| DSL vs. Cable Modem Comparison - Q&A |
Q2: "Some people claim that their cable modem performance drops between the hours of 5 PM and 11 PM. Why?"
A: A now-famous 1999 cable/DSL study by Keynote Systems designated the 5 PM to 11 PM timeframe as "Peak Personal Hours" ... (see below)
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Generally speaking, data from the study backed up this claim.
The Keynote study is frequently quoted on the Web, but it is just one data point in the cable vs. DSL performance debate. Overall, performance of broadband depends on many factors besides time of day, including the quality of the service provider and the destination(s) a person visits.
Q3: "Do any cable Internet providers provide a firewall to protect their customers?"
A: Yes. Cable companies all generally include firewall support nowadays, so that it is no longer possible to simply open "Network Neighborhood" and see all of the computers of people on your street.
Whether using cable or DSL, a person should never rely on someone else's firewall, though. At the very least, a home user should consider installing one of the several personal firewall products available, such as ZoneAlarm or BlackICE.
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