New Computer? Six Steps to Safer Surfing

[Sean Donelan]

A better than average news article helping people keep their new
computers secure.  It is much easier to prevent your computer getting
infected, than it is curing your computer afterwards.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A9658-2004Dec18.html

I wouldn't rely on software firewalls.  At the same store you buy your
computer, also buy a hardware firewall.  Hopefully soon the motherboard
and NIC manufacturers will start including built-in hardware firewalls.
But sometimes, such as dialup modems, software firewalls are the only
alternative.