<quote>
The answer is NO. A modem does not have an inbuilt firewall. Are you sure its a modem and not a ROUTER ? </quote>

To clairfy, a DSL modem does not have a firewall, but most new-er DSL modems come with a built in switch/nat As such they can perform firewall features. What brandname and model modem do you have?

I currently work for one of those ISP's you speak of, and i can say with all honesty, the DSL modem firewalls are generally crap. I mean they may WORK... but they work like Notepad works... very simple edits/changes.

where as a client side firewall, like Nortan Internet Security (something i DONT recomend), would probably be better for ya.

hope that helps clairify things. Chances are your ISP isnt lying to you, however, they just dont want to tell you the whole truth (unless you ask it )