The number of homes with high-speed Internet connections is rapidly increasing. Since the connection is always on, you can access the World Wide Web, make purchases, access your bank account, and even pay your bills online at any time without tying up a phone line.

But with the convenience of broadband access also comes the risk of Internet intruders. There are a growing number of threats to your network's safety and security, such as viruses, spam e-mail, and hackers. Identity theft is also a very serious and growing issue, as someone could access your confidential and personal information. Consider several scenarios of an unprotected wired or wireless network:

• Someone near your house or even a neighbor could be "tapping in" on the high-speed Internet access that you paid for.
• Someone could steal your credit card information, user name, and passwords while you are shopping or browsing online.
• Someone could gain control of your computer or install viruses that could infect your entire network and spread to the people that you email to.