Firewall?

[buildingit]

Hi- I am probably posting this question in the wrong forum.....

but I just bought a new Toshiba Satellite Laptop- its my first laptop!!

I currently get anitvirus protection etc from my cable company. But with this laptop, if I use it at a coffee shop, I am wondering what I need for protection?

I think it is a firewall that I need? I remember if I hook up to the internet without protection, within seconds I get attempts to enter my computer- it is not viruses so much that I am worried about, it is these attempts to get into my computer.

Thank you for your help- I have been out of the technology loop for quite some time now.

[glc]

Exactly what package is the cable company giving you, and have you installed it on the laptop? If it's a full package, it should include a firewall. If not, the builtin Windows firewall should be adequate, just make sure it's enabled.

[buildingit]

It's called Shaw Secure- it's made by the company out of Finland- it is called F-Secure.

I haven't installed it yet. I just bought it hours ago. The Toshiba is still setting up, seemingly in some sort of loop doing "configuring system" of driver installation & rebooting. It has been doing this for about 30 minutes, I am getting concerned.!!!!

Thank you, I didn't realize that Windows now had an integrated Firewall.

My concern was that is the cable company's firewall would only work when I am using my cable company account? Not when using a coffee shops account.....

[glc]

If software installs on the computer, it works anywhere. F-Secure is good, but is it a full security package?

[buildingit]

Thank you GLC. I don't know. I know that it used to scan every file, including my itunes database file and it slowed my computer down terribly so I turned off a whole bunch of options. I don't even know what full security is, really.

But I am glad to know that it will always work regardless of the internet account.

[glc]

Full security - as in a firewall.

You know, you didn't have to BUY a security package. There are good freebies recommended here all the time. I thought you meant that it was complimentary from Shaw.

[buildingit]

Hi GLC, oh yes, it is complimentary from Shaw.

I mostly wanted to know if it would also work at a coffee shop.

But I am also thinking of getting rid of Shaw and my home account altogether and just using Roger's Rocket Stick and coffee shop accounts in which case I would have to get something- but that is down the road. At the moment I am more choked up over the sad, pathetic sound from this machine

[glc]

You would probably be fine with MS Security Essentials and the Windows firewall.

[buildingit]

ok thank you GLC. I am still not sure about the rocketstick. I will post later on that. I think that belongs in the laptop forum.