what to use???

[daveyg]

hello all.
ill start this out by saying im a newbie to internet security because i just got broadband and i didnt bother with it back in the day of 56k.
i have a new computer and i want to start using a firewall and i basically have 3 different options and i am just looking for some advice on which to go with.
i can use my firewall that came integrated with windows xp, or i have a disk with zone alarm on it, or my third option is norton "internet security 2002."
also, will running a firewall hurt my download speed or upload speed and will it hurt online gaming. i like to host games sometimes or run a dedicated server for games like sprint car racing. i only run a server if im playing though, if im not, i keep my server down.
anyways...thanks for any info or advice.
daveyg.

[Dakota]

You'll want to use Zone Alarm. The XP firewall is a minimum deal. It's okay if you have nothing. Norton....I dunno too much about that. I'd guess it's a resource hog though like most their other stuff.

A firewall will not snarf any bandwidth with it, so you'll be fine there. You should be running something though, at all times when online.