Are cheaper ISP's less safe?

[flarkit]

Hi

I hope this isn't an old topic, but does anyone know whether an expensive ISP such as MW*B charges more, but ensures that you stand less chance of being abused by hackers or web-based viruses, etc?

We're considering getting ADSL for the first time, but would like at least some degree of safety as well as decent prices and speeds. I'd like to support a good, inexpensive company, but would hate to suffer repeated intrusions and hassles because there are fewer security measures.

Thanks!

 

[Syndyre]

I doubt it, only I can think of is that some ISPs like Axxess allow you to block certain ports etc. They're not expensive though.

 

[arf9999]

Mweb offers some "value-added" services like anti-spam and anti-virus on your mailbox, access to certain subscription-only parts of sites (M&G, supersport etc.) but doesn't offer anything that justifies the (vastly) higher price.

I suggest that you go with one of the following:
1. TelkomInternet... much as I hate Telkom, the additional capacity that you get over the theoretical cap, makes their offering the best value for money.
2. Webafrica or Axxess both offer good servive and support and also provide pre-paid options which "roll-over" if you don't use all the available data in a month.

All of these will be cheaper than Mweb standard offerings, but I'm not sure if it will be better value than the bundled offers that mweb is offering now.

 

[The_Unbeliever]

Point 2 - Axxess offers you the ability to "lock" your adsl username/password to your adsl line. So, should anybody manage to snaffle your adsl username/password it will be of no value to them as they'll be unable to use it.

Telkom does not offer this service. It is becoming increasingly common for ne'er-do-wells to run sniffers and hack ADSL routers in order to obtain usernames/password for them to leech the bandwidth off.

I'd rather go for such a feature as you can use Google Mail (good spam and antivirus) for free.

 

[arf9999]

Point 2 - Axxess offers you the ability to "lock" your adsl username/password to your adsl line. So, should anybody manage to snaffle your adsl username/password it will be of no value to them as they'll be unable to use it.

Telkom does not offer this service. It is becoming increasingly common for ne'er-do-wells to run sniffers and hack ADSL routers in order to obtain usernames/password for them to leech the bandwidth off.

I'd rather go for such a feature as you can use Google Mail (good spam and antivirus) for free.

Webafrica offer the same function... If you're paranoid it can be useful.

 

[bwana]

Point 2 - Axxess offers you the ability to "lock" your adsl username/password to your adsl line. So, should anybody manage to snaffle your adsl username/password it will be of no value to them as they'll be unable to use it.

Telkom does not offer this service. It is becoming increasingly common for ne'er-do-wells to run sniffers and hack ADSL routers in order to obtain usernames/password for them to leech the bandwidth off.

I'd rather go for such a feature as you can use Google Mail (good spam and antivirus) for free.

Though I've never seen the point of using it Web Africa offers the same facility.

Per gb I'd agree with arf9999 - Telkom internet is the cheapest of the SAIX variants.

 

[vinesh]

check out the MWEB R299 ADSL special

 

[flarkit]

Thanks for the helpful feedback everyone.

The Axxess idea is quite interesting. But they also allow 4 concurrent connections, right? So does the "locking" apply to all 4 locations?

My friend (who's considering ADSL) would prefer to have the least maintenance and policing, so that sounds like a great option.

 

[m0zy]

The Axxess idea is quite interesting. But they also allow 4 concurrent connections, right? So does the "locking" apply to all 4 locations?

Hi flarkit

Yes you can lock each of the 4 locations. Plus also add a custom Dynamic DNS name for each location if you want. Axxess have a very good system.