More advanced firewalls can be time-consuming to install, but they are not difficult to use. Take the time to fortify your defenses. It is really worthwhile.
Install a Two-way Software Firewall

Installing a third-party firewall gives you two-way protection. It stops hackers and worms from coming into your computer from the Internet. And if your computer becomes infected, it stops worms, spyware, and viruses from communicating out to the Internet.

I recommend two free third-party firewalls: SyGate from http://www.sygate.com and ZoneAlarm from http://www.zonealarm.com.

TIP

If you already have Norton Firewall or McAfee Firewall, these programs are as good as the pro versions of the free firewalls recommended in this chapter.

Here’s how to install the free version of ZoneAlarm, my favorite:

1. Use Internet Explorer or Firefox to visit http://www.zonealarm.com.
2.

Choose Home/Office Products from the left menu (see Figure 3.8) and then choose ZoneAlarm from the list of products.

ZoneLabs makes a free version of ZoneAlarm available for personal use and to charities.
3. On the ZoneAlarm page click the Free Download button and choose the link that says Download Free ZoneAlarm.
4. You are presented with a pop-up window (if you are using Internet Explorer) that says Run or Save. Choose Run.
5.

You might get a security warning box. Click Run. The program begins to install.

When ZoneAlarm downloads you might get a security warning. It’s OK to click Run and let the download proceed.
6.

Choose a folder to install ZoneAlarm in. The suggested folder is fine. Click Next.

The first thing you see when ZoneAlarm starts to install is the option to change the folder where it will install. The default folder is fine.
7. Type in your name, company (optional), and email address. In Chapter 5, “Spam: Unwanted Email from Hell,” which is about spam, I always recommend you use a secondary email address for things like this. I’ll leave the decision up to you.
8. ZoneLabs promises not to misuse your email address (but I trust no one). Choose not to receive news and updates (and an excuse to market to you), but do choose to register so you can download updates.
9.

Choose Next and read the license agreement. Note that it offers the free version to individuals for personal use and not for profit charities. Accept the terms by checking the box and click Install.

NOTE

Steve Gibson, of GRC.com, coined the term spyware when a program on his computer started to communicate out to the Internet as he was testing an early version of ZoneAlarm.
10. The program installs itself and before starting it asks you some optional survey questions. Afterwards, choose to start ZoneAlarm by clicking Yes on the box that pops up.
11.

If your Windows Firewall is turned on, you are asked if Windows Firewall should keep blocking ZoneAlarm. Ironic, don’t you think? Choose unblock. After ZoneAlarm is installed, be sure Windows Firewall is off.

Windows Firewall tries to block the ZoneAlarm installation. Click Unblock to let it proceed.
12. Next the install asks if you want to use the free version of ZoneAlarm or the 15-day trial version of ZoneAlarm Pro. Choose ZoneAlarm unless you think the extra features are worthwhile. Personally, I think the pro version is great if you’re willing to pay for it. But for these purposes, choose Select ZoneAlarm and click Next, and then click Finish to configure the program.
13. At the Welcome screen, click Next and choose Yes (Recommended) to configure ZoneAlarm with your Internet connection. Click Next and then Done.
14. You are asked to reboot your computer, so close all your running programs and click the OK button to restart.
15.

When the system reboots, ZoneAlarm runs and you see a little icon in your System Tray (bottom right) that shows whether it is dormant or active. When it’s dormant, it shows as a red Z and yellow A. When data is flowing in and out of the computer, it changes to look like a moving audio meter.

ZoneAlarm shows up as an item in the Windows System Tray in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
16.

When a program tries to access the Internet from your computer you see a pop-up alarm. If this program is known to you, choose Yes and choose Remember This Setting so you’re not bugged again next time you run that program. It is normal for some programs to use the Internet to check for updates (especially antivirus programs and anti-spyware software), but you’ll be surprised how many programs will try to communicate with the Internet.

ZoneAlarm asks you for input when a program on your computer that is not recognized tries to access the Internet.
17. Of course, if something weird tries to communicate with the Internet and ZoneAlarm alerts you, choose No and block it. ZoneAlarm should give you a sense of what it is, so record that information and then do either a virus and/or spyware scan or research the program on the Internet to try to figure out what it is. It might be a background Windows process and could be legitimate, but it’s worth finding out.
18. You’ll have to suffer these for a few days until all the programs that access the Internet are caught by ZoneAlarm and approved by you. Then you shouldn’t be bugged much after that until you install new programs or there’s a legitimate infection that is caught by the firewall. You’ll also start receiving security alerts if you change ZoneAlarm’s security settings. For instance, if you change the security level from medium to high, ZoneAlarm starts pestering you again about programs accessing the Internet. It’s annoying, but a necessary evil.
19.

You might see inbound attacks, too. Most of these could be hackers scanning for opportunities or worms trying to access your computer. Because you’ve seen the alert, you are protected and don’t need to take any further action. There is an option for more info, however, if you are interested.

Incoming attempts to access your computer are shown in a pop-up alert by ZoneAlarm. This inbound contact is coming from a computer on the same home network.
20.

If the alerts become too annoying, turn them off by opening ZoneAlarm, clicking Alerts & Logs (on the left side), and choosing Off, although I think the button should say Shut Up, You Are Driving Me Crazy.

Thankfully, you can turn the inbound alerts off in ZoneAlarm because they will eventually drive you bonkers.