Thanks shawn. <well yes and no. If I was using such software on my computer, hopefully my own protection would alert me to it and maybe even get rid of it.
Off hand, I cannot think of any software I have on my computer which would have any reason to access the web.
During my own, amateur but almost continuous, experimenting with MS beta products, I often operate for long periods, due to reinstalls, without any firewall at all. This is through a separate computer with a direct broadband connection. I think it would be safe to say that, over a period of about five years, I don't think I have had any serious attack, or passed one on. The only irritant,no more than that, which I have had, was through spamming mail.
I raised the point deliberately as I earnestly believe that the average user is becoming over neuorotic about malware problems. Of course we must take precautions, however.