Hosting and security

Wish I could find a better title for this question, but that's one thing I've always been struggling with. By the time I've found a good title I've usually found the answer to what I'm asking aswell

Anyway, the question is: I've been making a couple websites and really don't feel like paying for web-hotels to store everything on, another problem using web-hotels is that the once I've tried often are limited to what script languages they support. So I were thinking if I might be able to use a server I got here at home to act as a dedicated server for my website? I guess I'll still have to pay for the domain, but should make things a bit easier and cheaper. Still there is one thing that's concerning me, virus, worms, hackers, crackers, I could probably go on forever but I think you got the point. How can I protect myself against these threats? what kind of firewalls, antivirus and other settings do I need to be safe (or atleast as safe as I possibly can be, I doubt there is no way of becoming 100% 'Safe'). What ports should stay open, what should I close. And how do I do that in the first place? Does a regular anti-virus and firewall do? (Norton etc.) Or do I have to have more advanced programs?

Many questions, alot of confusion, I understand if you can't answer them all. Sometimes what makes sence to my head, doesn't make sence to others. But answer to whatever you did understand and if you didn't understand any, well maybe you still have some wise words you would like to yell out loud?

Cheers, Throntel

I have a package that you install whoch will allow you to set up a home computer as a server, but I would have to advise against it!

A personal Computer is not designed to act as a webserver, webservers are designed to act as webservers Datacenters have extremely powerful uplinks, allowing fast connection and transfer rates to and from your derver, but if your home internet is not of a good speed for hosting a server (10mbps+) then I would not advise it.

If you wish for the package to install, drop me a message and i'll send you a download link

Yeah, first and formost, you need super-fast uploading capabilities. Cable or DSL won't even come close.

Okey, thanks for the replies... I'm currently trying to get a fast connection (was told it could be up to 20mb/s), but I guess untill the day I get it upgraded I'll stick with the online hosting services.

I would still like that download link if possible, just to have something to work with. Then maybe I'll know how the stuff works when I get the capasity to run a website from a local server...