Internet connection in the home

[hubblebubble]

The family computer in my house is connected to broadband and is based in the downstairs of the house. My bedroom has a dial-up phoneline but no broadband.

I want to get a broadband connection in my room and understand there are two main options:

- Wired connection to my room- so it will have an individual telephone line and number

- Router connection from the already existing connection on the family computer

My dad is concerned that by using a router, the chances of the downstairs computer getting a virus from the music and video etc that i download will be increased!

So:

How should i go about getting a connection?

How much would it cost approximately?

Any other advice!

Thanks.

[Ethel]

Router.

You can share the internet connection by wireless router without networking the computers.

So your computer will remain totally seperate to your father's.

By far the cheapest option. �30 upwards, no extra monthly fees.

[ACtheTROLL]

ethel - if connecting via the same router .... wired or wirelessly ..... that's a network - both machines are part of the same subnet segment and so do share network resources (even if not files).

hubble
run the wire - wireless is slow .... and if you are intending to dl music/video and viruses....Wireless error correction overlays ethernet so on sustained data transfers ... the lag can be huge.

both PCs should be running firewalls (and virus/adware scanners) as a matter of course.
the router's DHCP server will provide some degree of protection from casual hackers - and if you look in the router's setup there could well be a hardware firewall already at work.

as a final "defense" make sure
both machines are password protected,
neither machine has a user account that appears on the other
and that the machines have different workgroup names