McAfee Internet Security 5.0 protects your PC against a wide range of viruses as well as other external threats such as hackers. McAfee Internet Security 5.0 combines McAfees VirusScan 7 and Firewall 4 programs into one product along with a new interface allowing you to configure everything from one place.
On the virus front McAfee Internet Security 5.0 operates on many levels. The new HAWK (Hostile Activity Watch Kernel) constantly monitors your PC for virus-like activity and integrates well with many different e-mail clients. The VShield feature runs constantly in the background checking files as you open them. Even if you choose to disable VShield, the program still protects Microsoft Office Files by checking them before you open them. It also protects against e-mail scripts by looking for suspicious behaviour such as trying to open, write or delete files. Any suspect activity is stopped immediately.
Of course, any anti-virus product is only as good as its ability to stop them infecting your system. Happily McAfee Internet Security 5.0 has been given a 100 per cent rating by Virus Bulletin as long as you keep it up to date. Like the other products in McAfees security range, McAfee Internet Security 5.0 uses Instant Updater, which constantly checks for product updates and automatically downloads these when you are online.
The firewall function in McAfee Internet Security 5.0 controls which programs on your PC can access the Internet and how they do it. It also stops hackers from accessing your PC remotely. Furthermore it stops any of your own programs divulging your personal information without your knowing.
The firewall recognises most common programs and automatically creates rules to allow them to communicate with the Internet. Users can create their own rules but this can be tricky for the novice as some of the warning-dialogue boxes tend towards jargon-filled prose.
McAfee Internet Security 5.0 now works with Internet Connection Sharing and has also been enhanced for broadband so people with home networks are fully supported. Also new in this release is an intrusion detection system that blocks port scanners.
Of course, the most important aspect is how well it actually works and the firewall passes all the usual tests with flying colours. It happily deals with all the usual intrusion techniques and the auto-update feature ensures the product is able to cope with any new threats as they appear.
There may be some difficulty getting an e-mail program called Ameol working with McAfee Internet Security 5.0 but all other programs should work fine.
Novice users may struggle to get the best from the firewall in McAfee Internet Security 5.0 but the more experienced will find a powerful firewall and anti-virus program that can be used with confidence. --Iain Laskey
Norton Internet Security 2003 Professional helps you to protect your PC from online security risks with a firewall, plus it blocks ads, filters spam and includes parental controls. 
Using anti-virus software isnt enough these days; you need to actively block off your PC from online security risks with a firewall. Norton Internet Security 2003 lets you do both, plus it blocks ads, filters spam and includes parental controls. 
Using anti-virus software isnt enough these days; you need to actively block off your PC from online security risks with a firewall. Norton Internet Security 2003 lets you do both, plus it blocks ads, filters spam and includes parental controls. 
Norton Internet Security 2003 Using anti-virus software isnt enough these days; you need to actively block off your PC from online security risks with a firewall. Norton Internet Security 2003 lets you do both, plus it blocks ads, filters spam and includes parental controls.
The true beauty of "Internet Security" is that its like having a security guard sitting on a chair with a newspaper by your internet connection. You can carry on with your business, safe in the knowledge that, should anything looking a bit scruffy try to push its way into your territory, your securi..