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Sorry for the vanity, but I've been dealing with a disaster here over the last couple of weeks since my ZoneAlarm software basically shut itseld down. Any help would be appreciated!

Use a hardware firewall as your first line of defense. Any hardware router will do that trick. Some will interface with Zone Alarm for configuration. Change all the default passwords on new hardware.

Enable the software firewall on your computer. If you don't have one, you can buy one. You only need one software firewall. It would be redundant however, a backup to the hardware firewall.

Do not install software off of the internet, unless it is obtained directly from the publisher. Do not download music, porn, or unlicensed software. Set up a limited user account for general, non-work use. Log into that user account when you anticipate that you'll be accessing sites on the internet of dubious safety.

When done for the day, flip off the router. That is turn it off.

both in tandem..The firewall is going to stop intrusions into your PC (by keeping many ports shut down). The anti-viral software stops malicious code from running on your system.

I'll just add, here's some reviews of the suites available:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1918728,00.asp

And here's some others and some articles:

http://www.pcmag.com/category2/0,1874,4829,00.asp

You're using XP Pro?

Rename the adminisrator account to something unguessable and give it a big password. Disable the guest account, in both places. Password generators are available at grc.com

Turn on the windows firewall, it works. Don't let ZA or McGagme or Symiantec turn it off.

Copy in a hosts file, a real one has at least 10,000 entries. Don't match to the loopback device, 127.0.0.1 . Match to the null device 0.0.0.0, or just plain 0 . komando.com will have a site, or you can google.

Run as a limited user, NOT admin or a power user.

Use FireFox with adblock + filter updater, noscript, user agent switcher, fasterfox, and scrapbook.

Do this, and be free.

You can add ZoneAlarm or Spybot Search and Destroy or Adaware if they don't drive you nuts.

And don't run as admin! And when you shut down, WinXP will ask if you want to install updates, never do so. Even though you've done all this, it's downloaded all sorts of spyware without installing. This is where you're pwnd.

Or you could have bought a refurb Mac Powerbook G4 15 inch like I did. Happy computing.

The hardware firewalls will let you put time restrictions and URL restrictions on your kids surfing. Not a bad idea if you have kids.

I don't know if anyone else will agree with me on this, but I'll tell you what's worked for me for Internet security for the last five years.

I simply keep ONE computer dedicated to being online and it does nothing else: no other programs besides browser, e-mail, printer and CD burner. I don't have ANY security on it at all and I don't even check for viruses. The computer always works properly but about once a year (to clean out any bugs or glitches which may have unknowingly accumulated) I backup any files I want to keep on the secondary partition (D) and reformat the primary partition (C) and then do a clean install of Windows and reinstall the browser, e-mail, printer and CD burner. The computer I use for this is a cheapo "obsolete" model that never needs upgrades because Internet browsing doesn't really require much in the way of performance.

I have other computers that I use for other purposes and I make sure that I never transfer anything from the Internet computer to any of them without being absolutely sure the transfered files are clean.

I was first advised to do this by a friend of mine who is a system administrator and he does this himself. He said he's never had problems doing this either.

Caution with too much protective software, as it can bog the system down.

I use Ad-aware for periodic scans, AVG free version for virus & email scanning, and Zonealarm free for firewall.

I used to have McAfee Virus and it got to be glutware. I then tried Trend Micro and it got to be glutware.

Allot depends what kind of surfing and downloading you do.

Also check out a little program called sandboxie (sandboxie.com). It creates a sandbox to contain your internet travels. If a problem occurs, etc., you just delete the sandbox. Be sure to move any keepable downloads outside the sandbox before deleting.

ZoneAlarm software basically shut itseld down

No, it probably didn't. I don't know what your system is like, but I'm sure- from the sounds of things- that you are running some version of Windows. One of the very first things the new malware programs [viruses, trojans, worms, spyware, etc.] do is try to disable or shut down Zone Alarm and any anti-virus programs running or installed. I seriously doubt that your problem was ZoneAlarm. Your problem was that you don't know anything about computers (no offense), and some malware zapped everything it could while infecting (or trying to) your system. And it probably happened way before you started seeing problems with "ZoneAlarm". Your machine was infected by something and that started causing problems with the anti-malware software. Believe me, I know. If you had a very good computer savvy tech look at your system, I'm sure he would find many malware files in it.

You should NEVER connect to the internet without being behind a router/firewall or some software firewall-- preferably both.

I think the new computer comes with anti-virus software package that can be upgraded for 12 months

Yeah, probably a rather useless "package" from one of the below compromised "security vendors".

I would recommend that you have someone [or pay someone- it will be worth it] to setup your system with hardware firewall and software firewall, plus a good anti-virus software. DO NOT use/subscribe to/rely on Norton or McAfee/NAI or M$ anti-virus programs- or Security Suites. They have all been and will continue to be, by company policy, compromised programs that won't really protect you. Surprisingly enough, there are actually free anti-virus programs that are better than the "package" you will buy or get with a computer.

Again, from what I have read in your postings, you should hire someone technically competent to setup your complete system and be able to call them to get you out of trouble when it happens. It is really worth the little bit that it will cost you- compared to the vast amounts of time, frustration, and business losses by trying to do-it-yourself to save money. You just don't know enough technical stuff and it will take much more to get to that level of knowledge, so paying someone who has gotten there and can do it right is worth it... and that doesn't mean taking it into the local CompUSA or Fry's "repair" shop.

