Not entirely Quake 2 related.

[Moving Shadow]

I just set up my RCN cable a little while back.  This installation has led me to two questions:

How fast should thier mach 5 modem go?  I get about 300k per sec but I thought their 5 is 500k.

AND

As soon as I hooked up the internet I was bombarded with virii and spyware....Doesn't RCN protect their lines?  The nerve of the guy who installed it, saying that I really should protect my computer..

anyway

[Hydro-cru]

Download speeds of up to 5.0 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 800 Kbps

From their web page.

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/rcn  you can go there as well and ask.
where are you testing your speeds from?  Local?  Also what is your modem?

[Slikkster]

Moving, I agree with the cable installer, although he might have been a little more compassionate about it, lol.   The cable is just a conduit, a pipe, if you will.  RCN isn't going to filter out stuff.  I don't know what you mean about getting viiri right away, or spyware.  Are you talking about via the web browser?  Via Email?  

It is an individual's responsibility for virus and spyware protection.  I don't want ISP's deciding what I should or shouldn't get.  Now, many have installed virus scanners on their web-based email services, but otherwise, you have to do it yourself.  There's a lot of tools already available (and free) to do so.

What RCN could do is make this information available, and maybe even offer a disc with Spybot/Adaware and/or Grisoft/Avast (free antivirus) to install pre-cable hook up.  But they're really just there to make the connection.  

It would be like holding your phone company responsible for telemarketing calls.  They're only there to make sure the phone works, not what the phone is used for.   In other areas, it's known as the "common carrier" concept.

[Hydro-cru]

Some do filter all email, I know roadrunner does, I'll get an email from them when they have picked up a infected email, I never see it.  I think Earhlink has this option as well, but not all cable co's do this.  But if they do or not slik is right, its your job to protect yourself.  Read up on this, at the very least, if you have win xp, the windows firewall should be on before you even plug in your puter, lots of stuff lurking out there looking for open ports.

[Moving Shadow]

I have a toshiba pcx2600.  I'm thinking my roomate did not order the upgrade.

Thanks for your replies.  I have upgraded my puter with the latest virus and spyware programs.  Thank you for sysgate firewall!

MS