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Internet
Broadband Guide
From an Internet security standpoint, broadband is more dangerous
than dial-up because your computer is always connected to the Internet.
It is better than dial-up because it is much easier to download
Microsoft Windows "critical updates" as well as updates for Internet security
and privacy products.
DSL & Cable
ISPs with Security Services
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AOL for Broadband
includes McAfee firewall and anti-virus, anti-spyware, parental controls,
pop-up controls, spam and spim protection, computer check-up service, safety
FAQs, "clear my footprints" button (wipes out cookies, history and browser
cache), automatic updates and weekly spyware scans. This is an add on to your existing DSL or cable ISP account.
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BellSouth DSL includes pop-up catcher,
parental controls, and Mailguard virus and spam filters.
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Comcast high speed
broadband cable Internet is offering its 7.7 million customers up to seven
free copies of McAfee VirusScan, Personal Firewall Plus, and Privacy Service
(parental controls) including free annual updates. This is a $115 retail
value per computer. They also currently offer anti-spyware through their
Comcast toolbar and anti-spam email filtering technology from Brightmail
(Symantec).
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Cox offers email virus and spam filters.
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EarthLink
has dial-up, DSL and cable options. Their services include privacy tools,
parental controls, and blockers for spyware, online (server side) virus and
spam filters, pop-ups and scams.
- MSN Premium
includes desktop virus guard and firewall plus online parental
controls, email virus protection, junk email guard, pop-up guard and
image blocker. Can be used as an add on to your existing DSL
or cable ISP; or can be a bundled service including an ISP (see
Verizon below).
- Road Runner includes
virus and spam email filters.
- United Online -- Juno,
NetZero... includes ad blocker, email spam and virus filters.
- Verizon DSL include MSN
Premium security features (see above).
Comcast's
Magnificent Seven: A deal too good to pass up? David Berlind, ZDNet,
August 29, 2005. Note: Comcast high speed broadband cable Internet is
now offering its 7.7 million customers up to seven free copies of McAfee
VirusScan, Personal Firewall Plus, and Privacy Service (parental
controls) including free annual updates. This is a $115 retail value per
computer. Apparently competition is alive and well with AOL, MSN, and
others. They also currently offer anti-spyware through their Comcast
toolbar and anti-spam email filtering technology from Brightmail
(Symantec).
Modem & Router Combo
Units -- Advantages of these devices include fewer
little boxes sitting on your desk... DSL or cable modem, four port
router, wireless access point, SPI hardware firewall plus...
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ELI -- Box and service
that includes firewall, anti-virus, spam control, content filtering. VoIP,
DSL or cable modem, 802.11G wireless gateway, 4-port switch, VPN support and
print server for an entire home network for $200 plus $10 per month for
automatic updates. Comment: We
have been waiting years for this type of device to become available and are
looking forward to its testing and reviews.
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Linksys Wireless-G Cable Gateway (WCG200) -- Includes cable
modem, one USB and four ethernet ports, and 802.11g wireless access
point.
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Motorola SBG900 Wireless Cable Modem Gateway -- Includes a Surfboard cable modem; an 802.11g
wireless access point; and a SPI firewall.
- Sereniti's service
includes a wireless gateway, anti-virus, anti-spyware, personal
firewall, pop-up blocker, parental controls, and 24/7 support for
$200 per year.
- Toshiba
PCX5000 wireless
cable modem 4-port gateway
with SPI firewall. Note: The security upgrade is from
SofaWare
(Checkpoint).
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Toshiba's
Home Networking Play, Bruce Brown, PC Magazine, posted August 20, 2003
- CNet
review, Brian Nadel,
February
3,
2003
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Integrating Wireless And Broadband,
Arik Hesseldahl, Forbes, December 13, 2002
Internet Connection Locking
Devices
These products automatically disconnect a computer from its external DSL/cable
modem when a user is not actively surfing:
- PathLock e100 NETimer --
out of business?
- AlphaShield
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Putting AlphaShields up assures computer security, James Coates,
Chicago Tribune, Seattle Times, February 2, 2004
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Forgoing Software For a Firewall You Can See, J.D. Biersdorfer,
New York Times, January 29, 2004
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With AlphaShield as cloak, security worries few, James
Coates, Chicago Tribune, January 25, 2004
Broadband Resource Sites
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