What Is the Difference Between DSL & and Cable Security?
Both cable and DSL Internet connections provide fast, always-on broadband Internet connections for the home. DSL connections are provided over standard telephone wire, while cable connections are provided over the coaxial cable more commonly associated with cable TV. There are differences in how DSL and cable Internet connections work behind the scenes, but these should have minor impacts on your overall security.
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Facts
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When you connect your computer to your router, you are creating a "local area network," sometimes called a subnet, which is an internal network for all of the Internet-connected devices in your home. Local area networks are subject to higher security problems if a computer on that network is used to attack another local computer because all of your computers are connected directly to each other through the router.
This is not a concern for the average home user, since all computers in the home are under his own control. The difference between cable and DSL modems is that your home local network connects directly to the Internet through DSL, while with cable modems, you may actually be part of a larger local network before you are connected upstream. In this situation, computers in your neighbor's houses may be able to directly connect to computers on your own network.
In practice, however, this is not a security concern, as all computers today run software which prevent attacks coming in from the Internet in general. Some of this software is built into Windows and Macintosh operating systems, with third-party applications providing additional security as needed. If your computer is properly protected for Internet browsing, you should have no security concerns between DSL and cable.
History
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The difference between DSL and cable networking stems from the network architecture used by the different technologies to bring the wires over the "last mile" into customers' homes. Phone networks need a one-to-one connection for each house, but cable can provide service to groups of houses; Internet provision reflects this.
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Significance
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"Last mile" considerations also affect the speed that can be offered over an Internet connection. It is cheaper for cable companies to bring more bandwidth to their customers, which allows them to offer higher speed connections; these speeds, however, are shared with other customers on the local cable network.
Identification
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There is very little difference, when using a computer, between a cable and DSL connection. You can identify which kind of network you are using by examining the router: an incoming phone line indicates a DSL connection, while an incoming coaxial cable indicates cable Internet.
Potential
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Several phone companies are now offering the next generation of home Internet connectivity through fiber optic cables, which are far more efficient than either DSL or cable. Fiber optic offers the highest possible bandwidth and will only improve over time.
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References
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