>>Thanks Alex. I guess the reason why I entertained the idea of more than one f/ws was tha, as they were free, maybe each wasn't as up-to-the-minute as it could be so that each may complement the other deficiencies.
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>Actually, the up-to-the-minute feature is the reason I'm using abandonware firewall. Any hacker out there will be inventing tricks to fool ZA et al, but what's the appeal to crack something that isn't even supported anymore, that very few people actually use?

Yes but, if it's not up-to-date then how does it combat those naughties that want in your 'puter?
It's one thing trying to hack past a f/w - another being able to just step over the stile.
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>My choice, currently, is SyGate: http://smb.sygate.com/ and that's the last freebie version before they were bought by, guess who: Symantec. And don't even try that link, it goes straight to the site of your favo(u)rite security provider. I had to google out some places where it can still be downloaded.