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Going head-to-head with the Norton Internet Security 2002 suite (which comprises Personal Firewall, Antivirus, privacy and parental controls) is McAfee's latest combo, the identically named Internet Security. It was formerly sold under the Internet Guard Dog moniker.
Rather unsurprisingly, this has a pretty similar bill of fare, comprising Virusscan 6.0 and Firewall 3.0 (which includes content filtering).
Like Norton Internet Security 2002, the latest release coincides with Windows XP and all the components are now compatible with the new operating system. Windows XP was bad news for many firewall and antivirus programs as it broke or interfered with most of their products. As a result they had to be upgraded.
McAfee has taken this opportunity to revamp and harmonise each utility's user interface, something that is long overdue. The components now mimic the pastel hues and the look and feel of a typical XP window, even though you might be running Windows ME, 9x, NT or 2000.
They all feature a standardised installation front end, too. However, unlike Symantec's Norton range of utilities, there is no attempt to group the McAfee utilities behind a common console when you have more than one of them installed.
Installing McAfee Internet Security is very simple and, by default, sets its defences to medium-high. But if that level of protection isn't good enough, you can run McAfee's Internet Security Check, an 11-item inspection of the PC's current protection status from firewall to antivirus update status. Any flaws will be fixed automatically.
McAfee Virusscan 6.0 boasts some improvements in its ability to detect the newer types of worms and viruses. It now features Hawk (Hostile Activity Watch Kernel) technology, which monitors your system for suspicious activity.
For example, if the utility detects files with 'double extensions' (such as.txt.vbs) or the sending of an email to more than 40 names in your email address book - both telltale signs of malicious intrusion - it stops the activity and pops up an alert.
It will then give you a chance to either delete or fix the infected file or quarantine it in a lock box. According to McAfee, future releases will expand Hawk's hostile code-stopping capabilities to other email clients.
Taking a leaf from the new Live Update in Norton Internet Security 2002, Virusscan 6.0's virus definition updates are now downloaded every time you log on to the internet, which not only offers better protection, but is less bother.
The new Virusscan also includes a PDA synchronisation scanner to prevent passing viruses to or from a handheld device. Overall, Virusscan is a good antivurus product but it has been consistently bested in the Virus Bulletin 100% Awards by Norton Antivirus 2002.
Nowhere was an improved user interface more necessary than in McAfee Firewall, which previously looked like a Windows 3.1 throwback. The new interface for Version 3 makes it easier to set up and protects your system from incoming and outgoing communications on dialup and broadband services.
McAfee Firewall thoroughly logs and tracks security events, so you can keep detailed records of any threats. This update fixes many of the limitations found in previous versions. For example, you can now block or unblock specific IP addresses.
It also features ad and cookie blocking. Unfortunately, it can't easily scan for newly installed programs on your PC that would need full internet access, such as browsers or email clients. And it remains awkward to fine tune.
New this time around is content filtering. The parental control and monitoring features examine all messages sent to or from the computer and compare them to its 'objectionable content database'.
When such a message is encountered, it is recorded in a violation log, where the parent can review what was sent and by whom. In addition to the filtering mechanisms described above, parents can also control the time of day their children surf, and whether or not they can send or receive email or attachments.
System requirements: 100MHz or higher processor; 32Mb of Ram; Windows 95b, 98, ME, NT4, 2000 Pro, XP; 60Mb of hard disk space; CDRom drive; internet access is required for some features.
Contact: McAfee 0800 092 7160
www.mcafee-at-home.com
See also:
A suite of applications worth buying if you want to protect your PC from the bad guys. 13 Dec 2002
Software that aims to protect your PC from viruses and hackers. 06 Aug 2002
Norton Internet Security 2002 & McAfee Internet Security 4 slug it out in the antivirus arena. 30 Jan 2002
Centralised virus protection can save administrators from a messy clean-up in the wake of an attack. Network News guides you through the best AV software on offer. 29 Apr 2001All Antivirus & Firewalls
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