The free Jetico Personal Firewall for Windows solves many Internet
security problems by blocking dangerous outbound connections. Every
time a program tries to make an outbound connection, you get a
notification, and you decide whether to allow it or not. Let
familiar and safe programs through; don't let dangerous ones make
the connection. (If you're not sure what to do, search Google for
the file name, and you?ll quickly find out whether it's safe or
not.)
If you're sure the program is a safe one, choose "Handle as
Application Trusted Zone," when allowing it through so that it can
make outbound connections without you having to allow it through
ever time. If you instead select "Allow this Activity," you'll be
asked every time the program needs to make an outbound
connection.
The firewall also includes a traffic monitor, and a log that
keeps track of all network events.
--Preston Gralla