Jackie, it does seem not all hardware firewalls are equal. Something called "stateful packet inspection" is incorporated into some, including the Linksys and Netgear firewalls. No idea what this actually is, but it is supposed to be better than not having it. From Ray I can be contacted off-list at: mailto:ray-48@xxxxxxxx -----Original Message----- Jackie Cairns I bough to your superior knowledge Steve, but I've always been told to use whatever is going as well as the router for added protection. Jackie ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq