[Naphtali]

Where I live -- southwest Florida -- the fastest dial-up access I can achieve is 33.6. Some transmissions take several hours at this speed. I can find no dial-up ISP who does not automatically disconnect me after a fixed number of minutes online. Finding such dial-up service would be my first choice. So,
I am considering installing Comcast cable Internet access or Sprint DSL. I know no one in my area who uses these conduits for Internet access.
To minimize virus attack, I prefer to be able to engage/disengage access as I want. My understanding is that once installed, cable Internet cannot be turned ON and OFF at will.
How can I disengage/disable these accesses when I do not want to be on the web?

[d00d]

Unplug the ethernet cable.

[Damien]

Or buy a router with a decent firewall and keep your Windows machine up to date with Windows Update.
Or buy a Mac and worry less about virus attacks.

[drmbb]

A DSL modem from Sprint has a simple ON/OFF switch, if that's what you want.
I have Sprint DSL - DSL modem (which has it's own builtin minimal firewall) to an Airport Base Station (which is WEP enabled, MAC address limited, and not broadcasting) which serves DHCP addresses to my TiBook and my WinXP box. With no services running on either computer (OS X firewall enabled on the TiBook, WinXP firewall on the PIV box), you cannot even see my machines from an outside network connection. I keep both machines patched and up to date and have not had a single security issue with either one, in over 2 years (Sasser worm, what's that - I patched my WinXP box 2 weeks before the worm was released).
Seriously, there is no need to disconnect your DSL or cable connection, and it partially defeats the whole convience of having high speed internet.
P.S. I actually do sometimes run services on the two - personal file sharing, and iTunes music sharing (my TiBook has the music library), but I hardly worry about it.

[Naphtali]

Windows!?? Let's maintain civilized discourse.

[Naphtali]

This is an elegant solution.
When reconnecting, must I do anything additional like the equivalent of Page Set-up to alert computer or software that cable Internet has been enabled?

[gyroscope4]

well, you did say in your original post, "To minimize virus attack, I prefer to be able to engage/disengage access as I want." that really made it sound like you were talking about a windows machine.

[gyroscope4]

In reply to:

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When reconnecting, must I do anything additional like the equivalent of Page Set-up to alert computer or software that cable Internet has been enabled?

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nope, the mac should notice within a few seconds.

[dcpics]

A simple solution, especially if the cable router is not in the room with the computer or you have a PB, use a wireless router and when you don't want access turn your Airport off in the menu bar. When you want to access again, simply turn the Airport on, it will reconnect in 2-3 seconds.

[dougster]

I wouldn't worry so much since you have a Mac, but as one poster mentioned there are DSL modems out there with built-in firewall. Since I have cable I have an Asant router with firewall and would find it a little inconvenient to turn it on and off...unless I ran Windoz /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[MacCheetah3]

Hi
I agree. Viruses are quite rare for us Mac OS users. Attackers (hackers) don't normally go after us small fries. But a router would be a nicer alternative to physically connecting and disconnecting your Internet connection.
I too have an Asante (FR3004C) router and use cable Internet access (Astound). I do plan on getting, probably a US Robotics, wireless router one of these weeks /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif.
If you use Mac OS X, you can have a nicer work around that would disable your Internet connection without you having to physically muck with things...And it would only take two mouse clicks! Setup wouldn't be that tough either.
MacCheetah3
Apple PowerBook G4 Titanium 1GHz, 1GB, 60GB, SuperDrive, Airport, Mac OS X
Apple Power Mac G4 Sawtooth 400MHz, 768MB, 80GB, DVD, Mac OS X
15GB iPod
Debug Computer Services http://www.click2debug.com

[WebFusion]

Go into your nearest RADIO SHACK store, they sell COMCAST Self-Install kits and have RCA modems (such as the DCM315R) which has the on-off button.
The whole connection process was simple & I was up and running in a jiffy.
/forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
By the way, you can always select "Work Offline" from the Internet Explorer FILE menu...

[d00d]

If you select "work offline" in Internet Explorer you do exactly nothing to protect yourself from viruses.

[Naphtali]

To sum up:
Mac OS has a built-in virus prophylactic aka unpopularity.
When using cable Internet, if one chooses to wear belt and suspenders, either pull the Ethernet connection or turn off cable modem, or otherwise disable via an Ethernet router (I assume this to be pulling the plug from it?). But a router is not an Ethernet hub?
Some DSL companies offer firewalls. And self-purchased firewalls will be effective for either Internet connection.
Recalling the allusion to belt and suspenders, physical separation will be less expensive while being more effective than a firewall.