Hi Eminem and Tarq57,
Well congrats to you for having a firewall installed, because in the analysis of the HJT logfile txts here in the "virus and worms"-section we often find that it has become sort of a fashion with the younger generation to go onto the World Wide Web without the inward and outward protection of a software firewall solution (and even without the protection of a resident av solution).
Recently ZA came out with these versions of its free software:
ZoneAlarm version:8.0.065.000
TrueVector version:8.0.065.000
Driver version:8.0.065.000
If it works for you, and it does not weigh too heavy on the old cycles, why not keep with it.
Sometimes experienced users switch good software firewalls (only use one at a time), so one period on ZA, another period on Comodo, having a connection monitor running under it, and Wireshark to analyse, also an occasional glance in the reports of EventLog Explorer will give you a hunch as what to look for connection wise.
Combining a software firewall (or a hardware router one) with the Network and Webshield services of avast, going online for normal online activities with limited user rights (only using full admin rights when you cannot do without these, updating, downloading new software, configuration, etc.) and checking all your third party software for the latest updates and security patches through Secunia PSI tool will make your computer experience a far more secure one.
This goes hand in hand with in-browser protection like disabling scripts with NoScript extension and using real-time link checking to stay away from places where one is likely to be digitally "clubbed over the head", but to-day this could also be at the best of websites, so keep your visors up you anti malware knights,
Stay safe and secure,
polonus
