Can anyone recommend a good firewall?
 

I'll be honest with you guys: I don't know shit about software, so I may be looking for the wrong sort of solution here. If that's the case, someone point me in the right direction.

Recently, I accidentally downloaded some sort of virus/spyware/something that has made using my computer a living hell. Ad-aware, Spybot, AVG7, Norton Antivirus, Stinger, none of them work. Hell, I can't even reformat my hard drive to get rid of it!

I'm hoping maybe putting up a good firewall will do the trick. Can anyone help me out here?

I use zone alarm.

www.zonealarm.com i think.

<font color=969696>Software firewalls are complete shit. You're best bet is to buy a router if you're really concerned. If you have a router, you're fine.</font>

First, if you already have the file on your computer, a firewall isn't going to help at all.
Second, if you are running Windows XP just use their firewall.

To get there:
1. Go to Start
2. Control Panel
3. Network Connections
4. Select what connection you use (If there is more then one repeat step 5 and 6 until you have all enabled connections set behind the firewall)
5. Right Click
6. Go to the "Advanced" tab and check the box under "Internet Connection Firewall"

I have ZoneAlarm

I have a router too though....so do I even need zone alarm?

If your router has a firewall (most likely it does as majority, if not all, do) then you don't really NEED it but it would still be good to have.