Firewalls and dial-ups

[Felicia's Mom]

I was told that my computer did not need a firewall. The reason is because I am on a dial-up.

If you know, is this true: "If you have a dial-up, do you need a firewall?"

[slick]

Whether you are on dial-up or directly connected to the Internet through your local cable company there is always a chance of viruses and spam coming through without a firewall. It really depends on how much surfing you and what you use your computer for. In my opinion, there is less chance of getting hit if you are on a dial-up.

At work all of our local office do have a firewall because their ISP is either the telephone company or cable company and they are connected 24/7.

At home, I'm connected with high-speed though my cable company and I do not have a firewall. I know I'm taking a chance but I only use my computer for email and Pet Talk. If something were to happen I would not lose anything by reformatting the hard drive and starting over.

Up here firewalls are cheap to buy and easy to install.

[Fox-Gal]

I'll tell you what I was told, I needed a firewall and I am on dial-up.

They told me that with dial-up your chances of getting hit are a lot higher. They explained to why, but all that putter talk, I couldn't begin to repeat it back to you. They did say a lot of it has to do with you server, some get hit harder then others, like Net-Zero and Peoplelink (I think)

All I know is before I had the firewall, I got hit many of times. They where even re-setting my home page to a smi-porn site. They even some how shut my putter down. I'd be online and next thing I know I'd get a shut down warning.

Now that I have the firewall, No more shut downs, Ad-aware finds no spyware and Norton says I'm virus free. So I'm happy I have it now.

[Felicia's Mom]

Thank you Slick and Fox-Gal. I will feel better if my computer has a firewall.