I have two different internet providers. One is comcast and the other is a dial up service. Earlier today I got bounced off the internet but chalked it up to my graphics card going wonky since I was doing a lot of graphics switching between several programs very quickly.
I decided to reboot and take a short break. When I tried to get back online, I couldn't. I called Comcast and they tried to "ping" me after having me check some things on my Dell. The Comcast guy said it was a router problem. So I tried to connect using my dialup service. No go so I called them too with the almost exact conversation happening and being told about a router problem.
An hour or so later, both ISP's called me to say that the problem was fixed and that I should be able to get online. So when I did, I tried googling for routers, internet routers, etc. All I really got for my trouble was confused. I read articles about terrorists and how something needs to be done but no real answers or solutions. Can someone please explain this stuff to me? What I really wanted to know was how the routers work and who is responsible for them and where they physically are. How often does it happen that a router won't let people on the internet? How is Big Brother (or the Anti-Christ) involved in all of this? Do viruses and worms affect these routers in a way that affects me?
I know that I have posted this in the wrong place but I didn't know where else to post it since it isn't hardware or software or web developement or coding. But I really want to know.
Thanks,
the idiot poster