I am trying to raise the bar on protecting my computer and have been reading about the importance of a hardware firewall router along with a software firewall. My question is wired or wireless? What is the difference between them? Which is better for 1 stand alone personal computer? I would like to be more active in p2p file sharing. I am currently using the Windows XP firewall, but plan on downloading the free version of Zone Labs. Thanks for the info.

From what I understand, as far as internet traffic is concerned(which p2p is part of assuming your talking about filesharing?), then wired and wireless provide the same security. With wireless routers there is(was?) concern of snoopers in the physical area picking up your communication, i.e. a neighbor listening in on your wireless waves. But that can be easily remedied by allowing certain MAC addresses access to your network, i.e. ones YOU own, like a laptop or another computer with a wireless receiver. Wired doesn't have that security concern. But I would go with wireless in case you ever pick up a laptop. It is much more conveneient.

Don't know that you need a router for a firewall. Zone Alarm should do. A wireless router is inherently less secure than a wired one. That's aside from all the problems getting wireless to work, as a casual look through the last few months' posts will reveal. M2 If at first you don't succeed, you're about average.

I would go with hardware router with software router.That's how I have mine setup. To learn more see: http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.com/webmaster/article.php/3103431 Also, in practice, wireless is as safe as wired: http://compnetworking.about.com/cs/homenetworking/a/homewiredless.htm