Corporate networks protect their Servers and Workstations by configuring a firewall to prevent intruders from hacking back into their systems via the company's internet connection. But once users leave the corporate buildings and connect to the web from home or a hotel room, their data is vulnerable to attack. Personal firewalls such as BlackIce and ZoneAlarm are an effective and inexpensive layer of security that take only a few minutes to install. Although Windows XP comes with a personal firewall, it does not attempt to manage or restrict outbound connections at all. We recommend using a good third-party personal firewall to secure your Windows XP workstations. If you want to test how much information your personal firewall "leaks out" to the web, try the online leak test at
GRC*|*LeakTest -- Firewall Leakage Tester**
