"The perfect personal firewall would be inexpensive and easy to install and use, would offer clearly explained configuration options, would hide all ports to make your PC invisible to scans, would protect your system from all attacks, would track all potential and actual threats, would immediately alert you to serious attacks, and would ensure nothing unauthorized entered or left your PC." This great definition is quoted from Make Your PC Hacker Proof, Jeff Sengstack, PC World, July 21, 2000.

First and foremost, install a personal firewall to shield yourself from the internet. A firewall will make your computer invisible to the internet, block all attempts to gain insight into what is running on your PC, and protect personal data on your hard drive.  ZoneAlarm Pro 5.0, BlackIce Defender, Kaspersky Anti-Hacker and PC Security Shield are some of the more well know personal firewalls. Most personal firewalls cost around $35 to $50. Zone Labs does offer theZoneAlarm Free Firewall software. Better yet, is an Internet security suite that combines antivirus, firewall, ad blockers, spam fighting, and other useful apps; most cost between $60 to $80. The Anonymizer OnlinePrivacyStore has very thorough listing of personal firewalls, antivirus packages, and other useful security and identity protection tools. Also, Zonelabs now has a new security suite that combines the new ZoneAlarm 5.0 - with a top notch antivirus solution (ZoneAlarm Security Suite). The ZoneAlarm Security Suite combines; the ZoneAlarm 5.0 Award Winning Firewall, comprehensive antivirus protection, powerful identity and privacy protection, content and communication protection, and essential email security.

Once you've installed your personal firewall, please visit one of the sites below to make sure you are properly secured:

• Steve Gibson's Shields Up Scanner
• Sygate's Online Security Service
• Hacker Whacker

*NOTE: ZoneLabs ZoneAlarm is synonymous with the following search terms: ZoneAlarm, ZoneAlarm Pro, Zone Alarm Pro, ZoneAlarm com, Zone Alarm com, ZoneAlarm Firewall, Zone Alarm Firewall, Zone Alarm Pro 4, ZoneAlarm Pro 4, Zone Alarm Pro 4.5, ZoneAlarm Pro 4.5, Alert Zone, ZoneAlam Security Suite, Zone Alarm Security Suite and Lab Zone.