Hello--complete newbie to Ubuntu Linux (and this forum), so I hope you can endure my ignorance.

I'm running Ubuntu 10.04 (installed from LiveCD a few days ago), and am connecting to the internet using an external USB dialup modem.
Connecting using the terminal command: sudo wvdial
...seems to work fine, but I have a few questions:
1 Am I running a security risk using the sudo command? Doesn't the sudo command connect me as the root, leaving me exposed to malware? If so, is there a more secure, less-risky way to connect with wvdial?
2 How can I determine the connection speed during a wvdial session? When I was using WinXP, I'd get various ISP connection speeds, some very slow (under 30k), so I'd disconnect and try again hoping for a speed near 50k. This might take two or three tries. But I haven't found a way to see connection speed using wvdial.
3 Would using gnome-ppp give any advantage over terminal command line? I know it's a graphical front-end, but does it have any other advantages, like security? And if I download gnome-ppp (I don't think it's on the 10.04 LiveCD, as the wvdial .deb packages were), I'd like to be sure I have a safe connection--one reason I ask the sudo/root question above.
I'm willing to try other connection methods, if there's a better+more secure way to connect.
Appreciate the help--very impressed with the level of knowledge on this site--thanks!