Shel Belinkoff wrote:
Yes, there have been replies, but none that I've seen that actually
answered the questions, and a few that were just smart ass responses.
Your's is the first I've seen that's provided useful information. Thanks,
Mike!
Shel
More list burps. I've read all the posts I got this afternoon and quite
a few answered your question. Just, none were as good as my answer -
because it got to you. 8-)))
[Original Message]
From: mike wilson
Shel Belinkoff wrote:
It's been suggested that I install a fire wall, but I don't really know
what one is or how they work. So, what's a fire wall, how does it work,
what are the pros and cons of using one, and where can I get one?
No doubt you have already had many replies. FWIW, I have used Zonealarm
(it's got a free version but it is not easily findable on the site) for
about four years now, which does the basic firewall thing of hiding your
computer from the internet and preventing unauthorised access to it from
outside. Even better, it will not allow programmes to access the
internet unless you authorise it. You would be suprised how may
installation programmes call home without you knowing about it.
Zonealarm tells you it is happening and you can allow it, or not.
The downside of firewalls is that they have to install at startup, which
slows it and, with Zonealarm, you have to "teach" it which programmes
are allowed to access the net.
