"Users who still prefer a firewall should first check whether they are using a router with firewall functionality. If so, then no firewall is needed, including the one build in to Windows XP, reports PC Professionell."
I don't agree with the quote as even though I have a hardware firewall I still need Netveda to stop MS programs phoning home.
When I got my first router I quit using software firewalls all together. I had a hard time finding one that I liked and didn't take lots of resources. I do run netveda now without any problems and I'm glad I do but to be honest I don't feel any more secure now then I did before. I guess it is good that if anything got past my AV it wouldn't be able to connect to the internet but I haven't had viruses/spyware in a long time.