Broadband Cable Internet Service Security

Have you ever been sitting in your living room and decided to see if you could use your wireless Internet card to tap into your neighbors' broadband cable Internet connection? If you live in a typical suburban neighborhood, chances are your computer could find the wireless networks of at least three of your neighbors - perhaps five or more. This may have gotten you wondering: Just how secure is your broadband cable internet service?
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The fact is, on its own, wireless internet is not very secure at all. The signal can be picked up by anyone in the neighborhood, including cars parked outside or driving by. However, just because anyone can "use" your Internet signal doesn't mean they can tap into your computer from it. Only the truly tech-savvy and often, those with unjust intentions, can do so.

How do you keep your cable Internet connection safe from innocent passersby who want to use your bandwidth to check movie times, as well as from hackers who may want to access your online bank account? Here are three ways:

Is Fiber Optics Internet Faster?

In a word, yes. Some comparison charts show that Fiber Optic Internet connections offer download speeds more than twice as fast as broadband cable Internet connections, and 7 to 10 times faster than DSL.

Speeds may vary, though, and service varies based on:

  1. Password: The most basic way to keep your broadband cable Internet connection secure is with a password necessary to log onto the network. Ideally, your password should be unique-different from any other passwords you use anywhere else. It should include a combination of numbers and letters, and it should not be a single word, or word combinations, that anyone can guess. You may choose a phrase, and then select the first letter of each word in the phrase to form the password. Add a two- or three-digit number to the end, and you have a secure password.
  2. Firewall Software: Installing firewall software on your computer can prevent most people from accessing your computer should they find out your password and permeate your broadband cable Internet security.
  3. Install a Network Router with a Built-in Firewall: If you have more than one computer in your home using your cable modem for wireless Internet access, you need a wireless network router. Select one with a built-in firewall for an added level of security.

Read the Next Internet Services Tip to learn more: How Do You Compare High Speed Internet Providers

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