On Sat, 18 Dec 2004 23:45:22 -0500 (EST), Sean Donelan <sean@donelan.com> wrote:
Essentially all the major DSL and Cable broadband providers in the USA sell/lease broadband gateways with built-in DSL or Cable modems and firewalls. Looking at the ordering web-sites for several major broadband providers, it appears the most common preferred equipment package is a WiFi home gateway with built-in dsl or cable modem and firewall. Its as simple as calling your favorite broadband provider, placing an order and giving them your credit card number to pay for the equipment.
Well Sean - that's right. However that doesnt seem to be universal. Quoting Jeff Kell -
Both regional cable providers in our area provide only cheap cable modems, and at least the ILEC CO's DSL is also basic modem-like capability, although the ILEC offers a wireless option with a DSL AP (that I haven't examined to see if it's a router or bridge).
I'm not suggesting that Carterphone be overturned. I was wondering how many people were providing reasonably secure gateways as CPE instead of el cheapo modem only CPE as a default. Defaults, especially in this sort of situation, tend to remain that way .. Joe Average with a DSL line and a winxp box to hook up to it just isnt going to bother. But give him a reasonably sane default package like this and he's a bit more protected against stuff that tries to take over his PC, and the internet has to deal with one trojaned PC less. Drops in the bucket and all that ... regards --srs -- Suresh Ramasubramanian (ops.lists@gmail.com)