Firewall selection

[Larwee]

A firewall is very helpful in protecting you from e-mail viruses and Trojans, as well as protecting you from outside threats.

As can be expected, each firewall wants to give the impression that they are the very best. Testing can often help determine which might be the best for you to consider using.

The question still remains if Vista will bring about the end of the need for third-party firewalls.

Testing was done on McAfee Internet Security, Microsoft Windows Firewall (many consider this firewall to be of little use), Norton Personal Firewall, Trend Micro PC-cillin Internet Security and ZoneAlarm Security Suite.

This link is to an article with the details and results of the firewalls testing Safety First: Five Firewalls For Your Desktop PC - Technology News by TechWeb

[sellingonline]

I use Kerio in advanced mode (so everything has to get approved first before sending/receiving) and I'm doing fine, won't trust the windows firewall, even if it makes others "unnecessary", maybe because I generally have not much trust in microsoft... Btw, used ZoneAlarm just for some days in the past and it was terrible, maybe they changed it to the better, but I can't recommdend it like they did in the article.

[its_me_shaners]

I have a router and it is a better option, than software, though I do have avg free on my puter as well

[Oregon Coast Guy]

I use my hardware router to protect what is coming in and Zone Alarm to protect what it going out. That one-two punch has worked well for me.

[sellingonline]

Originally Posted by its_me_shaners

I have a router and it is a better option, than software, though I do have avg free on my puter as well

a router alone is well, not that effective - just to speak of viruses for instance, acting like a browser-request outgoing...