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Coming from a Unix/Mac background, and not having to deal with this crap, until I bought my Toshiba cheap, crappy laptop (hardware definately has a you get what you pay for rule) to run two programs. This is what I was recommended to me: Firewall Zone Alarm for both inbound and outbound traffic. (outbound helps detect spyware.) -I was told explicitly not to use Windows Firewall or Black Ice. Virus: AVG antivirus (it is free for home use) -I was told explicity not to use Norton (symantec) or McAfee. For spyware, This was recommended to me. (I think you need a combination..I dont know which ones are commercial nor do I care if they work.) Firefox (preventative) Spyware Blaster (preventative) (not any in order pick 2-3) Spybot Adware WinDefender Spysweeper Spybot Search and Destroy Just seems like a lot of cycles/time wasted to me. I have heard of people using the HOSTS files for years. It works to some degree. But seriously, after looking at a lot of fraudualant spam emails, I have seen a number of the bank scam ones with ip addresses in them which bypasses the hosts trick. Whoever said their hasbro router/firewall was a deterrent on ComCast. Mine was hacked within 5 minutes after disabling MAC address filtering with wireless turned off. (I hadn't added my printer's MAC address and needed to print off my tax forms.) Kind of a stark reminder about network security. Over the years, I have found MS Office Macro Viruses to be more of a pain in my butt then anything. I use OpenOffice, it is cross-platform and free. I _assume_ my windows box was hacked from the second I put it on the net. If it is important information that needs to be secure, it is NOT on that particular machine. I bought it to run two programs so wiping and reinstalling, is always a legit option. An important aspect of the reinstall option is backing up your files, which i can be as guilty as anyone at home, but it is not mentioned nearly enough. People are afraid of it. -------------------------------------- Sean O'Malley, Information Technologist Michigan State University -------------------------------------