"Always On" Network Connections
As availability increases and prices drop, more and more homes are being wired for ADSL and cable modems
Always on network connections make your home computer/network always exposed
Notes:
The cost of a conventional ISP account for unlimited dial-up access at speeds up to 56 kbps has been about $20/month in the U.S. for some time (this charge does not include any telephone charges). Always-on/always-connected ISP services using ADSL and cable modem access have been available since about 1999 and cost about $40-50/month including access. These latter services do not tie up a telephone line and, therefore, often pay for themselves. So in addition to getting hundreds of kbps in speed, users may be actually saving a few pennies.
But always-on has a hidden cost -- the user is now always exposed! Users who didn't pay no never mind to security when they had a modem didn't necessarily start thinking about in the 24/7 environment either.