I've been using ZoneAlarm (the free one) as my firewall for years now as Windows ME doesn't have a firewall. Since then I've been having odd things happen to my computer, especially at start up and shut down, and I've just figured out after all this time that it's something to do with the ZoneAlarm. Mind you, so called experts haven't figured it either so I'm not feeling too bad about it. LOL I was just wondering whether anyone has downloaded a good firewall as I'd like to change ZoneAlarm and try something different. Thanks for any assistance.

Don't know of any others for ME, I'd stick with Zone Alarm if I were you. If it is slowing your start up and shutdown its probably just doing its job. I used to have it and found it very good till I upgraded to XP, and now I use the Windows one, also my wireless router has a built in one I could use if I wanted to change.

You could go to www.download.com and type in "free firewall" in the search and see what that comes up with. Download.com is a very reputable site.

Thanks for your help Cookybaby! I'll go and check out that site.

G'day Fern,

Very nearly that time of the year again love, but google 'firewall software' and up will come what you are looking for....take your pick.

Here is the holy grail for all windows situations. It's a forum, just type in your brew of windows and it's all there for you, all the help yop'll ever need.

www.annoyances.org

Cheers.

No sqirter all that's needed is a Mac! built in firewall, but it's not needed as nobody has been able to right a virus or any malware that can break into one as yet anyway.

Kaspersky does the lot brilliantly and is rated the best in several independent tests. I was under attack all one day by three determined trojan downloaders recently. Kaspersky fended them off over and over again. When it discovers a virus it makes a noise like an alien being murdered, very appropriate I think. It costs but really worth the money. I think it is free for a while though to try it.

Have just heard that Comodo is a very good free one. Check out the forums on www.pcworld.co.nz
Its a good place to go for any pc help too.

Cheers Cookybaby!!

I would not have a clue as who owns my firewall but it is there and doing its stuff. So much of the new protection coming in like waves are themselves ways to get you on their hook. Be careful out there, now.

If you are running Windows XP as your Operating system, then your firewall will be automatically turned on. You can check this by going to Start/Control Panel/ Windows Firewall.

Well I use Ubuntu Linux on an older PC i have an XP PC too

I have recently aquired a 2nd hand laptop and continually get a message on screen that says:" this machine is not validated" should I be worried?? It has XP installed.