Public IP address determination

In article , "Joe Johnston"
wrote:
Yes, ipconfig (or winipcfg) will report her public IP address.
However, that address is dynamic, so it could change at any time.
There are many "dynamic DNS" services that can give her address an
unchanging domain name.

In my experience, cable companies provide dynamic IP addresses. I've
never seen a static IP address from a cable company. Companies that
provide static IP addresses usually charge extra for them.

Since your mom's computer is connected directly to the Internet and
has a public IP address, it needs a good software firewall to protect
it from hackers. Firewalls that work on Win98 are hard to find. Does
her computer have one?

I recommend always connecting a Win98 computer to a cable modem
through a home broadband router, which acts as an incoming firewall.

Thanks for your reply, Steve.

In examining the list of programs which start whenever Windows starts,
I didn't see any that looked like firewalls.

Assuming I need to access Mom's computer once a week for system
maintenance, plus twice more per week to send her financially sensitive
data, do you think it might be a good idea to buy a pair of identical
routers that have VPN capability ?

Joe

You're welcome, Joe. I'm sorry, but I'm not familiar with routers
that have VPN capability, and I don't know if that's a good solution.

An ordinary router between your mother's cable modem and her computer
will provide protection from hackers. You'll probably have to open
port(s) in the router to allow remote access from your computer. I
assume that the remote access software requires you to enter a
password to make the connection.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional - Windows Networking
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

Steve Winograd's Networking FAQ
http://www.bcmaven.com/networking/faq.htm

"Steve Winograd [MVP]" wrote in message


......You'll probably have to open port(s) in the router to allow remote
access from your computer. I assume that the remote access software
requires you to enter a password to make the connection.
--


Correct in both cases. The remote access software also allows Mom's
computer to refuse connections from any IP except mine.

Thanks again.

Joe

"Steve Winograd [MVP]" wrote in message


......You'll probably have to open port(s) in the router to allow remote
access from your computer. I assume that the remote access software
requires you to enter a password to make the connection.
--


Correct in both cases. The remote access software also allows Mom's
computer to refuse connections from any IP except mine.

Thanks again.

Joe

In article , "Joe Johnston"
wrote:


......You'll probably have to open port(s) in the router to allow remote
access from your computer. I assume that the remote access software
requires you to enter a password to make the connection.
--


Correct in both cases. The remote access software also allows Mom's
computer to refuse connections from any IP except mine.

Thanks again.

Joe

You're welcome, Joe.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional - Windows Networking
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

Steve Winograd's Networking FAQ
http://www.bcmaven.com/networking/faq.htm

In article , "Joe Johnston"
wrote:


......You'll probably have to open port(s) in the router to allow remote
access from your computer. I assume that the remote access software
requires you to enter a password to make the connection.
--


Correct in both cases. The remote access software also allows Mom's
computer to refuse connections from any IP except mine.

Thanks again.

Joe

You're welcome, Joe.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional - Windows Networking
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

Steve Winograd's Networking FAQ
http://www.bcmaven.com/networking/faq.htm