a firewall is a program that can be told to monitor things like cookies, Javascript pop-up ads, attempts to 'contact' your computer by un-invited guests(benign or nasty), and to do what YOU want about these various intrusions. There are several free ones which are nice, with varying features.

alternatives to Outlook Express?...LOTS of free choices, and a few paid ones... Katlaughing just switched to EudoraMail (which I use)..and says she loves it...there is also FoxMail, CalypsoMail, Pegasus...and several others.

more info & links on request

'spaw...I have had several times recently where ICQ was not responding, and Trillian worked perfectly...it does NOT have the chatrooms like ICQ uses for the MudChat...but for daily contacts, it simply acts very much like ICQ and does most of the same things, except faster. I don't use it 'instead of' but as a back-up...