Bobbie: My router IS also a firewall. I used it for 12 months with Zone Alarm, Norton's AV and AdAware(?) on my PC and the router between me and the outside world. Before I had the router, I used to get frequent complaints from ZA about "attempts to access BiosNet" (among others). Very little from the other stuff. After I installed the router, the only complaints came from ZA, asking me "did I wish to allow xyz to access the internet" (where xyz was either the Windoze basic net stuff (after I'd plugged the cable back in - I always disconnect from the net before shutting down), or from Poser. Otherwise, no complaints whatsoever. The Router has a built-in firewall. It's safer than any possible software firewall 'cos it can't be corrupted from the outside. The software in the router (and that's only the data that the software uses, not the software itself) can ONLY be changed from the "user" side, which is me. Plus I NEVER open any e-mails where I don't recognise the sender and I NEVER download any files from sites that I don't know are trustworthy. As for "Trusted friends" - well, I only have 2, and they're as paranoid as I am:-))) LOL and Cheers, Diolma