Interesting how close we are in what we use and how we use it. I have SBC DSL and I stealthed the router by going to the website www.2wire.com. Here is a link for the stealth function.

http://support.2wire.com/cgi-bin/two...i=&p_topview=1

Then there is a supplied Zone Alarm.

For passive - A2 Squared, Cws, Trend Housecall, HJT (keep a clean log to compare to), SpyBot, and the old AdAware, and Sygate.

I use a virtual PC also for quarantine and testing. Each item goes in to a file by itself for checking.

If surfing I make a RegBU (Registry Back Up) and place it on my Desktop for quick access for quick recovery.

The only thing I have to do when working my local network is to disable ZA. (Back ups from one computer to another) I have WIN98SE going strong to cover my older dependable hardware that XP will not recognize on one computer)

Sygate is used to manually block cookies from a website. And here is something. Some of the most trusted sites have the most cookies.

Still the rule for us as users is If we don't know what it is don't click on it.