Way to disconnect cable when not in use?

Mel Culbreath · Post by **Mel Culbreath** » 26 Nov 2001 3:40 pm

Where I live now my only way to the Internet is by modem and phone line. I expect to be moving soon to an area where cable service is available.

I have read that a cable connection is always on which leaves your computer open to unwanted downloads/uploads 24 hours a day.

This is probably a stupid question, but would it be possible to put a switch in the line to disconnect the cable when you aren't using it?

Thanks,

Mel

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 26 Nov 2001 4:06 pm

Mel, install a firewall program and that will protect you. Nothing is 100% but you can be comfortable with the firewall (and an up to date virus scanning program) running.

ZoneAlarm, which is free for download, is rated as one of the best and probably most popular on the net. www.zonelabs.com

I've used it when I was on DSL and now Cable, since I moved.

Zone Alarm has an option to turn the internet on/off (stop internet activity) if you want. I use that when I'm burning CD's.

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 27 Nov 2001 6:29 pm

Jack-Will that zone alarm be in conflict with my McAfee Version 6.0 Virus Scan? If I added that.....al

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 28 Nov 2001 5:14 am

Al, no. They serve two different functions and complement each other. The ZoneAlarm is basically working with the commuications, where the AntiVirus software (McAfee, Norton, etc) is working with files and e-mail.

Mel Culbreath · Post by **Mel Culbreath** » 28 Nov 2001 5:40 am

Jack,

Thanks for the tip on Zone Alarm. I'll be sure to get it.

Mel

Bill Crook · Post by **Bill Crook** » 28 Nov 2001 7:22 am

While the cable-box stays connected all the time,I turn off the computer. Now while I'm not too smart in these matters,I figure that if no power is applied to the system,then there is NO way the computer can be compremised.

Face it folks, 99% of all viruse's is received and propergated thru e-mail messages. While fire-walls and virus scan programs do tend to curb somewhat this invasion of our machines, I feel that a good mirrow-image of the c-drive is the best protection for a computer crash or virus. The way my system is set up,I only loose a week or so of e-mail messages.

To acheive this,I have 2 hard drives on my machine. My c:drive handles only the O/S system and housekeeping (computer) files. Everything else is on a seperate drives.

There is several ways to do this:
1) physical drives
2) logical drives
3) CD (as most O/S systems will come on CD's)

When I find that I have a problem,I simply reload the computer with the last known good mirrow-image,(about 30 to 1 hour's time) and problem is solved.

Dan Dowd · Post by **Dan Dowd** » 28 Nov 2001 9:24 am

Jack I have been using the free Zone Alarm for many months now. They just stopped identifying the pings for the free version. When Zone Alarm tells you that some site is trying to access your computer you can't find out any more who it is. I might have to throw some more money into that bottomless pit again and get the real version as they will identify who the sites are.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 28 Nov 2001 11:34 am

I haven't tried that feature for quite a while. Everyone that I got, that I checked, turned out to be some non-harmful broadcast and ZoneAlarm blocked it anyway. I've got to the point I don't check them anymore.

Everett Cox · Post by **Everett Cox** » 28 Nov 2001 2:40 pm

Bill Crook-- While I agree that your idea of maintaining a mirror image is good, you might still be vulnerable.

Many virus' can, and do, infect files on ANY local (and writable) drive. Unless the second drive you're using is on another machine, it could get hit. The Windows folders on the primary (C

drive may be the most likely targets but not always the only ones. --Everett

Michael Garnett · Post by **Michael Garnett** » 29 Nov 2001 3:13 am

Bill, I misred your post... Sorry. Here's another tip or two for the rest of us.

Another few problems with a "mirror image" backup on another drive is,

1.) you run out of drives to put an image on REAL fast.
2.) viruses often have delayed reactions, helping them mask where and when they infected you. Therefore, you might be creating a "mirror" image of a virus, and not know it.

If you have the means, try buying a CD burner. Blank CD's cost next to nothing, and you can burn quite a lot of information onto them. Look into a "Mirror Backup" software option when buying. That way you can keep many different backups, allowing you to work your way back to the problem.

Garnett<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Michael Garnett on 29 November 2001 at 03:15 AM.]</p></FONT>