Hi I dont know if this question is ok here but what is the best way to
connect 2 pcs together, is it with a single ethernet cable ("crossover
cable"??) pluged into an ethernet port on both pcs or to use a hub?

I ask this because I have two pcs one for the internet and the other is a
gaming pc and I want to play the game Portal on the gaming pc but the game
requires online registration, and I have no virus protection on the gaming
pc and need them connected to scan for viruses on both of the pcs.

Thanks
GK.

"Gabriel Knight" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:49283f73$0$28216$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi I dont know if this question is ok here but what is the best way to
> connect 2 pcs together, is it with a single ethernet cable ("crossover
> cable"??) pluged into an ethernet port on both pcs or to use a hub?
>
> I ask this because I have two pcs one for the internet and the other is a
> gaming pc and I want to play the game Portal on the gaming pc but the game
> requires online registration, and I have no virus protection on the gaming
> pc and need them connected to scan for viruses on both of the pcs.
>
> Thanks
> GK.

I assume you're running Windows? If so, the short answer is, buy a 4-port
router and use its firewall/SPI filtering. Windows, especially XP and Vista
are absolute security disasters.

For a specific wired router recommendation (wireless is another security
nightmare in most urban areas) check out D-Link's DGL4100. It can run
gigabit speed (1000 Mbit/sec) on your LAN while giving you firewall,
SPI filtering, NAT etc security on your 10 or 100 Mbit WAN.

"Gabriel Knight" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote...
> Hi I dont know if this question is ok here but what is the best way to connect
> 2 pcs together, is it with a single ethernet cable ("crossover cable"??)
> pluged into an ethernet port on both pcs or to use a hub?
>
> I ask this because I have two pcs one for the internet and the other is a
> gaming pc and I want to play the game Portal on the gaming pc but the game
> requires online registration, and I have no virus protection on the gaming pc
> and need them connected to scan for viruses on both of the pcs.

The best way, if either is used for the Internet, is to use a router. The
router will give significant firewall-type protection, and the included switched
hub will allow you to network the 2 computers together.

Some virus scanners will not scan networked drives, so make sure you have one
that will do so.

On Sun, 23 Nov 2008 04:20:52 +1100, Gabriel Knight thoughfully wrote:

> Hi I dont know if this question is ok here but what is the best way to
> connect 2 pcs together, is it with a single ethernet cable ("crossover
> cable"??) pluged into an ethernet port on both pcs or to use a hub?
>
> I ask this because I have two pcs one for the internet and the other is
> a gaming pc and I want to play the game Portal on the gaming pc but the
> game requires online registration, and I have no virus protection on the
> gaming pc and need them connected to scan for viruses on both of the
> pcs.
>
> Thanks
> GK.

The simple answer is yes.

Perhaps the right answer is as the others have suggested buy a router or
at minimum a switch. You may find a bargain router on eBay or Craig's
list or your local computer store if cost is an issue.

Another alternative is to connect the gaming machine to the internet to
do the online registration, after the registration completes, then go to
one of the online free anti-virus scans like,

http://ca.com/us/securityadvisor/virusinfo/scan.aspx
also has an anti-spyware scan.

TrendMicro also has free online scans
Symantec Norton had a free online scan

Then disconnect the gamer.

Gabriel Knight wrote:
> Hi I dont know if this question is ok here but what is the best way to
> connect 2 pcs together, is it with a single ethernet cable ("crossover
> cable"??) pluged into an ethernet port on both pcs or to use a hub?
>
> I ask this because I have two pcs one for the internet and the other is a
> gaming pc and I want to play the game Portal on the gaming pc but the game
> requires online registration, and I have no virus protection on the gaming
> pc and need them connected to scan for viruses on both of the pcs.
>
> Thanks
> GK.


A router will protect from active attacks, so in that way it is better
than a crossover cable, but I don't think it protects from attacks that
involve you visiting a malicious website. I could be wrong, but I think
you will need AV for your internet-surfing computer to help protect
against that (assuming you use Windows). You won't need AV on the
gaming box if you visit only one or a few trusted sites.

