Help changing internet password

Not up on Optus, but from their site they seem to be a cable service.  If so, you do not need an internet password, although your email does need to authenticate with the pop and smtp servers...

And, if you are cable or dsl, then the chances of getting a new IP address just by powering off the modem are slim.  These addresses are 'leased' and usually stay with the owner..  That is, unless the DHCP Server at the NOC needs it, and you have released it..  In other words, if there are more subscribers on the network than IP addresses to hand out, then as soon as one is released, it is given to another which has sent a DHCP Request.  For instance, my connection is cable, and I get a dynamic IP address from my provider's DHCP server...  You would expect this address to change over time, but I have had the same IP address for over 2 years...  

One reason a connection can run slow is the amount of users sharing the same line..  This is how broadband cable works.  Another reason could be your own system.  Have you run your spyware software?  Cleaned out your Temp IE cache?  Check for any Trojans that could be eating up your bandwidth?  Done the regulare system maintenance?

All things to consider..

FE

BTW:  I doubt seriously whether anyone has 'hacked' your account..  That would be at the bottom of the list of any concerns I would have..  Just thought I would mention it..

FE

Thanx once again for your most appreciated help Fatal. I already knew most of that and spware scans have already been done. I think the spyware scan done the trick. My internet speed seems to be back to normal and i didnt release that my ip dosnt always change when my modem is powered off for a long period of time. One more thing though. If someone was stealing my internet account, would changing my ip loose the attacker from targeting my internet?

Thanx,
Tristan

Well, here is the thing.  By stealing your account in the way you describe, the thief would have to have your IP address mapped to their modem's MAC address, and specifically to your internal device (your computer or router) that holds the IP address.  The protocols that provide for this only allow one device (in the world) to hold that IP address, therefore my earlier statement regarding my doubts that this could be the issue.  Years and years ago (*grin*) before I really got into this work (networking), I would have thought the same as you are in this situation, but this is virtually impossible.

So that would leave me to believe other things are taking place here.  When bandwidth starts getting eaten up for no apparent reason, the most common cause is one of the things we discusses above (spyware/trojans/virii) but it could be that you are experiencing a DOS or DDOS attack from outside your LAN.  This is also doubtful, as any attacker would probably not see any benefit to targeting you specifically, but it is a more likely scenario than the one you are mentioning here.

Now, here is a scenario I would buy into in your case.  Say, if you were running a Wifi network, and a hacker tapped into your Wifi and used it to connect to the internet.  In this case, the traffic on your LAN (your modem) would definitely see in increase, and your security severely threatened.  They would virtually steal a Private IP address from your Access Point and the effects would be as you are describing.

Hope this eases your worry.  If you really want to see what is going on in your LAN, you could get a packet sniffer such as Ethereal, which captures packets and allows you to view them in real time.  Most good network admins have this installed on their laptops so they can investigate their networks.  It is a free, open source application, so you may want to ck it out.  (It can be a little tough understanding the results, so you will have to do some reading first, but not too much..  :)

FE

Thanks, hope you got it resolved..

FE