Firewall help

After dealing with a couple of worms, I realize i have to get a firewall up. Ive been putting it off since i really have no clue how to set one up. is it hard? Any advice as to which product? Is the Windows XP one enough? I use Norton for AV..Thanks

 

Windows firewall does an OK job at keeping the bad things outside from getting in, and it's the simplest to use, but it's certainly not the best. It's biggest flaw is that it doesn't monitor or control anything from going OUT. If you accidently infect yourself via email or a direct infection from a malicious site, it does nothing to stop the program from linking out from your side of the wall.

For something simple for the non-geeky, ZoneAlarm's free version is good. Does a good job of monitoring, and you don't have to be a network expert to use it. Grab it here:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=388

Once you install it, every program that tries to reach out to the net will pop up a window asking if you WANT to give it permission. You can say yes/no for that single instance, or tell it to remember your answer so it doesn't ask you anymore. Things like IE, OE, and other things that have legitimate need for net access, say yes once & they'll be enabled automatically from then on. Things you're not sure about, say no & see if anything you need quits working. If not, say no permanently. After a short while, ZA will have a history of what to allow, and will just do it's job, for the most part. And a trojan trying to dial out constantly should be a warning flag that you've got a problem.

And I'd tell the program NOT to notify you of every access request from the outside, as most of them are harmless. Turn that off and just let it do it's work in silence.