It is true that using a proxy server to connect to website, ftpsites, AIm, etc.. will hide your true IP address from people that want to |-|4><0r J00, but.. using a proxy server to connect to all these services, in no way takes away your need for a firewall....

A firewall will prevent folks from connecting directly to your machine. Just because you use a proxy server to browse the web, etc.. doesnt mean that no one can connect to your IP address and try to cause mischief.

A firewall can indeed be intrusive, and prevent you from running certain apps, however, it is worth it. And, if you figure out how to do it, it is possible to configure just about any firewall to allow just about any app you want to work... The thing you need to consider, and having to figure out how to configure your firewall gives you time to do this, is... do you really want to allow this app to bypass your firewall. Is it something that is really important to you, or, is it simply a convenience that you could easily do without, and that causes you to be exposed to too much risk.

A firewall is not simply a program or hardware device which keeps you safe.....

A firewall(configured initially in its most restrictive state) forces you to think about what you want to do on the net. Is this thing or that thing really worth the risk you incure.

Just the fact of having a firewall will not make you secure. The fact that a firewall prevents you from easily doing some things you may want to do, keeps you from doing some things that you shouldnt do.

IchNiSan