Unless of course the internet box gets infected and then attacks the
gaming box before the AV can do its work.

You are safer if your internet PC runs Linux, since it is very unlikely
to get infected in the first place.

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong.

Matt wrote:
> Gabriel Knight wrote:
> > Hi I dont know if this question is ok here but what is the best way to
> > connect 2 pcs together, is it with a single ethernet cable ("crossover
> > cable"??) pluged into an ethernet port on both pcs or to use a hub?
> >
> > I ask this because I have two pcs one for the internet and the other is a
> > gaming pc and I want to play the game Portal on the gaming pc but the game
> > requires online registration, and I have no virus protection on the gaming
> > pc and need them connected to scan for viruses on both of the pcs.
> >
> > Thanks
> > GK.
>
>
> A router will protect from active attacks, so in that way it is better
> than a crossover cable, but I don't think it protects from attacks that
> involve you visiting a malicious website. I could be wrong, but I think
> you will need AV for your internet-surfing computer to help protect
> against that (assuming you use Windows). You won't need AV on the
> gaming box if you visit only one or a few trusted sites.
>
> Unless of course the internet box gets infected and then attacks the
> gaming box before the AV can do its work.
>
> You are safer if your internet PC runs Linux, since it is very unlikely
> to get infected in the first place.
>
> Somebody correct me if I'm wrong.

If youre just connecting to the net once, the odds of getting a virus
are remote.
FW and AV companies try to convince people otherwise of course.


NT

On Sun, 23 Nov 2008 04:20:52 +1100, "Gabriel Knight"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>>Hi I dont know if this question is ok here but what is the best way to
>>connect 2 pcs together, is it with a single ethernet cable ("crossover
>>cable"??) pluged into an ethernet port on both pcs or to use a hub?
>>
>>I ask this because I have two pcs one for the internet and the other is a
>>gaming pc and I want to play the game Portal on the gaming pc but the game
>>requires online registration, and I have no virus protection on the gaming
>>pc and need them connected to scan for viruses on both of the pcs.
>>
>>Thanks
>>GK.
>>

jaster is right, get a router. Like this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833156001
Free shipping right now, too.

Eliminating Windows and all your aps and then installing Linux on your
main internet PC with all its learning curve and hassle seems a bit
extreme to me, just to be able to register a game to play!! That's
absurd!

Go with the router (under 20 bucks, US), and turn off file and printer
sharing. You can even block the two PCs from each other with their MAC
address. It's not hard. Google to find out how.

--
The seabat
Filtering GoogleGroups & Goobers with extreme prejudice!
Usenet Improvement Project: http://improve-usenet.org/

The Seabat wrote:
> On Sun, 23 Nov 2008 04:20:52 +1100, "Gabriel Knight"
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>>> Hi I dont know if this question is ok here but what is the best way to
>>> connect 2 pcs together, is it with a single ethernet cable ("crossover
>>> cable"??) pluged into an ethernet port on both pcs or to use a hub?
>>>
>>> I ask this because I have two pcs one for the internet and the other is a
>>> gaming pc and I want to play the game Portal on the gaming pc but the game
>>> requires online registration, and I have no virus protection on the gaming
>>> pc and need them connected to scan for viruses on both of the pcs.
>>>
>>> Thanks
>>> GK.
>>>
>
> jaster is right, get a router. Like this one:
> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833156001
> Free shipping right now, too.
>
> Eliminating Windows and all your aps and then installing Linux on your
> main internet PC with all its learning curve and hassle seems a bit
> extreme to me, just to be able to register a game to play!! That's
> absurd!


I missed the part where somebody said he should switch to Linux just to
register his game.


> Go with the router (under 20 bucks, US), and turn off file and printer
> sharing. You can even block the two PCs from each other with their MAC
> address. It's not hard. Google to find out how.


