Amazingly, the one that MANY of the experts consider the best personal firewall software is FREE for private use. It's called Zone Alarm, and it has won many converts from the BlackIce and Norton products. Check these links for the straight dope:

Shields Up!

Practically Networked

Additionally, John Dvorak of PC Magazine gave this product his "highly recommended" rating, and he is a VERY tough man to please!

You can download Zone Alarm here.

I have used WinProxy on two different networks. I've been satisfied with both systems. Winproxy offers multiuser networking, firewall protection, banner blocking and for an extra fee, site filtering and network virus protection.

I have to agree. Zone Alarm is a good suystem, and it's free to personal users.

It is free for home users and works very well. It is easy to configure and for me at least hasn't interferred with any internet games or other activities.

Black ice defender is an excellent package. check out www.grc.com and have that site check your computer for internet access and probe your ports. Black Ice turns your computer essentially invisible, and keeps a running log of attempts with good explanations.

Does not do internet connection sharing

i am using netwatcher 2000.. i just wonder if this is good as Zone alarm.

Everyone and their uncle seem to be pushing Zone Alarm. It seems to be to good to be true! Anyway, I think I,m going to try it. Only thing I'm concerned with is if they could be planting something in the download that might give them access to my computer.

Well anything is possible, but that seems highly unlikely. Unlikely, because there are enough independent people out there testing this kinda stuff.

And if you go to www.grc.com that site will actually run tests to determine if your computer is vulnerable. Zone Alarm works perfectly in those tests. So unless Gibson Research (who runs the grc site) is conspiring with Zone Alarm ...

careful with gibson research downloads if you are a novice like me. The un plug n play was good and other things that secure all the ports MS ships open BUT I used one product that shut me off from net bios attacks and I couldnt get on LOL. I had to reinstall windows bc no one could help me