There are some good guides by the ccc, but unfortunately they're all in German.
Some recommend PFWs, but a PFW alone is no good protection and as written above they might add a potential risk. Happened in the past (see blackice & witty worm). Currently there are no known problems, but due to the complexity of the nowadays PFWs this might very well be just a matter of time.
f.e.: there's a remote control program that can easily bypass a PFW and all it needs is an internet browser with access to the internet (wwwsh). SelfDoS and autoclicker are other keywords.
One problem is that these PFWs get more and more complex and thus overcharge their users (well, at least joe average). If the user is not able to set up the PFW properly and simply doesn't know what he's doing, the PFW won't be any help.
http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/
Bibuy spyware and no lag cuz of firewall ingame
all personal firewalls are a potential risk
Some recommend PFWs, but a PFW alone is no good protection and as written above they might add a potential risk. Happened in the past (see blackice & witty worm). Currently there are no known problems, but due to the complexity of the nowadays PFWs this might very well be just a matter of time.
f.e.: there's a remote control program that can easily bypass a PFW and all it needs is an internet browser with access to the internet (wwwsh). SelfDoS and autoclicker are other keywords.
One problem is that these PFWs get more and more complex and thus overcharge their users (well, at least joe average). If the user is not able to set up the PFW properly and simply doesn't know what he's doing, the PFW won't be any help.
A better solution would be an external firewall.
http://www.firewallleaktester.com/