Norton firewall

Better use a router with filtering capabilities.

Yours, VB.

Did your ISP supply a modem or a router? If you don't know then open a command prompt and type ipconfig /all What does it say for IP address? It may begin with 71 or 192.

Are you using Windows XP with service pack 2 and have you got all critical updates from

?

Install a virus scanner. Example:

I don't recommend Norton software products, except Norton Ghost. Use a product like Norton Ghost (there are others) to make an image of your hard drive before you start using your PC with your DSL. Then when the PC does get full of viruses and malware you can easily restore it to a pre infected state.

Jason

Yes my ISP provided me with a DSL modem. My windows XP is updated for all critical updates including survive pack 2.

*ROTFL* - this is Dr. Freud of the day now!

VB.

In that case you'll probably survive with just a virus scanner. But consider an external firewall box, not just a modem. A proper firewall is not a piece of software to install on your PC. It is an external piece of hardware. I don't recommend connecting a Windows PC directly to a public IP address unless you have sufficient experience in securing it. I don't know what your experience is but you probably wouldn't have asked your question if it was a good idea for you to run with just a modem.

Jason