For whatever
lurks out there, you can rely on
McAfee Personal Firewall Plus version 5.0 to
secure your PC. The software effectively performs
one task-placing a protective barrier between
criminals on the Internet and the personal information
on your PC. And it not only blocks online thieves
but lets you trace the source of hacker attacks
and alert authorities.
The software
places a firewall, an always on-guard
barrier between hackers and your hard drive that
blocks access to sensitive files, financial records
and personal data. It also denies outbound Internet
access to malicious applications (spyware, trojans
and remote-control agents) that might surreptitiously
transmit data to hackers, while "fingerprinting"
trusted programs to connect without unnecessary
or false alarm alerts. An improved application
database offers details about connecting programs.
Graphical maps show the source of hostile attacks and traffic worldwide, including detailed contact/owner information from originating IP addresses and all subsequent steps to your PC. The improved Visual Trace geographical data helps pin-point the locations of intruders. And links to a dedicated anti-hacking database and Worldwide Hacker Activity Map offer tips on responding to attacks and provide channels to e-mail online authorities of hacker events. If you like, you may also block selected IP addresses.
The program is easy to install and use. There's an easy wizard that steps you through the installation and configuration process. Computer novices should encounter no problems. Once installed, the program offers a Web page style interface that is simple and easy to understand. We found that the program offered adequate protection and offered a good number of options. With these options, you may set the program to an alert level that gives good protection but doesn't trigger a lot of false alarms.
Since anti-virus software goes hand in hand with a firewall to protect a PC, we recommend that you consider McAfee Internet Security Suite that comes with both the firewall and McAfee anti-virus software. You'll pay more, but the suite is more cost effective than buying the anti-virus and firewall programs by themselves. You'll also save money by downloading Personal Firewall from McAfee's Web site and not purchasing the box version.
If you use the Internet, you need to secure your PC. And for this, McAfee Personal Firewall Plus version 5.0 offers solid firewall protection.
2/11/04 www.daytrum.com Editorial Staff
