Should I turn my modem off when I'm not using my computer?

Turning your modem off at night won't cause any problems, though it can be a hassle, especially when you forget to turn it back on and wonder why the internet's not working. (I've done that a few times.)

Now, as long as you are connected to the internet and your computer is on, there is a risk of you being hacked. Thus, some would advise you to turn it off at night, along with your computer. However, this is not necessary, just an extra precaution, as a good firewall, especially one that's hardware-based, should protect you.

Another factor is if you turn your computer off at night. If you do, and it's clean of malware, you can leave the modem on without worry. However, there are some types of malware that can set your computer to automatically turn on at, say, 3:17AM local time, communicate with the sender, and turn off before you wake up. Nice of them not to wake you, isn't it? Therefore, if you're completely clean of malware and have a good security suite, you should be fine, but you can take the extra security precaution if you want.

Hope this helps,
John


P.S. This can also happen on dial-up, athough it would require you to either have stored the password or the program to have the ability to record your keystrokes and do it for you, which is a little trickier.

dont worry about it. do you have a basic firewall? that would help. other than that dont worry about it

No, a thousand times "no." There is absolutely no need for your to turn off (i.e. unplug) your DSL modem during the night. If you turn off your computer, nothing is going to get to you through the Internet. And unless you have gone into the BIOS and turned on the ability for peripherals to turn on your computer, no malware could conceivably turn on your computer, install itself, and turn off the computer while you sleep -- a great urban legend if there ever was one.

You would, however, be extremely prudent to connect your DSL modem to your computer through a router with a built-in firewall. I'd strongly recommend a Netgear router -- avoid Linksys like the plague (its tech support is about as incompetent as it gets). If you don't have any other computers on a network, just get an inexpensive Netgear router (often on sale for $29.95). It firewall will protect you.

Also, using Trend Micro's PC-Cillin Internet Security will give you an excellent two-way software firewall and virus protection, far superior to McAfee or Norton AntiVirus. IT also enables you to halt Internet traffic with one click of your mouse -- an easy safeguard when installing new software which requires you to disable your antivirus and other applications. And updates are easy compared to all the bugginess in Norton Antivirus.

There are a number of reasons why not to turn off the ISP-modem but, if the computer is off, hackers can not get at it through an on-modem. And, if you have good antivirus/antispyware software they should prevent anything from getting in when the computer boots.

But...computers can be configured to turn on when tickled by the network so make sure this option is not enabled in the main or network BIOS. Otherwise, the machine could be turned on, cracked, then turned off.

Good idea is to put a router such as provided by Netgear between the modem and the computer for a couple of reasons. First, there are built-in firewalls in the router that can help. Secondly, you can configure the router to do the automatic connection with the ISP provider BUT specify fixed IP address(es) for your computer(s). Then choose the string 10.x.x.x or (if I recall correctly) 192.x.x.x as your internal domain string, the last "x" being 1, 2, 3, ... for each device on your internal lan. The outside world can not resolve these (private) domains so it is, I believe, impossible for anyone in the outside world to see anything on your LAN string. In this case, you can leave all hardware on 24/7/365 if you choose. I have used 10.x.x.x for years with 24/7 computer operation and never had a problem and never had anything but a "no possible connection" when security is tested by an outside source.

But...I agree, booting Windows regularly helps keep the squirrels at bay. So...

1. Keep auto-turn-on option off;
2. Install a router;
3. Set up a private internal LAN;
4. Boot Windows regularly...once a day is good.

Cheers...

I do not trust the best firewall, nor do I think my computer is always free of a program to "dial out".
I just unplug my "jack" connection to the computer. It just takes a second, and a new connector cord (if needed)is cheaper than a switch.

There is no need to turn the modem off. I keep the modem and router(either hardwired or wireless/combo) in a central house location on a seperate surge protector. They stay on all the time and only recycled if the ISP connection is dropped.

Computers are usually turned off when not being used. I'm NOT worried about wearing out the switch's!

However I'm really surprised NO ONE else has mentioned Hibernating your system when not in use. Most modern desktops as well as laptops have the ability to hibernate (I set the default for my power switch for both). With hibernation you can power down the system, yet retain a copy of memory including all open programs, webpages, the operating system etc, that LOAD MUCH FASTER than a reboot.

As others have mentioned, it IS a good idea to periodically do a normal shutdown and reboot of the OS to get rid of accumulated garbage that only a reboot will do. I reboot at least once a week.

Putting modem on standby is a good option. Turning computer or modem off is safe

Here is the deal. All past suggestion given before are good. Just pick the one you feel more comfortable with. But from my experience, this is what I do. I leave my computer on all day and turn if off at night. This is because for the next 8 to 10 hours nobody will use the computer. I might save a few cents on electricity but also I might save my computer especially the hard drive from damage. You never know what my happen at the middle of the night.

During the day all my computer are running and protected from my modern/router with firewall. I also have Zone Alarm as additional firewall. If I have to go out for more than an hour, I tell Zone Alarm to stop all internet activity and to engage Internet lock. Nothing will come or go. If you practice safe computing (Update anti-virus, firewall, anti-spam and not opening attachment, carefull what you download or install) you will have no problem from your computer calling a hacker so he can take over your computer.

Your can test your computer to see if it is invisible to any hacker by going to Steve Gibson site (http://grc.com/zonealarm.htm) and test you connection. This way you can close any port that might be open and block the ability of any hacker take over your computer.

BTW, one of my computer, which I build in 1995, I turn it on and off and the switch has not broken yet. It runs on a 500 Mhz K-6 AMD chip. But I do save some dollars by turning off all 4 computers at night.

Have been wondering what happens when I have to redo my computer. Sometimes I run for a long time without a firewall while setting up programs. (I have DSL) I know that I can turn off my modem, I always seem to forget that, also lots of programs want to have internet access while installing.
Once your firewall is set up I think you are OK. The second program I set up is Norton and let the Pete do its thing. After that I am reasonably sure no virus is left. Now, whether I leave my modem on or shut it off never seems to make any difference.
If anyone can give a more technical explanation, please do.

TX
Case