daboywonder, just use a firewall that you are sure that you can properly configure. Even the "best firewall" (which changes depending on whom you ask
) will do you no good if you don't set it up correctly. Zone Alarm is probably the easiest firewall to use, since it's geared towards novices. Instead of changing firewalls, have you tried using an older build of Zone Alarm? Version 4.5.594.000 is running without any problems on my girlfriend's computer, and works without any problems. I have asked around to try to find out what real security enhancements the newer builds have, but haven't gotten any definitive answers. It seems that most of these newer builds are just bugfixes for the initial 5.0 line. When it was released, it was a total piece of crap, and each subsequent build has been trying to iron out all the bugs. ZA/Checkpoint fixes one bug only to have another pop up, so they release another build to fix that new bug... and another bug appears... Sounds like that game carnival game Whack-A-Mole
Anyway, if you want to redownload an earlier release of Zone Alarm Free, you can find them all here
http://download.zonelabs.com/bin/free/i ... story.html
If you want the Pro Version, they are here (remember these are still just trial versions)
http://download.zonelabs.com/bin/free/i ... story.html
Like I said before, I suggest using 4.5.594.000 since it was the most recent truly stable release.