firewalls

If you don't have time to learn how to use a 2-way firewall like Sygate you might as well opt for XP's. It'll give you less trouble and is probably sufficient for the home user who doesn't store un-encrpted important data on the machine, do online banking, etc. Just make sure you do weekly scans of AdAware and Spybot and install Spyware Blaster and you probably won't get into any trouble. My 2 cents.

it's also sufficient for a power user who doesn't install spyware and viruses on their computer (both of which can disable a software firewall)

better yet, run XP from a limited account so the stuff can't install in the first place!

I'm sorry but I don't know what you mean by a limited account.

 I would like to use my machine to do a variety of online tasks yet be relatively secure. Would you opt for sygate or xp's firewall along with Mcafee virus scan,adawre/spybot all up to date, + windows updates current.?

Wouod a limited account bypass all these other needs?

Thank you

Pete

I used sygate for quite a while prior to xp's firewall-I feel you think sygate is better to the point of going to all sites w/o fear of problems. It is an easy download. It is a matter of choosing the safer of the two.

Pete

Sorry, didn't get your replies. If you get any trojans, dialers or other phone home malware, etc. on your system a 2-way firewall should pick up their attempts to get out. The XP firewall won't. I suggest Sygate. Although that is not what I use I understand it is very good.

I use a combo of a software firewall and a router/firewall. Thank you