Firewalls and online security

I noticed a post about firewalls and many people were recommending various
software firewall solutions such as BlackICE (about USD $40) or ZoneAlarm
(free for basic version). Both are decent, as is Sygate's Personal Firewall
which also is free for the basic version.

However, realize that the safest route is a comprehensive approach using a
hardware firewall. You should periodically scan for trojans using a utility
such as Spybot Search and Destroy, and I also recommend the innoculation
feature in that free software. Of course virus protection is also
important, not for protecting your information from thieves, but rather from
obliteration.

Finally a good firewall is important, and if you want to be safe you will
want a hardware firewall with stateful packet inspection. I haven't priced
them recently, but imagine they can be had for USD $100 or so. If you use
broadband a combination router/firewall/gateway device is ideal and I am
particularly fond of the 2Wire 1000-series models for their robustness, low
price and ease of use. This device is extremely easy to set up, facilitates
Internet sharing between PCs and once it's configured you do not need to
futz with it unlike the software firewalls. If you're truly paranoid you
can run a soft firewall behind your hardware firewall.

Nice post. Don't forget to stay on top of your Windows upgraded... And READ
about them; some of the upgrades (very rarely) can cause problems.

"Jason" <anonymous.RemoveThis@fake.com> wrote in message
news:LfDcb.457$Gk.301@newssvr22.news.prodigy.com...
> I noticed a post about firewalls and many people were recommending various
> software firewall solutions such as BlackICE (about USD $40) or ZoneAlarm
> (free for basic version). Both are decent, as is Sygate's Personal
Firewall
> which also is free for the basic version.
>
> However, realize that the safest route is a comprehensive approach using a
> hardware firewall. You should periodically scan for trojans using a
utility
> such as Spybot Search and Destroy, and I also recommend the innoculation
> feature in that free software. Of course virus protection is also
> important, not for protecting your information from thieves, but rather
from
> obliteration.
>
> Finally a good firewall is important, and if you want to be safe you will
> want a hardware firewall with stateful packet inspection. I haven't
priced
> them recently, but imagine they can be had for USD $100 or so. If you use
> broadband a combination router/firewall/gateway device is ideal and I am
> particularly fond of the 2Wire 1000-series models for their robustness,
low
> price and ease of use. This device is extremely easy to set up,
facilitates
> Internet sharing between PCs and once it's configured you do not need to
> futz with it unlike the software firewalls. If you're truly paranoid you
> can run a soft firewall behind your hardware firewall.
>
>