A small router will only protect against incoming messages. Since it's using NAT, if you make an outgoing connection the NAT table is updated. And the router made a way to your computer. So it's safer then a direct connection to the internet, but not completly safe. For a firewall you could try Sygate , you can download it at the site http://www.simtel.net/product.php?id=53687 Recently Symantec has bought the pakket , so there will be no newer versions available of this pakket.

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I used to use Zone Alarm and for a free program I think it's not too bad. I don't understand why you couldn't get it to work, I used it both on dialup and broadband without any problems. However I was concerned a little about it's limitations so I went with Mcafee's firewall. I have not had any problems or viruses at all with it. If you really are stretched for money you could always go with the Windows Firewall, but I don't know how effective it is. It would be better than nothing I guess.

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I have recieved many recommendations from various sites for this one, including iopus, which Buffalo suggested. I am, in fact, testing it out now to see if it serves its purpose for me.
I am aware of this. I am not surprised - they buy over every good firewall / antivirus system.

 

 

 

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I suggest Comodo Firewall. It's free and a good one.

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I'm highly recommend Comodo firewall too.

It's great work on the firewall. it has several monitor system and few advanced feature you won't find in some other commercial firewall product. after i installed this product, my system just got better, no malware installed on my system ever again. scanned with norton, AVG, NOD32, avast and found zero viruses. you know why?because it ask the user permission before allow any apps connect to the Internet both inbound and outbound.viruse and spyware(malware)usually come bundled with software that you download into your computer.if we can prevent that to happen,you're mostly safe from anything that threat your system including hackers and internet attacks.the best free firewall product ever. people should switch to this firewall from ZA,norton,and some other firewall products. for those people who don't have firewall installed you must have it. for others that have a firewall,give it a try anyway. you won't be disappointed!

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Im not too smart when it comes to firewalls and all of that but I downloaded Zone Alarm and it seems to work pretty good. Even when im on Xbox Live and I try to join someones game it blocks the connection so I have to disable to firewall to even play online. I figure all firewalls would do that but I tried clicking Game Mode under the options to where it wont block those connections & it still does it anyway...

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I am using WRQ AtGuard firewall (it's quite old actually, made in '99 I think)... It's soo good, that Symantec bought it, and renamed it into Norton Friewall, without even changing file names!

It's not fancy looking ot anything, but it has one thing I need - functionality... It doesn't try to guess whether I want to allow certain communications to occur, or to block them, but instead, relies on it's rule list, wehre you specify in detail, what application can access the internet, what can access your computer from the internet, and ofcourse, add a rule to block everything else, that doesn't macth the rules...

Also, it has pretty good ad-blocker, and you can add new addresses from which to block images, and it will block them... There is a cookie assistant too, and that's about it... It's around 1.5M in size, and I do believe that version 3.2 is now available free of charge, but I'm not sure...

But it is definitely THE best firewall option I can suggest (I tried many, and they all suck big time)... Software firewall that is, aside from using a Linux machine as a router

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dear gameratheart use zonealarm firewall with one antivirus system like nod32 or kaspersky
if you want secure your own pc you can install windows xp + Windows service pack (security update) + zonalarm + Antivirus + windows security center ,
windows 98 has 9x kernel , and its not secure , because we can find many bugs on win 98
thanks

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I sugest ( if you find old version 5.5 ) Sygate
How to:
When install sygate open Main wind. and block all programs (sys items too) and allow only browser ,antivirus and chat for using net
Block Windows Explorer
With Nod32 of course

PS: Windows Firewall disable

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