Newbie Firewalls?

From: Lazy Senior (spamno_lazysenior_at_mchsi.com)
Date: 11/05/03 

Date: Wed, 05 Nov 2003 15:30:29 GMT

I recently got cable internet a few days ago. The installer told me to get a
better firewall than the one in Win XP which is my operating system. I
downloaded 3 trial versions of firewalls. Zone Alarm Pro 4 , Black Ice, and
Kerio.

Didnt really like ZAP 4, tried Kerio - with the da "Sponge" rules, but dont
really know what is happening. Both ZAP and Kerio seem intrusive to me
(especially ZAP) and ask me questions that I dont know how to answer. I am a
newbie at all this and just want to protect my computer without taking a
college course. Black Ice on the other hand hasnt asked me anything, which
makes me wonder if it is really effective protecting me? I did download
Sygate also, but havent tried it yet.

I know there are a lot of very knowlegable people here. What is the easiest
to use, effective firewall to use? Also I been reading here about the
routers and built-in firewalls in them. I dont have one, my Motorola Sb 5100
is connected directly to my ethernet card. I have only one computer.

Should I consider a router as an effective firewall soulution? Will a router
slow my internet speed down? Will a router work with only one computer? Can
a newbie figure out how to install one?? Does one need a software firewall
with the router?

If a router firewall would be good, which brand, or model?

Thanks for any help

retired Senior

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