Firewall?

I suspect some confusion here, Ramona: the IP initially offered would have been dynamic and you'd have had to pay extra to change to a static IP. 'Tis why services such as this exist.

The router, rather like Windows' built-in firewall, will stop things getting in but will not stop things getting out - so, if you were to inadvertantly install a trojan or some other nasty, there would be nothing to prevent it initiating an outgoing connection. However, IMO, safe surfing habits coupled with an up-to-date antivirus utility (and F-Secure is, BTW, an extremely effective product) should be sufficient to prevent such infections. So ... there isn't really a right or wrong answer here. 'Tis a matter of personal preference.

Probably. But any slowdown would be so slight as to be virtually unnoticeable.

 

Ah then Laddie, and I bow to your superior knowledge, answer me this:
if I log off the Internet, clear the Cache, log back on, then would I have a different IP address? I know this is true with dialup...

 

Most broadband IP addresses are dynamically assigned via a "Lease" type arrangement. Although the "lease" can vary in time, your IP address will NOT change until the lease expires. You can/may/sometimes have a new IP address assigned
(prior to expiration) by turning off your broadband modem for a period of time. A very hand program, WhoAmI can provide the following information ....
WhoAmI provides quick verification of Internet Connectivity Diagnostics on your system, such as your operating system version (OS), TCP/IP status, Local IP, External IP, Gateway, DNS and Web Access. WhoAmI is a 'no install' program, just download WhoAmI.exe and run to see your results. No installation is required. (37 KB)

 

No, probably not; if your last used IP is still available, that's the one you'll again be given. Furthermore, to add to what Dennis said, even once the lease expires, there's a good chance that the same IP will again be allocated.

 

Dennis,

Thanks, and now the light dawns. I have to assume that the rep. I spoke with didn't understand the "Lease" portion of the IP address either.

Thanks Brett for making me scramble, and this goes to prove you can learn something new every day! Even an auld gal like meself!

 

Hey, thanks Netscape/Mozilla Family! I have a better sense of safety than I did before. It seems to me that my Linksys router, coupled with the F-Secure firewall/anti-virus, coupled with Ad-aware and Spyblaster... and finally coupled with Sunbelt's Counter Spy should help keep things reasonably secure. And as someone else said, use caution in your internet wanderings and watch what you download.

So... I guess we all learned a few things. I know I sure did. I'm not going to get a new router (after all... I just bought this a few days ago and it works like a charm). But I am going to check out some of the sites you all provided and try to learn a bit more about these things. Thanks.

 

James,
keep Spyblaster updated, and you will find that it will block several cookies, and so block the sites. It works with Firefox and IE. I, also think that it works with Mozilla. In Firefox, Tools|Options|Privacy|Cookies|View exceptions.
On this matter, it is better than Adaware, or Spyware Bot S & D, because it does not require me to do anything, like scanning, or keeping the program in the startup.