Firewall for dial up connection?

Download and install Zonealarm firewall ..

Sunray

Some other firewalls are

Kerio is good: http://www.kerio.com/us/kpf_home.html

Tiny Personal Firewall: http://www.tinysoftware.com/home/tiny2?la=EN

Also I would download some spyware removal tools and check for them

Spyware/Adware removal tools:
------------------------------

What is spyware : http://www.spychecker.com/spyware.html

SpyBot-S&D : http://www.webattack.com/download/dlspybot.shtml 

Ad-aware : http://www.webattack.com/download/dladaware.shtml 

Trojan Remover :http://www.simplysup.com/

HijackThis : http://www.webattack.com/download/dlhijackthis.shtml 

KL-Detector  :http://www.webattack.com/download/dlkldetector.shtml

X-Cleaner Free  :http://www.webattack.com/download/dlxcleaner.shtml

SpywareBlaster  :http://www.webattack.com/download/dlspywareblaster.shtml

SpywareGuard :http://www.webattack.com/download/dlspywareguard.shtml

SpySites  :http://www.webattack.com/download/dlspysites.shtml

Keylogger Hunter :http://www.webattack.com/download/dlklhunter.shtml

Spycop: http://www.spycop.com/

BHODemon : http://www.spywareinfo.com/downloads/bhod/

Browser Hijack Blaster : http://www.wilderssecurity.net/bhblaster.html

Goodbye Spy http://www.topshareware.com/GoodBye-Spy-download-2012.htm

Other spyware removal instructions: http://www.pchell.com/support/click2findnow.shtml


online virus scanner:
---------------------

http://housecall.trendmicro.com/ 

http://security.symantec.com/

http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/com/activescan_principal.htm

http://www.pcpitstop.com/antivirus/default.asp 

DOS based : http://www.f-prot.com/download/download_fpdos.html


Sunray

What I am really interested in is some background on the risks involved.  

Is it possible for a hacker to break into my system and start copying files?

You first need to update your machine with all updates. Check for spywares and virus at the first place.
have a very good firewall installed ..

Even with all these an hacker can come inside if he is really smart enough but chances are reduced having a good firewall ..
He can send a spyware that can monitor your system and can send him back with your system password .. Hence you need to check for spywares and trojans. Now having all the latest security updates will also help ...

Sunray

Thanks Sunray.  

Just to be clear, you are referring to whatever patches that are available from MS?

Yes

Sunray

Sunray,

THanks for all the info, but Joseph_Moore answered my question in the most direct way.  I'll post points for you as well.

dw