That's confusing, then why do you think this happened (this is from another post of mine): "Well this doesn't look good and appears to certainly be a problem: what I did for now, was undo the Immunize area, and that set the hosts file back to default, empty. I then enabled it again and what I added was gone! So much for that. I would think the same problem will happen with new SpyBot updates." Have you tried updating with SpyBot since you added the MVP file? I would guess SB would overwrite the MVP data. Where is that update utility you mentioned? Oh I will never deny there's problems with FW's, I've had my share with Outpost, Sygate and KIS. But the alternative is worse. Mine has stopped countless forms of malware. -Clint God Bless Clint Hamilton, Owner http://www.OrpheusComputing.com http://www.ComputersCustomBuilt.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "Hugh Vandervoort" The MVP Hosts file I downloaded is 603 KB. After immunizing with Spybot, it's 867 KB. My assumption is that Spybot added to the file, hence the "Added by" entry. The MVPS site has a utility that includes an "update" mode that just adds entries. The firewall quote is from someone else, and is just an example of the many thousands of problems that people have had with firewalls. IMHO, and I realize that people disagree, firewalls are much more trouble than they're worth for the average user. That's from my extensive with average users. I outlined my security techniques previously. Clint Hamilton-PCWorks Admin wrote: > Yes I too have that exact area created by SpyBot, but again > what I'm saying is that area is NOT in the MVP hosts file > version, and I'm still wondering how to incorporate both. > That > site John mentioned may have the answer, > http://www.abelhadigital.com/, but it seems to have many bugs > in it: "ATTENTION: This release doesn't fix many bugs that > were > reported after v3.1.55, but (most of them) are fixed in the > UNstable version (3.2)." > > Is that a quote from someone else or your words about Comodo? > I've never used it, so I can't say anything about installing > or > uninstalling it, but currently it's the highest ranking FW > out > there. Many if not most FW's and AV software are plagued > with > installation and uninstallation issues. I guess the simplest > one out there is Zone Alarm. > > It's certainly one's own prerogative to use or not to use a > FW, > but it's incredibly risky not too. At the very least, XP's > Native FW should be enabled, and a router be used that has a > FW > in it. A hardware router FW is seamless, I've used many and > I've never once had any issues with them, and there's never > any > prompts from them. Even with just a hardware FW from a > router, > a PC can past most tests at FW testing sites. One is > certainly > potentially going to have far more problems getting their > PC's > hardware and personal info hacked from lack of a FW, over any > issues learning how to use one. That's what ERUNT (or other > system restore) is for. ;-) > -Clint ========================= The list's FAQ's can be seen by sending an email to PCWorks-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with FAQ in the subject line. To unsubscribe, subscribe, set Digest or Vacation to on or off, go to //www.freelists.org/list/pcworks . You can also send an email to PCWorks-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with Unsubscribe in the subject line. Your member list settings can be found at //www.freelists.org/cgi-bin/lsg2.cgi/l=pcworks . Once logged in, you have access to numerous other email options. The list archives are located at //www.freelists.org/archives/pcworks/ . All email posted to the list will be placed there in the event anyone needs to look for previous posts. -zxdjhu-