Penguinisto: "Err, point of order - actual firewalls only block ports." "but they likely don't stop much" True. but they can stop the ones that comes in after mailwasher has done it's job. That, and lots of explict filtering rules within your mail client. "I haven't opened Outlook in any form on any machine in my home for at least two years." Same here. I NEVER use it. No sesnible person would one. I only use IE and netscape because of needing to test webpages. Yet I've just started a training course to help with teaching and they insist you have to use it. Most of the other students are newbies, and they'll belive it it's OK. Personally I'd rather keep the computing equivalant of a baseball bat behind my virtual door. Saves hassle later. Al

Pinky - you left the lens cap of your mind on again.