DSL new territory

I see you still have not started the Dummy Forum, so I will just put my dumb questions in here. Recently upgraded to Bellsouth DSL Lite. It was a long and painful journey, beginning when I started with their dial-up last year. I have talked to far too many foreign countries...I can't believe I'm becomin so xenophobic in my elder years. BellSouth DS doesn't know they are BellSouth, worst I didn't know it and didn't expect misrepresentation along the way. But I digress...

It took me a few minutes to realized that I am wired all the time unless the cpu is turned off, something I don't normally do. I set up the Hibernate feature. Until I did that, I had the uneasy feeling you get when your door is unlocked. Am I safe from hackers when Hibernation is turned off. I could have used Standby, which is the safest in this respect?

My other dumb question is installing new software. Do you have to physically disable the modem to install new software? If one is suppose to close all windows to install, where does that leave DSL? Also, if I want to use my internal fax, which I do a lot I was told I have to disconnect the modem and put the telephone line directly into the cpu as it use to be. Physically, moving things like the cpu around is a challenge for me. is there a simpler way. Someday, I am going to have a room big enough to set up where I can go behind the computer instead of moving everything.

All in all DSL is great and my family's not complaining they can't reach me, I used Bellsouth's Internet Call Waiting which for all its little quirks worked ok, but this is great! The Lite version was only $7.00 more than what I was paying for Dial-up and ICW. Course it is those ONlLY a few dollars more that wreck your budget!
Thanks, cranky

 

you're right to feel unpreotected with an 'always on' connection. However, a good Antivirus paired with a firewall poses a nice security setup. Additionally, you'll benefit from running Adware and Spyware scanners once every few weeks to clean out the advertisements and other internet 'junk' that is left on your computer.

as for installing programs, windows simply recommends closing other programs to avoid conflicts that may occur, much of the time it's not necessary, just a precaution. DSL is not a 'program' in that sense, its a network connection that is always on, so you dont have to worry about shutting it off.

do you have an up to date antivirus? if not, I recommend Avast! free home edition. you can get it here http://www.majorgeeks.com/Avast_Home_Edition_d1968.html
and the free registration page is here http://www.avast.com/i_kat_207.php?lang=ENG (complete the small form, submit, and they will email you a registration code that lasts 12 months)

For a firewall, are you running Windows XP, and if so, do you know if you are updated to Service Pack 2 (SP2) ?

there is a built in Windows Firewall that is not bad for an average user, or there are many free firewalls that are more secure. I recommend Kerio Personal Firewall http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=738

onto Spyware and Adware removal:
get Ad-Aware
and Spybot Search & Destroy

running those programs every few weeks will keep your computer clean and pop-up free.


the Internal FAX you have is part of your old Dial-Up modem, which is why you've had to plug that into the phone line when you want to send a fax. There ARE many broadband Fax programs that will allow you to send and recieve Fax over your DSL connection. I don't have experience here, but I quickly came across www.efax.com which seems to be one of them. Maybe somebody else can shed more light for you on that subject

 

Hibernate will not give you any more protection as computer is still active, do follow the steps in the previous post and check out the faqs section on how to protect your self. Also if you plug your fax machine into a second filtured phone jack you should be able to use it normaly.