How do you connect to the Internet?

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How do you connect to the Internet?
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Posted by: admin

How do you connect to the Internet?

Let us know your prefered medium and why and also if you use a proxy or any type of tunneling

Posted by: awty

Cable modem, through a router, no proxies or tunnels. I'm also interested in any information from anyone using Direcway satellite internet, as it looks like that will be in my future, wondering what to expect.
Jeff

Posted by: khoong25

interesting enough, there are a few more emergent technologies coming up. Such as wireless 'last mile' internet access, and also internet access through electricity.

I'm just through an ADSL/router modem.

Might get a tunnel, if FLO works out.

Posted by: betrdanevr

That's interesting about the last mile wireless access, Ken. DSL only recently became available here with one provider and has been as close as that "mile" away -- taunting me. LOL

I've been using cable. The first year was a mess but service has drastically improved. The cable company now offers free antivirus and a firewall free, within the last week. I really need to go to their site and figure out what I have to do from here. (If anyone else here is on Charter cable, any opinions on these new services?)

I'm with you and will probably go with Metropipe tunneler for FLO. I will hold my breath and get braced while I install the thing. I'm not a technical person at all but I'm sure I'll bet the blasted thing up and running somehow.

Posted by: awty

I can't tell you about Charter, but when I originally went on Cox, the tech installed Cox' software, which 'took over' the browser, email, etc. Since then, I've built new PC's, and found out that the Cox software is not needed, and the 'default' applications (IE, etc) work just fine without Cox' stuff, and it also SEEMS to run faster, and no little 'bugs' from their 'branded' software. (Some of it sent off my surfing habits, if I recall correctly...
Don't know if that makes sense...
Jeff

Posted by: betrdanevr

Yeah, that DOES make sense, Awty.

Luckily, Charter doesn't install any other software when you sign up. I've been curious how this firewall would work. Right now I'm using the free Zone Alarm. I used to use Norton's but wasn't really happy with it.

Cox, eh? On the world's-richest list, I see, if that's the Cox I'm thinking of. LOL

Thanks,
T-

Posted by: khoong25

Yes, I'm not sure about the state of internet connection in the U.S ... but where I am yeah the last mile wireless connection is already up and running, and I can even get onto internet using my 3g mobile, which runs at about 384kbps.

So.. many ways to get onto the internet now.

Posted by: forwardone

Broadband with instant connection, and with my particular type runs at 3x normal dialup speed.

Apart from that nothing fancy, just lots of security.

Geoff

Posted by: awty

Fwiw, I chucked Norton, and am now using McAfee. After some nasty cleanup from Norton's mess. Programs that have their fingers in everything are great. As long as there's no problems. Oh well, stuff happens! (It's Cox Communications, here in Phoenix they're a major cable supplier (TV, Internet, and Telephone). I'm envious, 384K on the mobile? Amazing...
Jeff

Posted by: golddust

We use wireless cable and wireless network to all 4 computers in our house.
Very reliable connection usually, though sometimes I have to reboot the cable server. If there is a storm, this often interferes with connectivity, but I use that as an excuse to take a break from this dang 'puter every now and again.
Use Norton and it works well for me along with Zone Alarm.
Awty, I think you and I had some conversation before about satellite connections. Before cable, we did use Directway, while under their "beta" system. I don't know if they have come out of that or not. The support was very knowledgeable and after initial setup very few problems, except for those southern storms, where the signal and receiver can't find each other.
The only problem I did had resulted in an "acceleration failure", which usually happened when I would have many browsers open. Directway was clueless about how to correct this indicating it was a message I was receiving directly from the satellite. I was pretty happy with the service, definitely faster than dialup, but not as fast as T1.

golddust

PS Yep, it'll cost ya out on the lake.

