My apologies for another time and again, rac-x. I will just say whoever does not have a firewall in this day and age is really playing with fire and clearly not being safe because their PC will be under constant attack. Currently, I play it mostly safe by having a LinkSys $80 router in 98SE as well as XP PRO that is a wired router. Also, in 98SE I use ZoneAlarm PRO. which is a software firewall. I also disconnect my ethernet cable a little from the internet so the lights go out on my connection when I am not using the internet. On my old D-Link router ZoneAlarm Pro said I had 304 attacks or just plain port scans that had managed to circumvent the weak hardware firewall. I have had this new LinkSys hardware firewall for about seven months now and I have had 10 attacks or port scans that have managed to bypass the new LinkSys router. I see it can still be done and may have to soon upgrade to a better router. I also use SpySweeper by Webroot for Trojans, Adware, Spyware, Keyloggers or web-redirects which I think is great on 98SE. I also use SpywareBlaster which helps block spyware and adwareware before it gets on your PC. SpywareBlaster has thousands of entries for IE and only a few hundred entries for Mozilla FireFox and these entries are spyware/tracking cookies that are not as big a threat as the ActiveX vulnerabilities of IE. I also use Spybot -- Search and Destroy as well as Adaware but SpySweeper which cost me $20 on sale at Best Buy seems to pick up every danger before these two programs. I also use a free antivirus program on the 98SE side which is AntiVir and it is made by a German company. I also use other protections on the 98SE side. On the XP PRO, side of my dual-boot with its customized boot.ini I use Spyware Blaster, Adaware, Spybot -- Search and Destroy. These three programs are great and all are free. So far the Majorgeeks site is fairly safe but I am keeping track of possible hacker activiry in regards to this site. I also use EZARMOR by Computer Associates E-Trust on my XP-PRO. side. I like this program since it automatically allows the removal of registry entries which I currently have to do manually when I remove programs. Folks, do not edit the registry unless you know what you are doing and then always have a back up in case you make a mistake. I have the complete EZARMOR which I bought for about $25 for a year when they had their promotion of a free lite suite and I bought the complete suite including the software firewall and antivirus program. Thanks to Gary S. Terhune, MVP for suggesting this awesome E-Trust program. The software firewall in EZARMOR is an older version of ZA that does not integrate as deeply in your system and thus is easier to remove but still offers great protection. The antivirus program is awesome and allows complete file sweeps from safe mode as well as sweeping the command.com (cmd.com) prompt for issues. Anyway, I am not trying to brag. I am trying to educate the user of the dangers and risks to all of us in cyberspace. Someday, I may use HiJackThis and post a public log of my system for everyone to analyze for their interest and feedback if in any way I can shore up the security in my system. Remember, no system is completely secure and after having two different housemates who I go to the same Christian Church with me break my computer before I started again by formatting and reinstalling in January I have completely passworded my computer. It starts with a password in the BIOS (Basic Input Output System) and then has a password in both 98SE and XP PRO. Anyone I get tired of this long post. I welcome all replies and again sorry for making a mistake Jason. You are completely right about having a firewall. I am glad you have one. :>
