Network Interface Cards (NIC)

Today's Network Interface Cards (NIC) come in several different styles and speeds. The following speeds are available: 10Mb, 100Mb, and 1000Mb (gigabit). The most common is the 10/100Mb combo card that allows for both 10Mb and 100Mb speeds. They can be wireless, or wired. Laptops typically have either an onboard NIC or a PCMCIA NIC. Many motherboard manufacturers are including an onboard NIC these days. Some models plug into an available PCI or ISA slot inside of your computer, some plug into a USB jack externally. The best thing to do is to evaluate what you will be connecting to, and what you existing hardware will support. If you have an old Switch or Hub, it may only support a 10Mb connection. In this case, you should purchase a 10/100 card that would allow you to upgrade to a faster Switch or Hub at a later date, and you would not have to replace this NIC adapter. Take a look at our How-To Guide on setting up a network.

Wireless Network Cards
One thing to note is that Wireless technologies are never going to be 100% safe. The signals travel through the air and there will always be a way for someone to capture those signals and break the security that is applied to it, and be able to decipher your data. On the other hand, if your system ever goes onto the internet or a network with other users on it, your data can be stolen there too. There is no way to guarantee your privacy no matter what security measures you apply. The main thing is to try to stay as up to date as you can, and try to stay one step ahead of the Hackers.

Wired Network Cards
If you have a laptop, you will require a pcmcia network adapter if you have a PCMCIA slot available. For a newer desktop, you will probably need a 10/100 Ethernet Adapter that will plug into a PCI slot. An older computer will probably require a 10/100 Ehternet Adapter that will plug into an ISA slot. Be sure to check your system to verify that you have an empty slot available. ISA slots are brown in color, and PCI slots are white in color. If you do not have any slots available, then you can go for a card that will plug into a USB jack.