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Unsafe at High Speed: Security on Your Broadband Connection

Broadband connections are dynamite, but they also create major security holes. Here's how to keep hackers at bay.

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High-speed Internet access via digital subscriber line or cable modem connections might be the greatest tech innovation since the Backspace key. But there's a catch: Those persistent, "always-on" connections expose your PC to all sorts of security risks. If your PC is not configured properly, your files can be stolen or destroyed, and your private communications intercepted.

I know, because it happened to me: A few weeks after I had DSL hooked up at home, I began testing some antihacking software on my PC. Within a few days of loading the software, I was horrified to discover that several times a week my PC was being scanned, probed, or otherwise prodded for weaknesses in its security settings.

The good news is that you can prevent malicious hack attacks by taking a few simple steps. Sure, it'll take some time--but think of it as checking the locks on your front door and repairing those that need attention. Your files' safety is worth the minor hassle.

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