3. There are companies that offer free general help for simple questions and then charge a sliding scale for more complicated ones. Support Freaks (www.supportfreaks.com) is a good one to try. Even if you have to pay, rates are reasonable. Click on "Freebies" link, under "Quick Links" menu to see if your question is eligible for free help.

4. There are probably any number of local PC support groups that meet in libraries and other locations near your home. Some of these groups are very specific in nature and some are general. Try searching Google for "PC Support Group" or "PC User group" and name of your town. Also check with your local librarian and computer stores. They often know of these groups.

5. Speaking of computer stores, you can often pick brains of more knowledgeable salespeople if you are lucky enough to find any. Many times these employees love computers so much that they will act as your big brother or sister if you need some quick help. Sometimes they moonlight as consultants at a good rate.

This ought to be enough information to get you started on road to solving your next PC or software problem. If you are having Internet connectivity problems then your ISP is first place to start. If you can't get online at all, and you don't think you know their phone number, think again. I'll bet that it's printed on every bill that they send you. You'll also need your account number and you can bet that it's printed on bill as well.

Remember -- When it comes to getting technical support help, first rule is: Don't Panic!

If you feel comfortable installing and configuring hardware, then you might want to consider a hardware firewall in form of a Cable/DSL router. The hardware firewall handles everything on its own without any input from you and you also won't have to read any reports or make any decisions. The firewall handles everything on its own. Installation, however, can be tricky, so this option is definitely more suited to advanced computer user.

My Firewall is Installed. Now I'm Safe, Right?

With your new firewall in place you are probably thinking that your computer is impenetrable, right? Well, maybe not. As important to security of your system as a firewall is, some do have their limits. Most software firewalls won't scan your system for viruses that can harm your computer and there aren't any hardware firewalls on market that offer virus protection. That means that you are still vulnerable to attack.

The best line of defense against viruses that can harm your system is anti-virus protection.You can either buy a seperate anti-virus program or shop around for a software firewall with anti-virus protection built-in. You may never be able to make your computer 100% hacker-proof, but installation of a firewall coupled with anti-virus protection will greatly reduce your chances of becoming a hacker's next victim.