Hehe. When I was a Win user, I used to check at GRC.com to make sure my computer was safe according to Steve Gibson, paranoiac in residence. I freaked out the first time I showed an open port and tightened my firewall security so that practically everything was blocked unless I specifically allowed it on a case-by-case basis. I think I went there once after I switched to Linux (Mandrake back then), and all ports were stealth except for one that was “closed”. After that, I didn’t think too much about it, but I was reading Ubuntu Forums and a new convert was asking about how to install a firewall. They told him he didn’t really need one, and I’d say that is probably so:

I installed Firestarter once or twice, but never really paid much attention to it beyond allowing Samba services. I didn’t bother this time, and didn’t bother to install ClamAV, either. Some Linux people do use an anti-virus, but it’s not to protect themselves, it’s to protect Windows users with whom they communicate. Know what I have to say to Windows users who can’t protect themselves from viruses? Two things. First, my rates are reasonable, and second, suck it–that’s what you get for using a POS. 😉