[FoFai]

Yesterday my Comodo Firewall Pro gave me huge problems. First it did something with my LAN's ISP connection (is it even supposed to have one), then later blocked three ports, preventing Windows XP SP3 from accessing the internet. As a result, I couldn't use IE or Firefox.

I was able to use MSN Messenger oddly enough, and asked a friend to find a computer repair person. Through sheer luck I got a number for someone who was driving two minutes away, and he came by and diagnosed the problem; Comodo. Apparently the newest update messed my computer up.

He uninstalled Comodo and set me to using the Windows firewall. He said SP 3 is good enough to keep out threats. Frankly I miss Comodo; it made me feel a lot safer than the "everyone writes viruses for this firewall" that Windows XP uses.

Is there some other firewall program I should be using instead? Or is XP SP 3 good enough to guard my computer?

[lawson_jl]

Your concern about the Windows XP firewall is unwarrented. The XP firewall is just as good as any other firewall out there and you aren't any safer using Comodo, Zone Alarm or any other software firewall product. If you want to be safe then you need a hardwall firewall like a router for protection. That is the only way you can be sure your protected.

[FoFai]

Well that's good to know. Thanks. I keep meaning to buy a router, but I know nothing about them.

[lunarlander]

You should get a router, even if you have only 1 pc. Otherwise, people on the internet can reach your PC. A router uses NAT, and shares the one public IP address ( from your ISP ) among several internal computers. NAT is sorta a firewall, but is not as good as SPI ( Stateful Packet Inspection ). Some routers have both, like the Linksys BEFSX41.