Urgent Security Advice Needed

Here is my situation,
For some reasons i am on an old AMD Athlon 600 MHz CPU with 512 RAM junk machine (Windows XP SP2 Pro), and will have to stay on it for a while.
After the last virus attack I hardly recovered from, I feel I can’t rely anymore on Windows Firewall, it just doesn’t do anything to protect me.
I would really appreciate an advice for an alternative Firewall that would be protecting better than Windows Firewall, but would take just as many resources as Windows Firewall does.
Please consider seriously that I am on an old machine and working with monsters like Photoshop, every bit of RAM and CPU power matters to me, and i would kindly ask you to advice me only software you are sure about (not just for advertising purposes), and have tested it and know what you are talking about.

p.s. by the way I am really want to know:
1. How many resources take Windows Firewall and where can I check such data?
2. How exactly can I check if my Windows Firewall is really running (and doesn’t just appear as ON in control panel, or Security Center) because after the last attack I am not sure anymore if my firewall is running at all…

to try your firewall go here

https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2

512 is not a lot of RAM for running all those programmes you'll need more

what other security programmes have you got running?

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Windows firewall does pretty decent job regarding inbound traffic, so it may be not your main culprit with getting infected.
Windows firewall totally fails most of outbound traffic tests (leaks), but this is another issue.
I'd recommend turning Windows firewall off, and install Comodo: http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/

The more important question is what antivirus, and antimalware programs you're using. Is verything up to date?

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Given your limited 512MB RAM memory, you might be better off with 'Sunbelt Personal Firewall'(formerly known as Kerio). The stated RAM requirements for it are 10MB versus 64MB for 'Comodo':
http://www.sunbelt-software.com/Home.../Requirements/

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Vincent P

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You may also want to look at Avast Home FREE edition however I think the overhead may be a little too much for your .

I've been using it over a year now, with ZERO problems.

Well, for the same reason i only run Symantec Corporate 10 and Windows firewall.

I find here plenty of usefull advices.
Thanks much for that.
I was wondering which firewall takes more resources Jetico or Sunbelt Personal Firewall? Any ideas?
Thanks.

You may want to get an antivirus with 'Proactive Defence' so if a virus gets past the firewall it will be detected and removed straight away.
I would recomend Kaspesky 7.0 (Can be downloaded here: http://www.kaspersky.com/trials)

Minimum memory usage appears to be about the same as Sunbelt:
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/archi.../t-186664.html

__________________
Vincent P

MALWARE: READ FIRST Procedures:
|_ SpyBot V1.5 _|_ HijackThis LOG __V2.0.2 _|

__
ASAP: promoting a high standard and quality of security support no matter where you seek help.

Thanks for info on Jetico.
I am kind of thinking to go for it.