Thank you, Joseph.  I will set myself some easier passwords - whew!  I have one more question.  I went to the recommended site  http://grc.com/default.htm   and turned off ZoneAlarm (it checked fine with ZoneAlarm) to see if my hardware firewall (Linksys Cable Firewall/Router) was doing its job.  It wasn't.  The test said that it was able to breach the hardware firewall.  Could I have something set wrong?      Thanks again,   
-Ann Fennell

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: joseph marty 
  Subject: Re: [PCSOFT] Firewall
  There is such a thing as overkill, or the law of diminishing returns.  If you have a hardware firewall, zonealarm,and you are reasonably careful about what you download (you have a virus checker that is always updated and a spyware checker), that is about as much as you need to do. The hackers will look for an easier target.  Kind of like putting the club or an alarm on your car.  Sure someone who really wants your car or to hijack your computer can do it, but mostly they are looking for an easy hit. I use ultra stealth by turning off my cable modem if I am not using the computer.  Even the best hacker can't beat that.

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