One of the most common questions for people new to DSL is, do I need a DSL ISP, or internet service provider? The answer is, by getting a DSL account you do have a DSL ISP. Let's see how that works.
The IP
On your end, the visible evidence of your DSL account (besides the blinking modem, of course) is the internet protocol, or IP, address assigned to your computer. When you log on to the web this is a series of numbers that identifies your computer to the network.
To computers, it's a binary code that spells out where your computer is located geographically and who your DSL ISP is. It also lets other machines on the network communicate with your computer using what's called the internet protocol standard - think of it as if each computer knows what language the other machines is using.
That's great, from the computer's viewpoint, and lets your DSL ISP keep its network of customers running smoothly. But if you're concerned about maintaining privacy online, particularly if you enjoy posting on messageboards, you might want to consider using an anonymizer.
This is why: Some websites offer a free service called domain name lookups (DNL, in acronym-speak) that let users enter in an IP address and report back who it's registered to. If the IP maps back to a website you created, for example, the user can see whatever contact information you listed when you registered the domain name.
Also, you sacrifice some anonymity by logging comments from the same IP over and over even if you use different screennames. An anonymizer program lets you log in from your DSL ISP, than masks your IP by replacing it with a different one. It's as if you logged in from the anonymizer site. You can find several free program trials online to see how it works.
The ISP
The DSL ISP is responsible for maintaining your connection to the internet, just like a dial-up provider would be. They provide a customizable gateway, or home page, that usually offers fast access to news feeds, email, and new multimedia content that's keyed to your IP address.
A DSL ISP provides either a static IP or a dynamic IP, which changes every time you log on. Most short-term connections, such as a wireless connection through an internet caf, use dynamic IPs.
A private network, like an internal office network, might also use dynamic IPs since a limited number of people will be accessing the network at the same time.
So now you know what your DSL ISP does as well as how to make yourself safer online. Have fun!
