[ThePythonicCow]

Instead of Zone Alarm Pro, I prefer using a hardware firewall

You connect it between your cable (or DSL) modem and your PC:

[ Cable Modem ] <===> [ Firewall ] <===> [ Your PC ]

See for example the D-Link Express EtherNetwork 4-Port Ethernet Broadband Router, Model DI-604.

They are easier to use, provide a more robust firewall (quite a bit harder to crack) and once installed, can operate pretty much without any consideration for years, regardless of changing and confused settings in your PC.

Zone Alarm tends to go out of its way with the free version to scare you, with various alerts about outgoing packets that are not usually any problem. This encourages you to buy their Pro version.

[maui_hawaii]

what about a linksys wireless router?

[maui_hawaii]

I have a linksys wireless router but when I get into the settings page I don't know what all the bells and whistles are. Much less how to use them.

I did set it up where my network is encrypted and is not able to be seen by others....