There is no harm in it I guess, but it is unnecessary I don't like unplugging things like that only in a thunderstorm do I unplug anything.

If it makes you feel better you could pull the phone line out..

if you have the proper security programs installed, updated and running on your pc including a good firewall then you are protected the same when you are online using it just as when you are not. Unplugging in bad weather is always a good idea.
I don't know of any harm in unplugging other than having to wait for it to re-establish connections.
For even more protection since you are now always on you can get a router that has a built in hardware firewall which will give you much more added protection (in addition to your software firewall). When I was on DSL I did get one just for that reason.

Thanks to both of you for your comments !

I do have Avast, Spyware Blaster and Kerio Personal Firewall as my main "live" protection, so I guess I won't worry too much. But I will look into getting a router. Thanks again !

If your computer is turned off when you are gone, there is no chance of anything getting into your computer.

Smitty

Hi, Smitty

Well, I do put it in hibernation, but I have tried to avoid frequently shutting it down entirely for two reasons:

1) the wear and tear that I've heard it causes to the computer, and

2) I occasionally get a "disk boot error" when doing a 'cold start.' It requests a disc to be put in, but, since I don't have a disc I just have to shut it off at the surge protector, wait a few seconds, turn it back on and try starting up again (which usually works). I imagine this is also creating some wear and tear !

And if I try to keep it only in 'stand by' mode while I'm gone, I occasionally get a "kernel index page error" (or something like that) which forces me to go through the same process. IOW, my computer (HP Pavilion desktop) just seems to be more cooperative when 'hibernating.' :-)

That's why, to help avoid any vulnerability, I thought of 'shutting down' from the DSL side of things by unplugging. (I could also see a shrink about my paranoia.) ;-)

Thanks again !

Scott

You can leave the DSL gateway on most of the time. it is a good idea to shut down and unplug during thunderstorms and when construction work will distrub the power lines.

If you want to power down the DSL gateway during no-demand periods, you can get transient protected power strips that will also protect a phone line. Merely turn off the switch on the strip and save a lot unplug and plug-in wear on the conectors - its more convenient, too.

Two important numbers for transient protection is the dissipation energy (joules) and response speed. The greater the amount of dissipation the better; The shorter the response time, the better. I've seen ratings as low as 800 Joules on low cost strips, but 1500 Joules and greater is recommended and the better rated strip costs only a few dollars more.

Thanks for the information, jemdandy ! I'll look into it.

Btw, I've only had DSL for less than a week now and already noticed a strange behavior from the computer. If I get up in the middle of the night or early in the morning, the computer's on -- sometimes just plain 'on' and sometimes in stand-by mode, but in either case the monitor's off. One night I tried just unplugging the phone line, but the same thing happened. Then I tried also turning off the modem, but the computer still popped out of hibernation sometime during the night. And one morning I only noticed the computer on when I got up at 7 a.m., so it had likely been on for hours without going off again.

I know some programs (like AV) can be set up to do automatic updating and/or scanning during the night, but, since I was on dial-up, I had all setting (AV, Windows Updates, etc.) set to do manually. I don't know why this is happening. I'd hate to have to resort to unplugging the modem itself from the power strip every night just to prevent this (not that I really have to).

So, just wondering... is this behavior because of some automatic scheduling -- perhaps as part of the Verizon service itself (though I'm not using their AV, anti-malware software) ?

Thanks !

Scott