The configuration I posted in the other page is completely safe and works totally effectively, if you have a set up like mine.
I found that configuration by carefully researching each item in Components, one at a time.
The purpose was to demonstrate that you can achieve dramatic improvements in speed, safety and reliability by turning off what you don't use. I'm currently working on a similar configuration for W7.
I have a router, so use a Hardware firewall, which most routers have. A decent software firewall is, in my opinion, preferably to the Windows effort. Zone Alarm is a good as it gets. Some prefer Windows. As Elizabeth rightly points out, the choice is yours.
But you can check whatever firewall you use with Gibson Research's Shields Up routine. It has to be downloaded and run, online. for obvious reasons.
https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2
I don't have any networking. I do share my connection with my wife, who has several W7 Laptops using wireless. (Don't ask. She says she needs them and what can I know?). But if we need to exchange data ect, we do so with a pen drive. Lots of them.
If you have any further questions about Components, please just ask though. I will be more than pleased to give you as much information, along with sources, I have on each.
I found that configuration by carefully researching each item in Components, one at a time.
The purpose was to demonstrate that you can achieve dramatic improvements in speed, safety and reliability by turning off what you don't use. I'm currently working on a similar configuration for W7.
I have a router, so use a Hardware firewall, which most routers have. A decent software firewall is, in my opinion, preferably to the Windows effort. Zone Alarm is a good as it gets. Some prefer Windows. As Elizabeth rightly points out, the choice is yours.
But you can check whatever firewall you use with Gibson Research's Shields Up routine. It has to be downloaded and run, online. for obvious reasons.
https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2
I don't have any networking. I do share my connection with my wife, who has several W7 Laptops using wireless. (Don't ask. She says she needs them and what can I know?). But if we need to exchange data ect, we do so with a pen drive. Lots of them.
If you have any further questions about Components, please just ask though. I will be more than pleased to give you as much information, along with sources, I have on each.