I have two computer at home. Both of them are inecfted with worms and viruses and adwares. I cleaned both of them by reformating and re-installing the op sys.
But that didn't last. Within month, pop ups, adware and viruses are back. I have programes installed on my computer that I have no idea what they are.
Could these be prevented by buying fire wall? If I installed a fire wall, would it prevent adwares, pop upds, virueses and worms and being hijacked?

Or do I need virues scanner?

Or both?

Most importantly you need to install windows updates after an OS install. Secondly you need a real-time protection antivirus program.

A firewall would add extra security beyond that but shouldn't be necessary. A good spyware program should only be necessary if you install alot of programs and don't read about 3rd party software that is bundled with it.

If you install a firewall now it will not help you. You need to start all over again do windows updates, install antivirus, and maybe even a firewall. That should do it.
Remember Windows updates and antivirus. That is the key. But won't help after its all messed up.
-DF

ABIT NF7-S v2.0
2500+@2.2GHz(11x200)
512MB HyperX (2-2-2-11)

http://computing.net/windowsme/wwwboard/forum/41772.html

Firewalls stop people from getting into your system, essentially by making your computer ports invisible to other internet users. Viruses, Worms, Trojans and a host of other adware problems will NOT be stopped by a firewall. Firewalls stop people from putting things on your computer or taking control of it!

Firewalls are highly recommended for any broadband internet connection. Additionally, anyone NOT using AntiVirus Software should be confined to a rubber room and further restrained by a straightjacket until some sort of sanity develops to ensure they are unable to harm themselves or others.

_________________________
The internet is no longer a toy, it's a COMBAT ZONE!

<iFirewalls stop people from getting into your system, essentially by making your computer ports invisible to other internet users. Viruses, Worms, Trojans and a host of other adware problems will NOT be stopped by a firewall. Firewalls stop people from putting things on your computer or taking control of it!

This is what software firewall does. There's another kind of firewall known as router NAT or hardware firewall. NAT is a technology that hides your private IP address from the public IP. Software firewall and NAT coexist with each other very well.

i_XpUser

here is a list of software this forum likes. It is at the top of this forum. Most of have these products or similar ones.

http://computing.net/security/wwwboard/tools.html

A firewall is good but you need a lot more. Antivirus is most critical.

NAT by itself is not really a firewall.
Firewalls do a lot more than address translation. This site has some good info on the differences.
http://computing.net/security/wwwboard/tools.html