I've never rated a thread, and typically don't notice them, but who gave a "geek thread" like this 5 stars? Since I "am/was" a networking/communications geek, Dave, I must point out that blocking "ports" will not stop pings as they are not port specific, but a different protocol ICMP (as posted above) verses TCP or UDP. I'm kinky as I've had intimate relationships with Checkpoint firewalls and Cisco gear after a LONG time relationship with IBM mainframes and front end processors (communications controllers). Sometimes I miss "being in the game"...but not often
