Article - The "polluted" Internet - (constant security attacks)
This article made a key point that if you're connected to a cable modem, don't key anything and simply watch the connection light and it'll flicker constantly, indicating a steady stream of worms and other malware are attempting to infect your system through unpatched vulnerabilities or unprotected ports.
Article - The "polluted" Internet - (constant security attacks)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/08/27/polluted_internet/