I have installed avast! and have run a quick scan .
My firewall is off…should I turn it on?
Absolutely turn it on.
What firewall/OS is it?
Windows Vista Home Premium (sounds like a restaurant 
)
Yep. It has a built in firewall that is adequate.
Need any advice on how to do that?
Thanks. I turned it on when the alert came up. I think I turned it off by moving the resident protection slider without realizing it. I have to hold my mouse on it and move slowly and then the visual of the switch moves…kinda like lag. So I suppose that It stayed off when I finally figured out the slider with lag !
Thank you. I ran my first scan…no viruses ! Woot.
Congratulations.
Thank goodness^^
-= You may also consider an antispyware/antimalware to scan your system like Malwarebytes Antimalware [in case, it slips over avast’s defense ]…
-= Congratulations too…
Vista already got Windows Defender 
-= I have it always turned off… Don’t know why… Just like MBAM more…
-= By the way, I heard that Vista has a firewall different from XP…?
Vista firewall is different from XPs. It has outbound protection. This is apparently difficult to set up from within the firewall.
-= A… :o Thanks…
You might be interested in this.
I have no idea how good it is. (I use XP)
-= Very promising… But I use XP… By the way, is Windows Firewall enough or should I still download another firewall…?
It’s always good to download another third-party firewall (many good ones have been discussed on this forum already) because the built-in firewall works well for INCOMING protection, but does not do OUTGOING protection. A third-party firewall would help prevent third-party programs from accessing the internet and other computers in case you get infected.
Try comodo firewall, or zone alarm free. Be sure to make sure that you install the “FREE” versions, without any add-ons, or search around the forum or Google for other suggestions.
-= ok… I’ll go for Comodo Firewall…
Watch out, CIS Comodo Internet Security is the actual download, only install the firewall component as it comes with an AV.
Be sure to make sure that you install the "FREE" versions, without any add-ons
-= Oops… Comodo was a big file… It might take a lot of time in my slow connection so I searched for other Firewalls that are smaller in size… I found this Agnitum Outpost… Is it good…? Does it slow down internet speed…?
As any other firewall… it’s a good one, why would it slow internet speed more than any other firewall?