Firewall may be Blocking it!

Any personal computer running Microsoft™ Windows needs to have a 3rd party firewall of some sort protecting direct access to the computer.  A preferred method is to use the Firewall of a Router.  If you do not have a Router with a Firewall and you have a Cable or DSL Modem from your Internet Service Provider (ISP) a 3rd party Firewall is recommended.  To test the Firewall of a Router or your current protection click on Fire Wall Testing Instructions.  AND, if you want to learn more about 3rd Party Firewalls or have have a 3rd Party Firewall that could be blocking a Programs Internet access the internet Mozilla Firefox support page has excellent information;

http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Firewalls

Security Essentials from Microsoft, Free and Top Rated!

There is some great news for personal and business computer users surviving on a shoe-string budget.  Microsoft Security Essentials™ has rated as 1 of 3 top Anti-Malware (Anti-Virus) software in a pool of security software tested by AV-Comparatives (Independent Labs) in the November 2009 results.  This means that there is now a FREE active anti-malware software option available without any caveats except that the computer is a Windows based operating system.  This is a significant event since the previous Anti-Malware software tested from Microsoft™ only received the Standard rating.