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Technical Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

< Technical FAQ

Security and Speed Questions

  1. Which is faster--a PCI network interface card or an ISA network interface card?
  2. What can I do to increase security and prevent hackers from accessing information on my computer?
  3. Will my IP address change when I start using a cable modem to access the Internet?

Security and Speed Answers

1. Which is faster---a PCI network interface card or an ISA network interface card?

Both the PCI network interface card and the ISA network interface card provide users with the same Ethernet line speed--10 megabits per second. However, a PCI card will communicate with the PC's local bus at at faster speeds, thereby providing faster through-pt to the user.

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2. What can I do to increase security and prevent hackers from accessing information on my computer?

The possibility of your computer being hacked is slim to none. Although illegal entry into computer systems happens every day, it generally occurs in large corporations. Hackers commonly sweep a range of IP addresses looking for possible holes to exploit. These holes are generally provided by oversights in software development, such as telnet servers, mail servers, ftp servers, chat servers, etc. Most of our customers have no need to run these types of services, and are therefore not vulnerable to such exploits.

However, for your added security, we recommend you disable File & Print Sharing on your TCP/IP connection. If sharing on your home network is necessary, we recommend File & Print sharing be enabled on another protocol that is not accessible via the Internet, such as NetBEUI. If File & Print Sharing from the Internet is needed, we recommend you password protect your shared resources.

Other hardware and/or software solutions exist to protect your computer and home network from possible Internet attack. It is at your discretion to use such devices, but they are not supported by our Customer Care Center.

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3. Will my IP address change when I start using a cable modem to access the Internet?

Your IP address may change, but it depends on how the network is setup.

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