So how does getting a router protect from the kind of attack I
mentioned, wherein the internet PC gets infected by visiting a malicious
website, then the gaming box without AV protection is infected from the
internet PC? Or is the scenario unrealistic?

Matt wrote:
> The Seabat wrote:
>> On Sun, 23 Nov 2008 04:20:52 +1100, "Gabriel Knight"
>> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>
>>>> Hi I dont know if this question is ok here but what is the best way
>>>> to connect 2 pcs together, is it with a single ethernet cable
>>>> ("crossover cable"??) pluged into an ethernet port on both pcs or to
>>>> use a hub?
>>>>
>>>> I ask this because I have two pcs one for the internet and the other
>>>> is a gaming pc and I want to play the game Portal on the gaming pc
>>>> but the game requires online registration, and I have no virus
>>>> protection on the gaming pc and need them connected to scan for
>>>> viruses on both of the pcs.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks
>>>> GK.
>>
>> jaster is right, get a router. Like this one:
>> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833156001
>> Free shipping right now, too.
>>
>> Eliminating Windows and all your aps and then installing Linux on your
>> main internet PC with all its learning curve and hassle seems a bit
>> extreme to me, just to be able to register a game to play!! That's
>> absurd!
>
>
> I missed the part where somebody said he should switch to Linux just to
> register his game.
>
>
>> Go with the router (under 20 bucks, US), and turn off file and printer
>> sharing. You can even block the two PCs from each other with their MAC
>> address. It's not hard. Google to find out how.
>
>
> So how does getting a router protect from the kind of attack I
> mentioned, wherein the internet PC gets infected by visiting a malicious
> website, then the gaming box without AV protection is infected from the
> internet PC? Or is the scenario unrealistic?


Whoops, I didn't notice what you wrote about blocking the PCs from each
other. I guess he might as well just plug in the gaming box for as long
as it takes to register, then unplug and stay unplugged?

On Sun, 23 Nov 2008 11:43:47 -0600, Matt
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>>The Seabat wrote:
>>> On Sun, 23 Nov 2008 04:20:52 +1100, "Gabriel Knight"
>>> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>>
>>>>> Hi I dont know if this question is ok here but what is the best way to
>>>>> connect 2 pcs together, is it with a single ethernet cable ("crossover
>>>>> cable"??) pluged into an ethernet port on both pcs or to use a hub?
>>>>>
>>>>> I ask this because I have two pcs one for the internet and the other is a
>>>>> gaming pc and I want to play the game Portal on the gaming pc but the game
>>>>> requires online registration, and I have no virus protection on the gaming
>>>>> pc and need them connected to scan for viruses on both of the pcs.
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks
>>>>> GK.
>>>>>
>>>
>>> jaster is right, get a router. Like this one:
>>> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833156001
>>> Free shipping right now, too.
>>>
>>> Eliminating Windows and all your aps and then installing Linux on your
>>> main internet PC with all its learning curve and hassle seems a bit
>>> extreme to me, just to be able to register a game to play!! That's
>>> absurd!
>>
>>
>>I missed the part where somebody said he should switch to Linux just to
>>register his game.

<quote>You are safer if your internet PC runs Linux, since it is very
unlikely to get infected in the first place.<\quoe> Did I misinterpret
that? If so, then I apologized. Or was it just a plug for Linux?
>>
>>
>>> Go with the router (under 20 bucks, US), and turn off file and printer
>>> sharing. You can even block the two PCs from each other with their MAC
>>> address. It's not hard. Google to find out how.
>>
>>
>>So how does getting a router protect from the kind of attack I
>>mentioned, wherein the internet PC gets infected by visiting a malicious
>>website, then the gaming box without AV protection is infected from the
>>internet PC? Or is the scenario unrealistic?

If the gaming box and the internet PC are behind a router and file
sharing is turned off, how is the gaming PC going to get infected from
the internet PC? Assuming the gaming box is clean to start with.
--
The seabat
Filtering GoogleGroups & Goobers with extreme prejudice!
Usenet Improvement Project: http://improve-usenet.org/