connecting 2 pcs together help

[Gabriel Knight]

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.

 

[Guest]

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.

 

[John Weiss]

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.

 

[jaster]

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.

 

[Matt]

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.

 

[meow2222]

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

 

[The Seabat]

jaster is right, get a router. Like this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833156001
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.

 

[Matt]

jaster is right, get a router. Like this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833156001
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]

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




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?

 

[The Seabat]

<quote>You are safer if your internet PC runs Linux, since it is very

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.

 

[Matt]

<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?

Your logic skills are not the best.

Not /just/ a plug for Linux.

Not recommending a switch to Linux /just/ to register his game.

You /just/ have to use your head a little.