(To the PC buffs!!) Does your PC have a firewall?

[ssd]

We'ne got one - McAfee - but it runs out soon and I can't afford the £30 + to renew it.

Do I need one?

Please advise!

Is't Opera another internet browser?

Yes but I much prefer Firefox as its free forever and the after download support is astounding, with forums etc etc...also as I said before the amount of add-ons available are fantastic

I use norton which really slows up your computer unless you have broadband. Very interested in the idea of free updates. Also have adaware (free, spybot (also free) and CW shredder. My computer is very slow so I wanted to triple check it wasn't a virus. There is plenty of free software available - the pc magazine sites are good guides to what works well.

Even if you have no personal information on your machine if you use e-mail you need to protect those in your address book.

Munnzies DH - thank you , have just installed firefox and it's brilliant, already working much better than msn rubbish, it even imported all my favourites

told you it was good eh?

if you go to tool then extensions youcan add stuff like Image Zoom, Gmail notification and even pong to your browser

How interesting.
We also are in the need to renew our Norton. Will try and see if we have disk lying somewhere to reinstall.

We have windows xp and can live with the broadband being fairly slow. Does that mean that we are protected (the firewall thing) .Sorry I am really not clever on computers.

firewalls stop people from accessing ur computer without your consent

The XP one is very basic and buggy and blocks every little thing. I personally hate the stupid thing. Sygate Pro is the way to go.