Hi avatar2005,
If you are on a restricted limited user account, you could be safe with the standard one-way Microsoft firewall, it does not shows its existence, so silent workings.
When you want to be protected also against something seeking contact from your computer out, use of several good software firewalls is an option. Always remember ONE software firewall at a time, as it is with resident AV solutions, else the function of the FW can be hampered, and you can get an insecure situation.
With the free ZoneAlarm, check the settings from time to time, I always like to have it with questiuon marks, so the program asks me, at install set it for stand-alone on the Net or into a family Network; and I like to see an alert when some process wants to contact the modem or out, I like the colour green there
,
polonus
