KNOW ABOUT FIREWALLS

What is a Firewall?

A firewall is a piece of software or hardware that creates a protective barrier between your computer and potentially damaging content on the Internet. It helps guard your computer against malicious users and many computer viruses and worms.Firewalls help safeguard your computer by enforcing restrictions on incoming traffic. Firewalls can also help mask your computer's identity, so hackers' attempts to probe or scan your computer cannot return
the type of information that makes it easy to invade.

IF YOUR ISP GIVES U A STATIC IP ADDRESS........

More risk if you use broadband [DSL or a cable modem] A dial-up connections uses a different
IP address every time it connects to the Web so it is a moving target. Static IP is not provided
for Dial-Up users. Hackers don't target the Dial-Up users due to this reason. DSL or cable connections use a network address [IP Address] that doesn't change. A firewall helps obscure your network address, even though it always stays the same.ICF helps protect the system from Worms and Messenger Service ADs Virus Alert About the Blaster Worm and Its Variants: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=826955
Virus Alert About the Nachi Worm: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=826234 Computer viruses: description, prevention, and recovery: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=129972
Virus Alert About the W32.Lirva.A@mm Worm:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=812811
About Firewall - Links:Install a firewall to help protect your computer:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/articles/firewall.aspWindows XP's native firewall - The Internet Connection Firewall [ICF]
Windows XP users: Never connect to internet without enabling the ICF. Failing to enable ICF results in Worm attacks over internet. Finest example is the Blaster Worm which attacked "Unprotected" and "Unpatched" systems. Some reading here:What You Should Know About the Blaster Worm and Its Variants:http://www.microsoft.com/security/incident/blast.asp
Microsoft Support WebCasts on Internet Connection Firewall:http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=324731ICF Turned ON by default - Microsoft Windows Code Named
"Longhorn" Preview Release:http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=829967

How to enable Internet Connection Firewall?

Open Network Connections by typing NCPA.CPL in the RUN box.Click the Dial-up, LAN or High-Speed Internet connection that you want to protect.Under Network Tasks, click Change settings of this connection.On the Advanced tab, under Internet Connection Firewall, select the following option:Protect my computer and network by limiting or preventing access to this computer from the Internet box.a VERY neat Disscussion is here...