On top of that, there is a certain amount of overhead associated with each connection. This is "handshaking", which means modem is asking internet computer if it got data and internet computer is responding "yes" or "no". There is also a certain amount of data to define what is being sent (an email or a web document or whatever) which eats into line speed.

Well, okay, let's assume you are actually getting 20K from your 28.8K modem. There's worse news to come. The internet has lots of things that actually have nothing to do with content. There are cookies (http://www.internet-tips.net/Security/cookies.htm), advertising banners, comments, web bugs (http://www.internet-tips.net/Security/webbugs.htm), and a host of other things inserted into your web experience. A typical advertising banner is 7.5K, which in our 20Kbps example requires several seconds to load to your machine.

What can you do? First, if you can get a DSL or Cable modem connection to internet. It will probably cost about same or only slightly more than your dialup connection and will improve your surfing experience by many times.

Second (or if you cannot get a higher speed connection) get an ad blocker (http://www.internet-tips.net/Security/adblocking.htm) installed on your system to remove those ads before they are downloaded to your machine. Why even bother downloading banners that you are never going to look at anyway?

I hope that helps clear things up a bit.

~If you don't have an anti-virus program, test drive one of many programs available on a 30-day trial. Purchase a program that offers an automatic scheduler feature and set system to update files once a week.

~The most popular anti-virus programs are McAfee and Norton, however there are many other programs available*. http://www.mcafee.com http://www.norton.com http://www.sophos.com http://www.grisoft.com http://www.antivirus.com http://www.alwil.com/en/default.asp http://www.escorcher.com/

~Costco, Sam's Club, Office Depot, Office Max, Staples, etc. carry one or both these programs and they all have online stores, too. Or try an online comparison store like mysimon.com, pricegraber.com, amazon.com

~Add "yearly update of my anti-virus program" to your business or personal budget.

~Put aside 30 minutes to read directions of your new anti-virus program so that you know everything it can do. If you're updating, "read me" text file usually contains what's been updated or added since last version.

~Know, that if you have email programs other than Microsoft, you can still end up with a virus. Anti-virus programs are designed to destroy files and cause fear. Viruses have been targeted at Adobe PDF, ICQ and other Microsoft files!

~Microsoft provides updates to programs on their website. Security updates may include fixes for a virus and are called critical files. Visit sites below once a month to update all critical files. MS Main Program Updates http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ MS Office Updates http://office.microsoft.com/productupdates/

~When you use them properly, anti-virus programs work! However remember that they are reactive not proactive. Whenever you hear about a new virus, update your data files immediately.