[Ham-Computers] Why is DSL/Wideband more "hackable"?

[Philip Atchley]

Hi,

Just a quick question here, perhaps the answer is obvious, but not to me.

Why are the wideband services "easier" to penetrate than a simple 
dial-up?  The reason I ask is,  using the dial-up my virus scanner 
(AVAST) was was blocking constant "Port 135 DCOM Exploit attacks" until 
I "plugged the hole" (I was running the XP firewall).  Also Zone Alarm 
indicates pretty much of a steady stream of "probes", which of course it 
blocks.  All this over a Dial-up.

Now, the 20th I'm installing DSL.  I've been told I should definitely 
have a hardware router, which I don't have (I thought my 5 port hub was 
one, but it isn't). 

Questions:
1.  WHY would my system be more vulnerable with DSL than it already 
was/is with dial-up?
2.  Is it simply because the higher speed allows more attacks or probes 
to my machine in a certain period of time, or is it more to do with the 
"always on" feature of the wideband that allows more "time" for exposure?
3.  Or is it just a natural weakness of the Wideband system itself?

Inquiring minds want to know 8^)

73 de Phil  KO6BB