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Re: GEN: computing skills/needs, etc. From: Dean Huffman (jth@springnet1.com) Sun Jul 30 10:49:35 2000 Messages sorted by: [ date ][ thread ][ subject ][ author ] Next message: Dean Huffman: "City hospitals to discourage publishing newborns' names" Previous message: Dean Huffman: "Not Directly Related To Obstetrics, But Still Worth Reading --" In reply to: Garry E. Siegel: "GEN: computing skills/needs, etc." Next in thread: Dean Huffman: "Re: GEN: computing skills/needs, etc." Reply: Dean Huffman: "Re: GEN: computing skills/needs, etc." Everybody SHOULD have a virus program running. Also, especially for those with an "Always On" internet connection, such as a cable "modem" or DSL, or an ISDN or T-1 connection, everybody should be running a firewall either in hardware or software. I have mentioned a few programs befoe. An excellent freeware program can be found at <http://www.aonealarm.com> and a very good one can be found for about $40.00 0 50.00 at <http://www.symantec.com>. BlackIce is another good one. A good antivirus program will offer updates monthly and whenever a significant new virus is found. Most will give a year of free updates then require resubscription. I would suggest that for extra protection you log off of the internet when using a program such as Quicken (unless you are using a Quicken specific internet application) so as to reduce the chances that someone can see, copy, or alter your Quicken data. Then store it to an off line medium, such as a zip dirve (with a second drive for backup) before you go back on line, being sure to erase the copies of data on your hard drive. Remember, too, that just "erasing" data is not sufficient to remove it from your hard drive. It might still be in a recycle file. Norton (Symantec) and others have programs that will permanently remove given data from your hard drive. In answer to your specific questions: 1) YES, get a virus program and run it continuously. See my posts of June 6, 2000, and April 30, 2000. 2) There are many good ones. I prefer Norton. Check <http://www.pcmagazine.com> or other such sites for reviews of programs, or check out the computer magazines in your local book store periodically. You can also check <heep://http://www.tucows.com>. 3) Yes. The risks are not as high, but they are stoll there. With cable "modem" or DSL you have two increased areas of risk. One is the fact that you are "always on" so that hackers can hack your computer 24 hours aper day. The other risk is that you always have the same IP (internet protocol) address for your computer, whereas if you log on through a PPP (point to point protocol), which most modem users do, your IP address changes each time you log on. To find out your current IP address, check our the <http://www.grc.com> site, or run the Window 95/98 program WINIPCFG.EXE. My current IP address is 208.169.22.36. Also check out <http://www.grc.com> and go to the "Shields Up" portion to see how vulnerable your computer is. Gibson makes recommendations at his site. BlackIce, ZoneAlarm, and the Norton (Symantec) offerings are all good. ZoneAlarm is freeware. 4) I have previously listed some home networking options. See my posts of June 6, 2000, and May 14, 2000. 5) Only you can answer that. There are other reaasons for rapid access. I just loaded Net2Phone on my computer and now I can make phone calls to any telephone in the United States for 1 cent per minute, using a headset I bought for about $25.00. On 56 KBS modem it is sort of like talking on a walkie-talkie. I would not use it for business. But it might be worthwhile for certain other uses. Anyway, I cannot wait to get to the office this afternoon to see whether it works any better on our T-1 line. We have a former exchange student in Denmark whom I might set up with this. She can then call us from her computer to our (USA) phone at one cent per minute, much better than the cost of us calling her in Denmark. When you call computer to computer, there is no additioal charge. There are other things you can do, too. At Sun, 30 Jul 2000, Garry E. Siegel wrote: > >For those of you who know what they are doing, I would appreciate a bit >of off list (private email) advice. > >Like a lot of people, I just dial up the internet from either one of two >home PCs, or a laptop at work. All computers have older anti-virus >programs, none of which get regularly updated by downloads. We don't >back any of these things up on zip drives, although I do back up Quicken >(home checkbook) religiously. > >I continue to have the desire to get to DSL at home (it is >available--many vendors) and to network the home computers, having the >ability to add a third home computer on the network. > >Here are the questions: > >1. Do people have anti-virus programs running, and do they pay for >monthly updates (looks like $20/year for Norton and McAfee)? >2. Which kind--Norton, McAfee, or other? >3. If I am not on DSL, do I need a firewall? If so, whose? >4. Any opinion on how to network at home--obviously, I need someone to >come into my house and either set up a wireless one, or run wires in the >walls. BTW, the DSL companies say they won't hook up if there is a >network, so I guess I should get DSL first, then network. >5. Would it be smarter to just limp along now with dial-up, and let a >little more time pass before jumping ahead? > >I'm not trying to throw money away, but if I had to spend a few hundred >or a bit more to accomplishe these goals, and they would service my >house for a good while, then it would be worth it. > >Any help would be appreciated. > >Garry > >-- >Garry E. Siegel, M.D., F.A.C.O.G. >Private Practice >Roswell, GA > Next message: Dean Huffman: "City hospitals to discourage publishing newborns' names" Previous message: Dean Huffman: "Not Directly Related To Obstetrics, But Still Worth Reading --" In reply to: Garry E. Siegel: "GEN: computing skills/needs, etc." Next in thread: Dean Huffman: "Re: GEN: computing skills/needs, etc." Reply: Dean Huffman: "Re: GEN: computing skills/needs, etc."

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