Unfortunately, you are pretty much at the same risk whether using dial-up or
broadband. Hackers aren't too concerned about the connection speed of a
machine they take over. A typical machine on dial up will be probed within a
few minutes of logging on, especially if you use a popular ISP.

I would strongly recommend a good firewall and installing all Windows
updates.
--
Jeff Richards
MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)
"ms" wrote in message ...
Home user. Since original install, I only installed 5-6 MS patches, never
used OE, seldom used IE 5 (default in W98SE). I always used Netscape with
normally Javascript, images and cookies disabled. I uninstalled OE and
never installed Word or Office. I do a cold boot each day. Since MS
changed policy, there have been no patches for the W98SE/IE 5.01/5.5
combination.

DUN, online for about 8 years, don't (AFAIK) go to "risky" websites. I use
antivirus, adware scanners, they never show much. I use a munged address.
*And* I don't use a firewall.

I keep reading about hackers using a home computer as a spam server. If
someone did that with mine, seems my hard drive activity light would come
on, it doesn't.

Question: Haven't had online problems so far. Not using a firewall, am I
at serious risk?

TIA