Guest Explodey Posted October 1, 2008 Posted October 1, 2008 My roommate is forever worried that people are trying to hack into her computer and steal her personal information. She's also certain that her computer is becoming infested with worms and viruses. She heard somewhere that dial-up is safer than a high speed connection, so now she exclusively uses her 56k modem, even though we have DSL. Is this really true? I'm sick of her tying up our phone line! Quote
Guest Juergen Nieveler Posted October 1, 2008 Posted October 1, 2008 Explodey <Explodey@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote: <span style="color:blue"> > She heard somewhere that dial-up is safer than a high speed > connection, so now she exclusively uses her 56k modem, even though we > have DSL. Is this really true? I'm sick of her tying up our phone > line! </span> Nope. Most crackers simply scan IP ranges - if she's hit, she's hit, if her machine isn't patched, gotcha. On the contrary, with a 56k modem she's not likely to download all current patches, AV updates etc... Juergen Nieveler -- You will be healthier if you eat more chinese food. Quote
Guest FromTheRafters Posted October 1, 2008 Posted October 1, 2008 "Explodey" <Explodey@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:F3E0C6FC-5DA4-4008-B0A6-E68B670B6963@microsoft.com...<span style="color:blue"> > My roommate is forever worried that people are trying to hack into her > computer and steal her personal information. She's also certain that her > computer is becoming infested with worms and viruses.</span> There is a thing in computer security called "A Healthy Paranoia". If she looks back, I think she will see it. ;-D <span style="color:blue"> > She heard somewhere that dial-up is safer than a high speed connection, so > now she exclusively uses her 56k modem, even though we have DSL. Is this > really true? I'm sick of her tying up our phone line!</span> Dial-up isn't necessarily safer, it is the combination of an "always on" connection and/or a "fast" connection that makes the difference. That and the choice between a static IP and a dynamic IP. She's better off with DSL, and I doubt safety is affected much at all by choosing dial-up. Quote
Guest Shenan Stanley Posted October 1, 2008 Posted October 1, 2008 Explodey wrote:<span style="color:blue"> > My roommate is forever worried that people are trying to hack into > her computer and steal her personal information. She's also certain > that her computer is becoming infested with worms and viruses. > > She heard somewhere that dial-up is safer than a high speed > connection, so now she exclusively uses her 56k modem, even though > we have DSL. Is this really true? I'm sick of her tying up our > phone line!</span> Technically - she is only safer because she is not connected as much . She would get more patches in a faster manner by using the high-speed. In fact - my suggestion for those who are that paranoid: Use the high-speed, but disconnect the physical connection whenever you are not actively using it. That's much like the dial-up option, but with the benefits of high-speed (including faster surfing, patching, etc.) If you have a router between you and your firewall - so much the better. If she has the Windows Firewall (or some third-party firewall) and antivirus software installed (and updated) - she is as safe as anyone could get - other than from herself and bad habits (clicking on the wrong things, opeing email attachments, etc) which doesn't lean either way between dial-up or DSL. -- Shenan Stanley MS-MVP -- How To Ask Questions The Smart Way http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html Quote
Guest PA Bear [MS MVP] Posted October 1, 2008 Posted October 1, 2008 Get a new roommate. Your current one is sadly misinformed. Explodey wrote:<span style="color:blue"> > My roommate is forever worried that people are trying to hack into her > computer and steal her personal information. She's also certain that her > computer is becoming infested with worms and viruses. > > She heard somewhere that dial-up is safer than a high speed connection, so > now she exclusively uses her 56k modem, even though we have DSL. Is this > really true? I'm sick of her tying up our phone line! </span> Quote
Guest Anteaus Posted October 3, 2008 Posted October 3, 2008 Broadband with Ethernet router: Most secure. Broadband with WiFi (WPA encrypted) router: Reasonably secure. Dialup with serial modem: Not too secure. Broadband with USB modem: Very insecure. "Explodey" wrote: <span style="color:blue"> > My roommate is forever worried that people are trying to hack into her > computer and steal her personal information. She's also certain that her > computer is becoming infested with worms and viruses. > > She heard somewhere that dial-up is safer than a high speed connection, so > now she exclusively uses her 56k modem, even though we have DSL. Is this > really true? I'm sick of her tying up our phone line!</span> Quote
Guest Richard Urban Posted October 5, 2008 Posted October 5, 2008 Only because it is slower and takes longer to get infected. -- Richard Urban Microsoft MVP Windows Desktop Experience "Explodey" <Explodey@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:F3E0C6FC-5DA4-4008-B0A6-E68B670B6963@microsoft.com...<span style="color:blue"> > My roommate is forever worried that people are trying to hack into her > computer and steal her personal information. She's also certain that her > computer is becoming infested with worms and viruses. > > She heard somewhere that dial-up is safer than a high speed connection, so > now she exclusively uses her 56k modem, even though we have DSL. Is this > really true? I'm sick of her tying up our phone line! </span> Quote
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