I googled "gaming and reliable firewalls" and got http://www.escanav.com/english/content/products/generic_eScan/eScan_usp.asp

I can't speak for it pro or con and have no experience as I'm not a gamer. Perhaps you should ask a friend about what he or she uses.

Doesn't windows come with a firewall?  My Xp says the firewall is 'up.'  Am I missing something?

Built in Windows Firewall is all you need besides what would be on your router.  Don't waste your money on other products.

The firewall that comes with ESET's System Security is by far the best I've ever used. Check it out. It's very highly rated.

Oh now I'm curious: Why are you here then?

No f'in idea.

But isn't Windows' firewall basic and thus somewhat risky? I've never heard/read someone actually praise Windows Firewall!

I'm using the antivirus. If the whole security suite shabang is what is being recommended, I'd best wait until that subscription ends then.

Well...I'm asking people for recommendations from their experience, rather than Googling things and buying something I have no knowledge of. :/

Because this isn't a gaming site, it's a customization/skinning site.

I've run Zone Alarm. It's by far the best. (I think Yrag would back that up)

However, any additional firewall is going to use more resources and Zone Alarm did not do squat to prevent two major attacks on my PC.

Here is what appears to be an intelligent article on firewalls, anti-virus, and anti-spyware software.

Protecting Myself from Spyware and Adware  

The article is four years old, but interestingly lists a lot of the programs mentioned here, most of which have proved their worth over the years and are still popular and must haves for a lot of folks. 

Lifehacker also has their reader survey of the top five firewalls here

Five Best Windows Firewalls

And they have another article, very recent, touting Microsofts Security Essentials as the best anti-virus around.

Microsoft Security Essentials 2 Released, Still the Best Darn Antivirus Around

I never had that problem. I had more annoying problems, blocking the oddest programs and trying to configure around it.

After I chucked my last infected PC, I didn't bother with Zone Alarm. I use Spybots TeaTimer to monitor changes and run Spyware Blaster. AT this point, I'm mature enough to know that if my PC gets infected, it's most likely MY fault. A lot of it is just common sense, especially on strange links and emails.

However, I was a member at Lifehacker. After they got hacked, I spent two days changing passwords, etc. I installed LastPass on all of my computers. And I get a little anxious everytime I check my email or log on somewhere. I would love to see someone like Yrag do an article on the best ways to protect your computer and your personal information. I have considered reinstalling ZoneAlarm, but honestly don't know that I need it or if it's worth it or not. I do some gaming with STOL and DCU, but that's all for gaming. The majority of my downloads are either skins (here and DA) or updating my current programs.

Well,in my opinion  the best thing to do for you is to uninstall your antivirus and/or firewall(unless are purchased ones,in that case you can wait for the licence expiring)and install last version of Kaspersky Internet Security 11.0.2.556.It has the best firewall around at the moment and,besides,a Gaming Profile option that allows you for an accurate and specific configuration.

If you think it's too expensive (but in this period there should be some interesting offers in market) another excellent firewall is Comodo(freeware)but I don't use it,so I don't know what kind of settings options it offers. Windows default firewall was nearly useless before Microsoft Security Essentials,but I don't know about it as well having installed Kaspersky.

What I know for sure is that Kaspersky Internet Security firewall is excellent and,above all,has got a Gaming Profile specific settings option.Hope it can help.

The best firewall is one that is not installed on your computer!

Why?

I assume that you use a privileged user (admin rights) to do your gaming and browsing, right? (Installing apps is a hassle in Win otherwise). So after clicking on something nasty on the web, a malicious code can be executed, gaining your (admin) rights, and it can proceed to install a rootkit, switch off your firewall, open a backdoor, whatever it pleases.

But if your firewall is installed on, say, a router all traffic must past through (most ADSL modems have some form of an IP filtering), you can still retain control over to what passes in and out of your network. If you are really paranoid, you can run a little audit from time to time and look at the packets your computer sends out - if you see suspicious outgoing TCP to webservers on strange adresses, IRC channels or high port on some ADSL users or unnamed IP blocks, or loads of spam, well, your computer is probably already compromised. Reinstall and try again!

I play online games and I have configured hardware firewall for my computer so that it doesn’t affect while playing games. I will recommend you to opt for hardware firewall. You can try XTM 2 series firewall appliance from WatchGuard which is currently configured with my computer.

"W...what?? This is the forum/website for Sins of a Solar Empire! :/

Even if this was just a skinning, modding etc. site, what does it offer customisation and skinning of?

Are you telling me you only bought this game just to be an artist/programmer, not to actually play it, or are on this site just to be a designer"

Stardock is more than Games...it's also about GUI customizing software 'for' Microsoft's OSes.

There are several sites sharing these Forums...where some topics such as this one appear on ALL the sites as "Personal Computing" [for example] applies to all of Stardock's users/customers and is thus accessible from/on all the sites...