In a message dated 9/7/2006 2:29:15 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, DUNCHIGH@aol.com writes: I am afraid to mess with my firewall without knowing what I am doing ... can anyone out there guide me through the steps? I believe I may have two firewalls, but am not certain. I have the Security from AOL, does that include the Windows firewall that I find on my Control Panel? Gail, The AOL Safety and Security Center (SSC) firewall is different from the Windows Firewall from Microsoft. The Windows firewall will only protect you from incoming threats while the firewall in the SSC will protect you from both incoming threats as well as outgoing threats. If I were you I would turn off the Windows firewall and ONLY use the one in the SSC. You should not be intimidated by your own firewall! It works for you; you don't work for it....... Sharon Dulcich