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Everyone needs firewall protection, to put it succinctly. Even if you have a basic dial up connection, or a fast Web connection, firewalls are an essential fact of life on the Internet. Unless you plan on ever getting on the World Wide Web, you can over look this type of protection. But if you ever think of even checking so much as one email, firewalls are essential in helping to stop prying eyes from tampering with your computer. Never think that you are not subject to the intrusions that can come with surfing the World Wide Web.
In essence a firewall is protective software that prevents hackers from gaining access to your PC. However firewalls do more than keep intruders out of your computer. They can also alert you to programs on your PC that access the Internet, sometimes without your knowledge or approval. If you have never monitored Internet activity, you may be surprised to learn how many programs access the Net without informing you. A firewall is one sure way to know just what is taking place behind the scenes. The amount of information and frequency of applications accessing the Net may surprise you.
For Windows XP users a basic firewall is built into the operating system. If cost is an issue, the XP firewall is acceptable, but it is hardly configurable and will not alert you to intrusions in the way a dedicated firewall application will. As a basic firewall, it is better than nothing at all. However, if you want more secure solid protection, the need for a firewall is necessary.
Again, you can go on the Web and obtain free firewalls, but if you want updates, solid protection, product support and feature functionality, then you will need to consider an application devoted to this function. I certainly suggest keeping an eye out for new products. But do keep in mind that product support, history in the field and a support system are all things to consider when picking a firewall for PC protection.
While virus protection can be broken down into a few products, firewall protection software is not so clear cut. Depending on your level of computer literacy, your interest in protection and overall comfort level with technical issues, finding the right software for your needs is not a simple concern. From my perspective there are a few to select from, but they depend greatly on your needs, demands and level of interest in security and control.
For most users, controlling every aspect of computer firewalls is hardly a fun idea. For those really into tweaking settings and knowing more about the details, a dedicated application is the way to go. For those with a technical bend, McAfee Firewall 4 is one very good choice.
As unobtrusive as a firewall can be, Firewall 4 is discreet, efficient, but a tad on the technical side. Unlike Norton Firewall or Zone Alarm, McAfee’s entry often contains warnings that require some understanding of computer systems. This is not to say that a person new to the PC will be lost. On the contrary, the McAfee pop ups are detailed, but they may be a bit difficult to decipher for those not familiar with the terminology of computers.
The alert messages are not only detailed, they also offer immediate access to features that allow you to set special rules for the program shown. This does make configuring McAfee easier to set up for adapting to your way of working. It also makes it a bit more difficult for those not familiar with the process to be a bit confused. In the cases of the alerts, a certain degree of understanding is assumed on the part of the user regarding the application.
What is truly interesting about the alerts is that McAfee by default sets up audio alarms. So if an errant program is accessing the Net, the firewall not only offers a pop up screen but a sound alerting you to the presence of a possible security issue. For those working in other programs, this is one sure fire way to obtain your attention.
In contrast to the more detailed alert screens, the main menu is surprisingly sparse. Literally utilitarian in scope, the interface is an exercise in minimalism. The feature sets such as settings and updates are set to the left hand side. Following the model of a Web page, links are used to access the various settings. For those raised on computers with menus, this approach does take some time to become totally comfortable with using. Frequently one has to dig a few layers to find a specific setting or feature.
The real test with any program is how well it identifies intrusions, and how quickly it responds. Like any firewall it does take some time in figuring out usage, access and preferences. In my own highly informal tests, the application ran smoothly. Set up was easy, installing was without incident. Also of note it did not cause any problems with other programs. It also took up few systems resources when running.
The key features with McAfee are enhanced tracker tracing, firewall settings check that looks at settings to discern effectiveness, full application control to allow and not allow programs to access the Web, color coded and audible settings alerting you to intrusions, and online registration and support. In short, the basics. The only feature missing here that Norton and Zone Alarm have built in their firewalls is pop up ad protection. This is a great feature when it comes to disabling irritating pop up ads, banners and Windows. Hopefully, McAfee will consider adding this feature in the near future or in the terms of an update.
Like the entire McAfee product line, there is a great deal of stability and security to be found with Firewall 4. Aside from the lack of pop up window protection, this application point for point can match the competition. The only real concern for users is that McAfee Firewall has a tendency to make alert pop ups a bit more complex than the average user may need. For enthusiasts and experts this is a great thing. For most users, the lack of having alerts in standard English can be annoying. This is not aided by the fact that enclosed documentation with the application is a bit thin. On the plus side, this is still a worthy program. It works well, does not cause issues, and it is certainly worth looking into when considering that it works extremely well as a firewall. If you can overlook some of the complexity with alert messages, lack of pop up protection and the searching needed to find features, there is still a great deal to like about this lean powerful utility.
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