Security on the Net

[mig125]

I understand that DSL (and cable) are less secure than dial-up because they are always on and that gives a hacker a lot of time to venture into your system, but is it any safer to send information over the dial up than DSL?
Whenever I buy something on the net I use my old 56k, thinking that it will minimize the chance of someone getting my credit # - but I think I might be wrong, as that part of security is beyond my control. I can just hope that no one is using sniffers and getting my credit card #, but after all it makes no difference whether I use DSL or dial up - the info is sent through the same networks.
Am I right?

[downhill]

Hi mig125.
Your right. It makes no difference if you use, a 56k connection, DSL, or Cable, or anyother combination.
The trick if you shop online is, to use a site that encripts the transaction. Also if you haven't, upgrade your browser to 128 bit encription.
Don't store your credit card #S on your computer. Also scan on a regular basis for virus's and trojan's.
A firewall is also a good investment.
Hope this helps.

[mig125]

Thanks for your help downhill
I may just add that I used to use firewall on my main computer, but I didn't like it so I just built a 'server'...old Cyrix 200, 64 megs RAM, 6 gigs HDD, nothing but Win98SE on it. I don't care if anyone hacks my 'puter...he/she will have nothing to see.
Of course I know they can still upload a virus...but I hope no one is that evil
sc