Hi Brenda.
if you only use an internet worm detection/prevention program, your PC
is still visible/vulnerable to hackers. you can prove this for
yourself, by running the Shields Up program at
www.grc.com
the firewall built into Windows XP is better than nothing, but it does
not protect you from unauthorized outbound transmission of personal data
on your PC by spyware or Trojan horses. with Windows XP firewall turned
on, you can prove this for yourself by running the LeakTest program at
www.grc.com
of course, anti-spyware is supposed to stop this, but the fact is that
the best anti-spyware program fails to stop over 1/3 of it all. this is
proven in tests documented at the following web page:
http://windowssecrets.com/050127/#story1
and many spyware programs are only designed to mop up the infection
After the damage is Already done, not to stop the infection from
reaching your PC to begin with. lot of help that is, when your personal
data has already been transmitted to a hacker.
to get the best advice for the best software firewall, read results of
tests performed for PC World by a security firm named AV-Test for at the
following web page:
http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/0,aid,115939,pg,1,00.asp
JW
p.s.
in the future, put your 2nd newsgroup name in the To: or Newsgroup:
field, along with your 1st newsgroup name. that benefits in 2 ways.
first, you don't have to take separate trips to separate newsgroups to
place separate postings. second, responders do not have to take
separate trips to separate newsgroups to place separate answers.