Posted by: awty

Yes, I recall the conversation, thanks for the info. Since there's no cable internet at the lake, it will almost HAVE to be satellite, so I'll probably be stuck with it, so... (And, likely, will only be able to use it while docked, 'moving' use isn't allowed...) Should prove interesting... Have investigated most things, it all appears possible, even feasible. Just need the boat...
(If it's not as fast as cable, I WILL miss it!!!)
Jeff

Posted by: golddust

Give it up Jeff; ain't no boat going to be as fast as cable.

golddust

Posted by: aceriker

On 1MBit cable here, sat behind a hardware firewall router. No idea what function the firewall router is supposed to perform, but I do know that it is the greatest piece of computer kit ever! I've never known something that takes something quite complex and it works first time. When we first got it we were expecting a 10 hour stint to try and get our network up and running, and couldn't quite believe it when it worked first time.

Am I allowed to advertise here? It's a Linksys Firewall Router...definitely recommended.

But if anyone can tell me what a hardware firewall actually does, I'd like to know...other than stopping me from using proxies

ace

Posted by: awty

Quote:

Originally Posted by golddust

Give it up Jeff; ain't no boat going to be as fast as cable.

golddust

I know, (yuck!) but for now it's probably going to be the best choice. The only other ones are dial up and through Sprint. ANYTHING is better than dial up (unless it's several multiplexed lines, ($$$)), and through Sprint is going to be much more expensive...

Hardware firewalls usually watch ports themselves, and only respond to incoming requests that match outgoing ones. They also do many other things, but that's one of the most important. Since I put in the hardware firewall, my software one RARELY registers problems. A great investment for the $69.00 I paid for it. (The wireless part is great too!) I like and use Netgear stuff myself, the only Linksys stuff I have is NIC's, but that's a matter of personal preference, for the most part.
Jeff

Posted by: aceriker

Thanks for the explaination, Jeff, I really had no idea. So does it protect against hackers gaining access to your computer?

I think Linksys is a subsiduary of Cisco, which should explain the excellent performance from it.

I like connecting to the net with my mobile phone (nokia 6600), but I think mobile phone surfing is still in the early stages, not least because of the tiny size of the screen. But I can just about read the TG forum with it, but it won't let me post unfortunately.

ace

Posted by: khoong25

To some extent, it protects against most amateur hackers. I'm sure there are some pros out there who can get thru a firewall, but there can't be many.
A firewall, basically seals up all the ports, meaning prevents unsecured ports from responding to outside probing. Mainly.. After that, it can be set up to only allow connections using certain protocols and even allow connections thru certain IP or something.

Even that basic function, helps to prevent alot of 'hacking' ....

Of course, it can't stop a rogue email from coming thru....
maybe there are now some which integrates that function as well. .possibly.

So if you have a hardware firewall, plus a ZoneAlarm(or equivalent) software firewall, you should be fairly safe..
couple that with Antivirus protection(not scanning but those permanently turned on)...
you're safe from 99% of hacking...

Posted by: golddust

Yes, the Linksys Firewall is installed along with wireless cable I use and along with Norton and Zone Alarm, I am pretty happy with my setup. But 6 months ago... let's just say that I was very infected and had to wipe out and reload my harddrive. I lost all the Secure IE features that came loaded with my Sony VAIO and Windows XP. No way out, had to reload everything but could not restore all the XP features.

Live and learn.
If only I could learn to be a geek.

golddust

Posted by: awty

Firewalls are great for protecting unauthorized port access, yes, which is how a lot of 'hacking' is done. Most hardware firewalls are fairly good, and, coupled with a software firewall, offer decent protection. And, yes, emails can still get through, so you need to make sure you have a good antivirus and a good anti-keylogger/trojan program. However, I would think that there are still people capable of getting past most protection, if they're really dedicated. One suggestion, at least, change the password on the router. If they have that password, possible problems... ANd, also, some software firewalls can alert you to outgoing traffic, which COULD be something trying to send out your information, and can be a clue to a possible infection. Good to see that people are considering security!
Jeff