I don't have SBC DSL, but my sister-in-law does and she loves it. We've had Comcast broadband for around 4 years now, and we'd be lost without it.

What Jim said about a firewall is true. I've used ZoneAlarm since we've had it, and can't say I've ever had a problem. I have a tendency to leave mine on, but when I'm not using it I just use the "internet lock".

There have of course, been times when I forgot I had the lock on. Generally it takes me 5 minutes of going, "Why the heck(Okay, not heck.) isn't this thing connecting??" before I remember. Then I sit and feel like a twit for a minute or so while my wife smirks at me, and get on with my life.