Zonealarm & ISP

[polybear]

I'm in the process of setting up my first home computer for internet access. NTL want too much money for broadband (i've got ntl phone at the moment) so I'm going back to a BT phoneline (you can keep the ntl phone number when doing this). Any suggestions for a good ISP please?

Also, I've just purchased Zonealarm Internet Security Suite 2005 from Amazon (14 quid!) - I only received a CD in a case (i.e. no large outer box or documentation). Is there normally some sort of documantation, or is it all done "on-line"? Also, is there now a 2006 version? Would I have been better off buying this, or will my version get the "free updates" to become 2006 when I install it? And finally, should I install any other security software (preferably free stuff) to go with my Zonealarm, or does the Zonealarm "do it all"? Many thanks.
P.S Sorry for so many questions - I'm new to this and don't want to get it wrong!

Polybear.

http://www.download.com/3001-10435_4-10465074.html

download and use the serial you got with your copy

[patrickp]

Or look on the CD: there should be documentation there.

The Zone Alarm Security Suite should do it all - however, I'm not familiar with "Zonealarm Internet Security Suite 2005" - they don't usually use year numbers in their nomenclature. There is a "Zone Alarm Security Suite 6." Normally with ZA, you pay so much to buy it, then a smaller amount (for ZASS it's $24.99 - about £17 including VAT) for a year's updates. It's no good without the updates, because they include the updated antivirus definitions; you don't want to miss out on those.

Personally, I use ZA with Antivirus - costs about £20 to buy and about £13.50 a year to update. For popups, spam and stuff like that, I use Firefox and Thunderbird - free and good. Firefox includes its own popup blocking, but the best solution is to install the Adblock or Adblock Plus extension.

[polybear]

Thanks for your help - much appreciated.
Polybear

[basa]

You could also have used ZAs free firewall with any of the free AVs. Not much to choose between them IMO and you could've saved a few quid.

As for ISPs there is Wanadoo, Tiscali, Bulldog (ex Cable & Wireless), Virgin Net & Pipex. All seem comparable. For my money Pipex seems a good deal from a reliable company.