Sorry to be such a pessimist, but I've been working with PC computers for over 25 years and know whereof I speak. When it takes about 3+ minutes before a new, clean computer connected to the internet is compromised by malware, it's gotten beyond doing it yourself for the average Freeper/computer user. Just 'cuz you know what a Netgear router is doesn't mean that you can set it up, set up the computer and all the anti-malware software and maintain it in the face of minute-by-minute changing threats.

Or you could move to something other than Windoze, and lower your threat levels exponentially.

Don't login with an admin account for daily use. Make your self an user account. This keep new software(spy ware and other junk)from have the necessary rights to be install. Only log on as admin if you need to change something or add software.

I'm trying to figure out the best way to protect it from spyware, adware, viruses, etc.

Would I be better off with the router or the software, or should I use them both in tandem to provide the best security?

IIRC Routers only stop inbound packets. A software firewall will allow you to also control outbound traffic, and can (hopefully) offer a last line of defense against spyware, trojans, etc. IMO A good firewall will check MD5 signatures, and run as a service (very deeply in the system).

And now it's time to dust of my list...

PC security-related links. All software listed is freeware or open source. Last Update: 07/22/2006
Anti-Virus: Antidote SuperLite Windows 95/98/98SE/ME, 2000/XP. On-demand virus checker. Detects, doesn't clean. No installation required. AntiVir® Personal Edition Windows 98/98SE/ME, 2000/XP. Avast Home Edition Windows 95/98/98SE/ME, 2000/XP. AVG Anti-Virus Windows 98/98SE/ME, 2000/XP. BitDefender Free Edition Windows 98/98SE/ME, 2000/XP. On-demand anti-virus program. ClamWin Windows 98/98SE/ME, 2000/XP. On-demand virus scanner. Detects, doesn't clean. F-Prot Antivirus The MS-DOS version is free. McAfee Stinger On-demand anti-virus/trojan. No installation required. Fits on a 3.5" floppy.	Alternatives to MSIE, Outlook & Outlook Express: Mozilla.org Firefox browser, Thunderbird E-mail client, Mozilla Suite (1.7.13 is the final release). Opera Supports tabbed browsing, etc. Easier on resources than Firefox, Mozilla/Seamonkey. Unlike Mozilla, Opera currently has no plans to drop support for Windows 9x/ME. Off By One The world's smallest and fastest web browser. No installation required. Popcorn E-Mail Small, no-frills e-mail client. Seamonkey The successor to the Mozilla Suite. Web-browser, e-mail/usenet client, IRC client, HTML editing, all in one application. Xnews Usenet client.
Anti-Adware/Spyware: Ad-Aware SE Windows 98/98SE/ME, 2000/XP. On-demand scanner (Select "Ad-Aware Personal"). SpywareBlaster Windows 95/98/98SE/ME, 2000/XP. Prevent the installation of spyware and other potentially unwanted software! SpywareGuard Windows 98/98SE/ME, 2000/XP. Full/real-time protection against spyware/malware. Spybot - Search and Destroy Windows 98/98SE/ME, 2000/XP. Offers on-demand scanning and full/real-time protection.	Firewall: New! Filseclab Personal Firewall Supports Windows 95/98/ME, NT 4.0, 2000/XP. (With Winsock2 update and IE 4.01 or later.) Kerio Personal Firewall 2.1.5 Windows 98/98SE/ME, 2000/XP. (Last freeware version) Tiny Personal Firewall 2.0.15A Windows 95/98/98SE/ME, 2000/XP. Tiny Personal Firewall 2.0.9 Windows 98/98SE/ME, 2000/XP. (Last freeware version) ZoneAlarm Free Download Note: Zonealarm is dropping support for Win9x/ME. Zonealarm at Oldversion.com For those who need a version compatible with Windows 9x/ME.
Technical Help: CastleCops Security Forums Cyber Tech Help Support Forum SpywareWarrior.com Forum VirtualDr Forums How To Ask Questions The Smart Way This guide will teach you how to ask questions in a way that is likely to get you a satisfactory answer.	How-to and Tutorial: Blocking Unwanted Parasites with a HOSTS File Don't surf the Net without it! PCWorld: How to Install a Firewall Using Ad-Aware SE Using Spybot - Search and Destroy
Useful sites, etc.: Firewall Test, Security Test and Security Scan Leak Test Test your firewall against internal extrusions (leaks). Shields Up Firewall Test. Spyware/Adware/Malware FAQ and Removal Guide SpwyareWarrior.com Waging the war against spyware! U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team	Miscellaneous Software: Dr. Web CureIT! Windows 95/98/98SE/ME, 2000/XP. On-demand, anti-malware (anti-virus/spyware). No installation required. Ping Plotter Internet diagnostic tool. Proxomitron Windows 95/98/98SE/ME, 2000/XP. A free, highly flexible, user-configurable, small, but very powerful, local HTTP web-filtering proxy. WinPatrol A robust SECURITY MONITOR. WinPatrol will alert you to hijackings, malware attacks and critical changes made to your computer without your permission.