Is it true that if you are using Broadband that you need to have a hardware firewall as well as software?

No! As long as either the hardware/software firewall is correctly configured (90% of people doesnt) it will be secure enough. Advanced hardware fw appliance are more secure and give more features.... but need a minimum of knowledge in networking and tcpip protocols.

Danny is right. 85 % of successful hacking or cracking activities caused by human error. It really depends on what you are. If you are a home user or small home business, than soft firewall is good enough. Of course you cant compared it with 500 US$ hard firewall, which is useful when you are at small or medium business. As private home user I use softfirewall and remember configure your firewall well and make a strict policy which means every internet traffic will not allowed untul you allow it urself. For review about softfirewalls go to: http://www.pcflank.com/art19.htm and http://grc.com/lt/scoreboard.htm I myself prefer ZoneAlarm (www.zonelabs.com). It is free for personal use and easy to configure.

Thanks for the info.right now I'm useing MacAfee and The built in XP Fire wall together. I dont allow any prog in or out without me knowing about it. I used ZA in the past liked it very much but got the McAfee for free. All the test sites Norton/Shieldsup etc gives me a good report so guess I'm OK. Again Thanks

Probing services offered on some security sites are not very effective since they only test incoming connection. Most of home user's computer doesnt have any listening services anyway. Most home user's security problem concern outgoing connection made by trojan (mainly to irc and smtp ports). Then it is important to staticly deny thoses port or restrict them to your ISP's irc/smtp servers. When infected by trojan virus, their computer use smtp or irc to send confidential information, ann/or use irc channel to receive attack directive from hackers. Not all firewall will either detect or deny those outgoing trafic. Some firewall prompt user when specific application try using your net connection, and most of them click "yes" each time or set the software to "auto/learn mode".

Wow. So it is true our schools are totally incompetent at teaching the English language. It's called proofreading boys and girls, do it.