Thanks to all of you who responded to my question about firewalls and cable modems. I have downloaded Firestarter and it seems to be offering me reasonable protection. I have it starting up when I log in to X because when I put it into the startup scripts (either /etc/rc.boot or /etc/init.d) it starts before ippp0 (my current connection to the Internet is ISDN, my cable modem is to be installed at the start of January) and throws up all sorts of problems. Starting it with X is fine, because if I log out of X the script protecting my box is still effective.
-- Phillip Deackes Using Storm Linux 2000