial UP INternet

frierc Private E-2

LauraR MajorGeeks Super-Duper Administrator Staff Member

Methos Private E-2

Colemanguy MajorGeek

plodr MajorGeek Super Extraordinaire Moderator Staff Member