my start up programs dont seem to start in any specific order and zonealarm is one of the last programs to start

ZoneAlarm always starts last because it has so many components to it.

I have mine listed first in a batch file of 7 programs and it still finishes last.

so in theory that means there is a small window of opportunity for you to be hacked (unlikely) or for programs to phone home ?

No, how do you figure that?

well if windows starts (and your always connceted to the net e.g. cable modem)and zonealarm doesn't start for say a minute isn't that enough time for your pc to be infected by a worm or for programs to phone home

Well it would be less than a minute, regardless, it would be impossible for anyone to do anything in that time.

If you are that worried, don't connect to the internet until your firewall is in place.

not too worried insomniac, just thought i would ask if there was a way to tighten the security up a little more by making it start first :bang:

cheers for your help :gabby:

I wouldn't worry, at least you have a firewall.

Most people don't, they just bumble on from day to day.

yeah i pity the newcomers to the internet today, within a couple of days their pc's will be bogged down by spyware, worms, trojans, popups, christ that would be nightmare for a newcomer lol

Correct me if I'm wrong about this but as the CPU usage is likely to be more or less 100% until all programs are started wouldn't this make it near impossible for programs to phone home or to be infected before Zonealarm is started, also I'd always assumed that windows starts all necessary programs before taking on more tasks (could be wrong though), just interested in others thoughts on this.