Consumer broadband is usually more expensive than dial-up, but it's still a real bargain. Not long ago, these download speeds would have cost hundreds of dollars per month. Today, however, it's so much of a bargain that smaller broadband suppliers are going bankrupt. Prices may well go up.
Security is neither difficult nor expensive.
For most consumers, Internet security is a matter of downloading and installing free software. A good choice is ZoneAlarm . It's always important to run anti-virus software and to keep it updated religiously. Practice safe computing practices such as never opening email attachments. PPoE can be made to work well.