FireWalls
If you have DSL/CableModem one should also get a router. This acts
as a "primitive" firewall. (A firewall is just a fancy router with extra
services) Althought a router will not help all with attackes, it
does close "doors" (ports) that a hacker can use to get into your
computer. A firewall (either hardware or software) adds an aditional layer
of protection to ones computer(s). Microsofts XP operating system
does (as stated above) have a firewall built into the OS, but it has
problems: as well as ZoneAlarm. I personaly dont like or trust either
of these software driven firewalls (I've seen the hacks). But its better
than nothing and its cheaper than hardware driven firewalls. There are
alot of utility scaners that can asses vulnerabilities of ones computer(s)
once this is done one can adjust ones firewall accordinaly to the results of
the scan.
Jim